Older homes are a joy to have and take care of, but there are certain things that may come up when you have an older home. This information can give you an idea of what you are looking for in your older home. The issues that homeowners find in their older homes can be a sign of a past problem that was not completely fixed, or a problem that could become larger if ignored.

 

This advice should not take the place of a home inspection by a qualified professional.

 

Issues to look for in an older home

Look out for: cracked, peeling, or dirty painted surfaces, crumbing masonry, or evidence of water dripping from pipes connected to sinks, toilets, tubs, etc. These issues can be minor or evidence of a larger problem, so they are good to keep an eye on and fix when the issues first appear.

 

Check how old the plumbing, mechanical, and electrical systems are to see if they need to be updated – most have a life span of about 20 years.