There are many reasons to purchase an old home. It’s a way to save money since these homes tend to be less expensive even with the repairs needed to make them livable. At the same time, they have a rustic look that you can’t mimic with modern construction.

 

However, there are a few common problems with old homes that you should be aware of as well. These problems might end up costing you more than you’ve planned them to and they might even make the home unusable if you don’t address them.

 

Insulation

The biggest expense an average household has is probably keeping the home heated and running the AC unit. These expenses are made worse if your home isn’t well insulated and you’re losing air through doors and windows that need replacement. It’s not a small project to undertake if you plan to replace the doors and windows at once, but it will noticeably affect your energy bills.

 

If you’re not able to replace all the doors and windows, you should take the time to investigate where you lose the most air. Based on that and the size of the window frames, decide which of them are the most important to replace.

 

Flat roofs

Most old homes have flat roofs that are pretty beaten up simply due to the fact that they’ve been exposed to bad weather for years. It’s best to repair these before they start leaking and use the repairs to improve the whole roof if possible.

 

For instance, flat roofs could easily be turned into green roofs, at least when it compares to modern roof designs. A green roof will also cut down on your energy bills and make your home less hot in the summers. Installing one, however, will require professional help since watering and draining the roof may be a technical challenge.

 

The materials

Old homes didn’t have to follow modern safety guidelines. This is most noticeable in the use of asbestos, which wasn’t banned until the ‘80s when its dangerous effects were discovered. If the old home you’ve purchased may have been made using asbestos, it’s best to hire experienced asbestos lawyers to figure out whether you have a legal case in regards to the damages you’ve suffered.

 

When it comes to the home itself, it will require a serious construction project to remove the asbestos and that’s the only way to handle the issue.

 

Electrical wiring

Modern homes use much more electricity than the old ones did. That’s because they use fewer devices and gadgets. If you think that the home wouldn’t be able to fulfill your needs in terms of electricity, you should hire an electrician to check out the wiring before making a purchase.

 

If the wiring isn’t up to date, it will need to be replaced and, in a lot of cases, that means tearing into the walls which is a large and expensive project. That could affect the price of the home as a whole.

 

Not enough light

A lot of the times, old homes don’t have enough natural light or enough artificial lighting since they were made in a different era and used differently than modern homes. The best way to handle this problem is to actually install additional windows, but that’s a large and complicated project.

 

If this isn’t an option for you, you should consider adding artificial light. You should start with ambient lighting, proceed with an accent and end with task lights. That will make the home more comfortable and allow you to have a multifunctional room that can be changed and redesigned over time.

 

Old homes are often a better choice if you have a limited budget for purchasing a property, but they also come with problems due to their age. Some of these are serious problems such as the usage of dangerous materials and others are easily fixable such as making the home better insulated.

Written by Carolin Petterson

 

 

About the Author

Carolin Petterson is a Business Lady and contributor for number of high-class websites. She loves to share her experiences and talk about practical solutions, but her specialties are sustainability, sustainable business and green living.

 

 

You may also like

Minimalism and Sustainability: Small Steps for Big Change

4 Smart Ways to Reduce Energy Bills in Your Home

Best Sites to Shop for Eco-Friendly Products

The Anatomy of a Green Home [Infographic]