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Community Corner

Four Problems to Look for Before Buying an Older Home

Tips for avoiding potential pitfalls with older homes.

Are visions of renovating a stately, older home dancing in your head?  Older homes offer a unique beauty that can’t be found in newer homes. And, rehabbing them can be rewarding.  But, think twice before taking on this difficult and expensive task.

Here are four problems to look for in the older home you’re thinking about buying:

  1. Plumbing problems.  The plumbing in older homes can be inefficient or downright unreliable.  Homes that are 25 years or older almost always have plumbing problems, with the most common one being lead pipes.  Even after lead pipes were replaced in the late 1940s, the earliest galvanized steel pipes still contained lead. Lead also was present in much of the solder used to join copper pipes as recently as the mid-1980s.  You can have your water tested by a state certified laboratory. You can find one in your area by calling the Safe Drinking Water Hotline at 800-426-4791.
  2. Electrical issues.  Electricity in older homes may not be grounded and wiring may not be safely installed.  Even if the electricity is grounded, it may not be available in the quantity needed for today’s home and the vast array of gadgets that depend on electricity.  Electrical boxes in vintage homes were typically 60 or 100 amps. Today's standard is 200 amps.
  3. Lack of insulation.  Older homes are typically drafty, cold and uncomfortable. Not to mention expensive to heat and cool.  Check the type of insulation that was used.   Many older homes were insulated with newspaper, asbestos, or not insulated at all.
  4. Cracked foundations.  The foundation materials used in older homes, such as cement and cinder blocks, crack and leak over time.  These days the exterior sides of foundations are commonly sealed; not so with older homes.  As a result, water seepage occurs and can lead to structural threats and health issues such as mold.

The wisest thing to do before buying an older home is to have it thoroughly inspected by a professional home inspector.  Then, calculate exactly how much time and money it’ll take to renovate the home so it matches the vision in your head.

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Liz Boucher is the Branch Manager of the Coldwell Banker Larchmont office which specializes in both residential and commercial real estate. Liz has been in real estate sales since 1998. She is an associate broker and has been managing the Coldwell Banker office since 2006. You can contact her at 914-834-7100 or at  liz.boucher@cbmoves.com

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