Are you a buying your first home? Are you unsure of what you should be aware of when looking at older homes? Building inspectors and inspection reports along with experienced agents are a very important part of the home purchasing process but it helps to also educate yourself on some common things to be aware of. I have rehabbed a number of older homes personally over the years and these are my top five things to look for that could have significant financial implications for remodeling.
LEAD PAINT
If you are looking at a home built prior to 1978, there is a chance it could have lead paint. The federal government outlawed lead paint in 1978, but some states banned it even earlier. The older the home is, the higher the chances of lead being present. According to the EPA, homes built between 1960 and 1978 are about 24% likely to contain lead paint. Homes built between 1940 and 1959 are 69% likely to contain lead paint. Homes built prior to 1940 have an 87% chance of containing lead paint. If you have small children, this should be a serious consideration. Lead can cause developmental brain delays in children if consumed. It is especially important to find out if it is in areas of high use where chipping and exposure could happen such as windowsills, door casings, stair rails, banisters and porches. Lead tests are super inexpensive and can be purchased from a hardware store. Sellers should disclose this information on their listing, but if they don’t know, they can’t disclose it. It can be costly to properly address lead paint in a home. There are lead-safe certified contractors out there who know how to properly handle it. Visit this link to read more about lead from the EPA here. If you want to purchase a lead test, you can find lead test kits here.
ASBESTOS
Asbestos was banned in the US by the EPA in 1989. While it doesn’t pose a threat when in good condition and properly contained, according to the EPA, it is something to be aware of as breathing in asbestos fibers can lead to many forms of cancer. You can read about the risks on the CDC website here. While asbestos was used in a lot of different products prior to 1989, the most common place to see it in homes is wrapping pipes, popcorn ceilings, insulation, mastic, adhesives and vinyl-asbestos floor tiles. If you think there may asbestos in your home, you can get an easy test here to check. There are proper protocols for both abatement and containment, so be sure to keep this in mind if you know it is in the home when discussing how to best tackle it with your contractor. Here is a very in depth video of where asbestos can be found.
galvanized plumbing
Galvanized pipes were typically used in homes built before 1960. The lifespan of galvanized pipes ranges from 40-100 years. If your home falls into that range and has galvanized pipes, it is a good idea to budget for replacing. While it isn’t cheap to replace an entire house worth of piping, it is definitely a worthwhile investment. If your water supply has galvanized pipes, it can cause lead poisoning. It can reduce water pressure over time and the erosion in the drain pipes can cause leaks and backups down the road. Here is a very informative article about galvanized pipes from American Vintage Home.
outdated electrical SYSTEM
If the home you are purchasing was built prior to 1980 and hasn’t been updated, it is likely that you will have to make significant upgrades to or replace the electrical panel altogether. New kitchen appliances require a lot more power than they used to, and building codes now dictate most of the main appliances be on dedicated circuits. Also, with all the powerful electronics we use today, older electrical panels are not set up to handle the load. An example is, if your microwave is on the same circuit as the outlets that you use to vacuum, the braker might be tripped if both run at the same time. Replacing the panel will cost several thousands of dollars and must be done by a licensed electrician. Keep in mind that if your home is older than 1950, there is a chance the wiring is knob and tube which can be a very dangerous electrical system if it has been damaged or modified. This is very costly but worth the expense to prevent a fire hazard. Here is an article from the International Associate of Certified Home Inspectors to learn more about what knob and tube wiring is.
ALUMINUM WINDOWS
Original aluminum windows in older homes are unlikely to be energy efficient. Inefficient windows mean it costs more to heat and cool the home. If they are single pane, they are very inefficient. Older double pane is better, but likely lacks the thermal break or reflective coating that make new windows so much more efficient. If there is permanent condensation between the glass panes, this is an indication of a broken seal and inefficiency in addition to being unattractive. When the seals are broken, this causes the home to be very drafty. Due to the build up of condensation on these types of windows, they are more likely to grow mold around the frames which can pose health hazards if not cleaned regularly. Many places will have energy rebates for replacing inefficient windows, so you may be able to offset the cost somewhat. If you are in the PSE service area in King County, Washington, here is a link to their current rebates.
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