The First Things You Need To Upgrade When Buying An Old Home

Many people love buying an old home because they are usually so characteristic. When you think of your home sweet home, an old house with creaky wood floors, an ornate mantle above the fireplace, and quirky little nooks and crannies usually gets people excited. The issue is that there are usually a lot of problems lurking in those old homes. 

If you are in the market for a new house and are considering buying an old home that’s more than fifty years old, you need to know what to expect. Unless the house recently underwent a significant renovation before you bought it, there will be issues. 

This article will go over what you should be aware of as far as things you will likely need to fix when you move in. 

Electrical system

The first thing to consider is an upgrade to the electrical system. If the house is more than fifty years old, it is likely in significant need of being renovated to suit a modern family’s electrical needs. If the home is closer to 100 years old, then it is very likely that the electrical system not only won’t be suitable, but it is likely even dangerous. 

When you are doing a visit before making an offer, then check the electrical panel. When you see a fuse box, that is a significant indication of how you are in serious need of a system overhaul. Fuses are extremely dangerous and responsible for many old houses going up in flames. 

Even an old circuit breaker panel is going to cause problems. At the very least, you’ll need to bring the amps up to something you can work with for new appliances and devices that take more electricity than the ones in the old days used to. If all you need are more amps, replacing the current breakers with Zinsco breakers will be a cheap and easy fix. 

Old wiring in the house is a different story, however. Older wiring generally is of a lower gauge than new wires and can’t handle the amount of electricity needed to power a modern home. Think of it like trying to drink a milkshake with a cocktail straw to get an idea of how it works. This burden on the wires can cause them to overheat and become a fire hazard. 

Reworking the entire system with higher gauge wiring is a costly and time-consuming fix, so it is best to be aware of that before making an offer. 

The plumbing

Old plumbing can be a nightmare for a modern family, and leaky pipes can wreak havoc on your foundation, walls, and especially your wallet. You’re very likely to see slow draining showers, frequently clogged toilets, and a septic system close to overflowing. 

Upgrading the plumbing will save you a lot of money in the long run. If you don’t do a major overhaul, you will need to have a plumber on speed dial to fix the leaks and clogs constantly. 

Using washing machines, dishwashers, and garbage disposals will all put a strain on your septic system, as well as always needing to use septic safe toilet paper. These days, you can have a system that works with better pipes and better fixtures. 

PVC pipes, for instance, are long-lasting and not likely to fail you for the life of your home. Keeping the old pipes will have you checking for signs of leaks and clogs all the time. When you replace them with PVC, you don’t have to worry about things. You’ll also know that they were installed by a professional who knows what they are doing rather than hope that the old system wasn’t installed by the homeowner who knew nothing about plumbing. 

The foundation

Although many old houses were built rock-solid, and the fact that they are still standing after all this time is a testament to that, the foundation is almost always a problem. 

Over time, houses tend to settle, and the ground below them moves as well. This causes cracks that can let water into the home and cause some severe damage. You could even have the foundation fail, and the house then becomes unlivable. 

There are some things to look out for to understand if the foundation shows signs of a problem. For instance, doors with significant gaps or ones that aren’t close are a sure sign that there is some settling going on with the house. This could then mean that there are already cracks in the foundation or some soon. 

A look around in the basement will also reveal a lot of moisture if there isn’t direct evidence of cracks or an actual leak. Look for low areas in the basement that look like they were recently wet. If the basement is finished, then look for signs in the drywall like bowing or mold to understand if there is some damage behind them.

You’ll need a good home inspector to take a look if you see any of these signs to understand if there is any damage and how much it will cost to fix if you do find some. 

Insulation

Many old houses are very poor when keeping warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The issue is usually the insulation being old, outdated, and ineffective. A lot of heat leaks through the roof, and there are drafts everywhere.

One of the first things to do if you decide to buy is to overhaul the entire house to make it energy efficient. Whatever you spend by sealing the attic and changing the insulation will pay for itself in energy savings. Heating costs are expected to rise in the coming years, so dealing with the issue now will help you save money in the long term.