There’s no denying that older homes bring a different kind of charm & character to the table – mainly because of its pocket doors, wood built-ins and the exposed brick – giving it a very rustic look. However, you also need to be conscious of the problems that you might face when buying one because not every old house will exhibit the same issues.
Therefore, you need to be vigilant about the same because at the end of the day, you’ll be spending your hard-earned money and you would want your investment to be worth it. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at some of the major problems that you need to watch out for – especially when buying an old house – as suggested by the home inspector in Gadsden AL services.
Things To Consider When Buying A House
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Issues With The Foundation
It should be realized that foundation issues are very common in old houses and should always be addressed first to make the same livable. The issues can range from simple small cracks in the settlement to support footings that are damaged. As a result, the asking price for repairs can be pretty high depending on the type of repairs you’re planning to do.
The main cause of the foundation issue can be due to basic wear & tear over the years. Apart from the foundation, you should also take a look at the walls of the home (both interior & exterior) along with the floors (in case there’s any unevenness).
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Roof Is Deteriorating
Another major problem that most old homes face these days is the roof that is deteriorating over time, which leads to a roof condition. As a result, the roof starts to leak and it affects the entire house environment because water damage leads to the growth of bacteria & mould.
To deal with such an issue, it’s always a better prospect to first hire a professional home inspector for the same and then learn the damages that need to be fixed. In that way, you can get a clearer picture of the total costs you’ll need to incur for the same.
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Building Materials That Are Hazardous
If you’re procusing an old home that has been made before the 1980s, then most probably it will have paints & asbestos that have a presence of harmful lead compounds in them. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to check for such hazardous chemicals, which cannot be seen otherwise via the naked eye. You can ask the homeowner for the same or you have the option to hire a professional house inspector, who will have a much better idea of identifying such problems.
