If you recently bought an older home, then you were probably aware before signing the papers that it would be a lot of work. Though older homes were made with solid materials, many of those materials have since been discovered to be dangerous. If you are looking to remodel an old property that hasn’t been lived in for decades, expect features like lead pipes and asbestos to contend with. If you are taking over from previous owners, thankfully, you will likely have already had those common issues taken care of.
That does not mean that your old home is in the clear. There are a few areas you will want to check in on and, if necessary, fix or replace as soon as possible. Here are the top areas to invest in after you buy and old home:
The Roof
You will want to keep an eye on your roof and how well it is doing. A roof should be replaced every 10 or so years, though this could be shorter or longer depending on how well you maintain it in the interim. That is why it is always best to either choose an old home that has just had its roof fixed or replaced, or to include that in the requirement for sale.
If you weren’t able to secure a new roof from the previous owners, don’t worry. There are many affordable roofing options and guides online to help you plan and budget for a new roof in no time.
The Insulation
There are two main issues with insulation in old homes. One, the fact that there isn’t any. The second is that asbestos was used to insulate your property. Getting these issues fixed right away will help keep your home dry and warm no matter what time of year it is.
The Electricity
If there are issues with your home’s electrical system, then you need to bring in a certified electrician to analyze your system and fix it. Many times what can happen is that old wiring is placed over new wiring, or the job was done by the previous owner or by electricians who didn’t do the job properly.
The Plumbing
An issue with old properties is the chance that they still use lead pipes. Though rare nowadays, it can still be an issue and should be checked out and replaced if that is indeed the case.
Improving the structure and safeguarding your home from key damage as noted above, is the first step. When making these improvements, however, you are going to want to be very careful of any character features your property has.
These features either are or will become a huge draw for future buyers and can help give your home a unique look that will set it apart from new builds. From archways to the crown molding, work with the professionals you bring in to improve your home so that these features are preserved or even fixed in the process.
Do you live in an old home? Let us know in the comments below!
