Is buying a 100-year old home risky?

Question

Is a home inspection good enough to determine the condition of the house?

Answer 1

You are on the right track by using a professional home inspector, the inspector may also suggest others such as roof, plumbing, pest control or other sub-contractors.

Pay attention to the foundation.

You may find a true gem and sometimes materials that were used 100 years ago may be superior to today.

Others factors to consider, sgl pane windows vs dual pane windows, insulation. Consider the utility cost.

I love older homes and I prefer to work with vintage properties. Its a passion and love.

Best to you. Preservation of our historic structures are important.

Answer 2

Yep... foundations often are "at risk" as they seldom used the kind of water repellents and other foundation protections they use now... the wiring, unless recently updated is often under code and often suffering from wire fatigue as the circuits have invariably been over taxed. The plumbing can also have major problems due to the various practices & methods & fixtures (now obsolete/outdated) used when the hose was built. usually the construction materials were "superior" to the ones in use today in terms of the framing & cabinetry but not with regards to the windows & insulation. Certainly the old-world charm is what attracts so many buyers... and the exquisite woodwork, the high vaulted ceiligs, etc. are indeed impressive. Once the issues mentioned have been resolved though, the old pieces of real estate are as marketable (perhaps more so) as any other.

Check out what's been done to the infra-structure, then make your decision. Often the investment is worth the improvements over time.

Answer 3

I agree with the 1st answer. On top of those items,
-100 years ago a 2x4 was actually 2 inches by 4 inches... this makes remodeling a pain... trust me, been there done that!
-plumbing 100 years back was generally cast iron which is no longer used in todays homes.
-depending on the area you are in there may be heating/cooling issues... such as NO cooling which is quite common in homes that old.

I highly recommend getting prior history of all the bills for the house such as electric and water... this will help you know what the energy consumption is to keep the home at a cool temp is summer and warm in winter. It will also help you figure out if there are leaky pipes (high water bill often means leaks)

Answer 4

Home inspections can be bullcrap if you use the wrong company! and watch your disclosure too. It is absolutely worthless if something goes wrong and you try and use it as a basis or a reason to sue! Question the previous owners carefully... it is much harder to lie to someones face than it is on paper

The best way would be to find an accredited inspection service that also does industrial work (which has strict state and government guidelines they have to follow) and hope for the best.

In most states, a real estate inspector can become certified in a few weeks of classes and a license that is just as difficult to get as it is to become a minister... Be very carefull! Pay the few extra dollars and have it done right. Trust me... I really know where of I speak!

Answer 5

You should have a specialist do the home inspection, because there are many more issues with a 100 year old house like,

aluminum wiring
lead solder in the plumbing
asbestos
rotted foundation

Also, find out if you're in an historic district, you may be limited to what you can do to the house after you buy it.

Answer 6

of course it is, but a lot of times it's worth the charm a older home has.
You want to get a inspector, they will look at a lot of things ,like how old the plumbing is, does it need anything, any rotting in the structor.
You'll also have to think about lead, and if it has some of the older hardware and light fixtures if you can find a replacement for them.
You should also think find out if the house has a oil tank, these are really costly to remove.

Answer 7

a home inspection may help but doesnt guarantee against risk, since risk has many ways of occurring. natururally you should expect a higher maintenance cost following any pre existing conditions. if condition is good and you have ample space in budget for the unseen that can happen,100 yrs can be great too,

Answer 8

Oh, for crist's stke. 100 years ago, they didn't have wiring, much less Aluminum wiring.

Get the thing inspected. The mortgage company will require it anyway.

100 years old is nothing-- if you consider that my collegues in Denmark just bought an apartment that was built in 1682.

That's what inspections are all about.....

Answer 9

might want to be a wise determination and may want to correctly be a good funding. Condos are undervalued immediately. figure ALL expenses even as determining no matter if that's less expensive. there is the HOA or month-to-month evaluation volume as well to PITI (useful, interest, taxes, coverage). purchase a 2 BR--extra perfect resale fee. note, many condos do no longer let pets or leases, so examine it out earlier procuring. some cases that's not elementary to promote condos.