1880 Victorian, from the outside clearly needing some work but looks like it could be an amazing house. Roof reportedly about 5 years old, siding kind of dingy but in decent repair. Haven't seen inside yet. I have some money (not a ton), not a lot of knowledge but willing to learn, willing to work hard but not if it's not worth trying to save. What conditions are dealbreakers, and how can I tell by looking? What signs should I be keeping my eye open for?
2006-08-07 14:43:17 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Decorating & Remodeling
the foundation should be the first thing to look at. if it is broke cracking or falling apart, it could be very costly to fix. the roof is next and expensive to fix. bad wiring could be a nightmare and dangerous and very likely in an old house. plumbing is a headache and it could even have lead pipes. inspect for termites in the wood of the house.
2006-08-07 15:07:52 · answer #1 · answered by Enigma 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hire a home inspector. You can get a referral from a local real estate agent. It will set you back $350 but it is worth every penney. Most will tell you not only what is wrong with the house, but how to repair it and how much it should cost. I do this with every property I purchase and it has been what I base my decision to purchase upon. If I would have done this on the very first home I purchased, I would have known exactly what I was in for. Home inspectors have a great sense about whether a property is worth renovating or not, too. They check everything from the roof to the basement to the structure to the plumbing to the electrical to the HVAC, so you will know whether this house is worth the investment in time and money.
2006-08-08 16:07:51 · answer #2 · answered by eskie lover 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Spend the money on a home inspection. The inspector will look at everything, write you a detailed report, and then make up your mind.
Definately, get a good look at the inside, the attic (or crawl space) and the basement for
broken and repaired beams, rafters, etc.
2006-08-14 22:15:33 · answer #3 · answered by soxrcat 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Find a reputable inspector. He will know what to look for. I wouldn't trust the sellers inspector. I learned the hard way, and it cost me fifteen thousand for a new deck. I love it and it was worth it to me. Still I am quite angry the seller and their realtor got away with not disclosing that the deck was NOT passed by the inspector. The inspector was in my neighborhood, he saw me on the deck and came up to me and told me to get off of the deck. He then told me he did not pass it and that in the report he said the deck was rotten and dangerous, and proved it to me by pushing a hole through the wooden deck with his bare finger.
2006-08-15 09:49:39 · answer #4 · answered by KorvetteKaren 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, I would suggest that you inspect for the termites not only in the house but also in the backyard and that of your neighbors. No matter how much money you invest for the renovation, money will just be wasted when termite problems set in.
2006-08-14 23:51:02 · answer #5 · answered by cactus 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check foundation, electric, plumbing, chimney as these can be very costly to repair (or have them checked out professionally)
Sounds like a cool house, but be cautious!
2006-08-12 19:13:02 · answer #6 · answered by mom-o-3 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
any house built back before the 70's is a good deal they are made sturdy our house was built pre 1940 and is solid as a rock
2006-08-15 12:13:16 · answer #7 · answered by georgieanna h 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
where are you, i am interior designer and i can assist you via email, can i have some more details on the house, nothing better than having a period home renovated and turned into a place where you can smile and call home
2006-08-07 22:50:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋