5 Red Flags to Look for When Buying an Older Home

There are a TON of old homes in Richmond.  It’s part of what gives this city charm and character, as well as one of the reasons I love the Historic Church Hill neighborhood so much!  However, some of these old homes need our help to secure their place in the 21st century.  First-time homebuyers need to especially look out for these old ‘quirks,' because it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement without realizing your utility bill might literally go through the roof.  It’s a good idea to have ANY home inspected, new or old before you sign the dotted line, but some of these issues are easy to spot in the first walk-through.

Windows

Original windows might add to the charm of the house, but not to your utility bill.  Old windows are typically drafty, single-paned and potentially rotting.  There are two routes you could take to remedy this problem.  If you are restoration minded, there are lots of contractors in Richmond that are certified to restore and/or replicate those original windows, depending on how authentic you’d like to be.  We have worked with plenty of them and can make a good recommendation. If authenticity isn’t worth those cold winters, opt for double paned, energy efficient windows to stop any harsh winter weather…or summer heat!…from getting in.

Inefficient Heating

Lots of Richmond Homes are equipped with oil burners.  While oil may be cheap it’s typically an inefficient system.  Worse, if it hasn’t been properly maintained poses a serious fire hazard.  If having the system checked is a problem for the previous owners, that’s a red flag.  Furthermore, if the system has been updated, the buried old oil tank has the potential to become hazardous by leeching into the soil. Having it removed can be costly.

Lead Paint

Although lead paint wasn’t banned until 1978, there was a growing awareness of the dangers before then, so only the really old homes pose a greater danger of lead paint.  However, if there are going to be youngsters in the house you might want to get it checked out thoroughly as it’s a danger to developing brains.  Removing lead paint can be costly, so make sure you know what you’re getting into!

There are some additional concerns that go beyond the age of a home.  While the longer a house has been around the more likely one of these issues have taken effect.

Foundation and structural issues 

Make sure to find a highly reviewed and recommended home inspector the older the home.  Foundation issues can be very serious and won’t necessarily go away with an expensive fix.  It also depends on the land the house is sitting on and it takes a keen eye to find those issues.

Termites and Pests

These can be found in any home, but the older the home the more likely there are more nooks and crannies for these guys to get into.  Termites are not the only bugs that can cause major structural damage.  There are certain types of beetles that can eat away those support beams just as easily.

Not all old homes have these problems.  Really, it all depends on how well-maintained it was by the previous owners.  While from the outside an old home may look like a fairytale dream come true, make sure you find out all it’s ‘quirks’ so maintaining that house won’t become a living nightmare!