The dream of finding an old house in the country within your budget, doing it up, and living there forever is many people’s idea of bliss. The problem is that many older properties aren’t designed with many – if any – of the mod cons that we are used to in mind.
The charm of the property usually far outweighs all of these issues. Still, some things can end up being very expensive.
Taking on an old cottage or farmhouse in the country or even a small village is fantastic, but here are some of the things you’ll need to think about ahead of buying.
Plumbing
The plumbing materials we use nowadays have been designed for hard-wearing over the years – designed to last and last. Original plumbing materials were often things like clay lines. Unfortunately, these clay lines crack and corrode, leading to disastrous results.
Even if the house had plumbing replaced in the 1980s, there is potential that a polybutylene system was used, and that can degrade quickly too. A professional plumber will be able to tell you what you need to make your home safe from plumbing disasters. So whether you need a plumber in South Austin or South London, it’s always worth getting someone who knows what they’re doing to come in and take a look.
Electrical
Older buildings just weren’t built with modern electrical needs in mind. The systems in older houses were designed to run a minimal amount of electrical appliances – anything more than that, and it will become a safety hazard.
Ahead of purchasing the home, you must have an electrician inspect the house to tell you what you need to make it safe.
Roof age
The average roof needs to be changed every 10-20 years, so if you are buying an old property that has been uninhabited for a while, the roof could need immediate replacement.
You might want to have the roof replaced with the same materials it was built initially with – so it is worth having an estimate from a company that regularly replaced roofs with traditional materials. Further, you can use any extra roof space with something like Feelnets Cottage Renovation nets.
Shingle might offer the cheapest option, but it might fly in the face of the old-timey home you had in mind.
Lead
Lead paints were commonly used in homes that pre-date 1940. We know that exposure to lead can cause a wide range of health issues, so it is better to have all of the paint in the home checked.
The paint with lead can be stripped and replaced with relative ease.
In the end, when buying an older home, aside from the cost of the house itself, you should be prepared to spend a reasonable amount of renovation and updates. The updates you make to the home will enable you to live comfortably for as long as you wish to remain in the home. It also means if you want to sell the house at a later date, you will fetch a great sale price.
Some home renovations have hugely positive impacts on your home. Some of them will be in keeping with the style of the home, like these 3 home renovations that will make you fall in love with your house. So whether you’re thinking of selling on the home soon, or living there for a long time, it’s worth thinking about the different renovations you can do to make the home something really special.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post