Buying an antique home can be appealing. It comes at a far cheaper price than a newly built house, which is a good thing if you’re in a budget. If you love renovating and enjoy the interior design aspect of a move, an old house is ideal for you. It’s also a great investment if ever you plan to re-sell it after you’ve improved the entire structure. Before anything else, there are things you have to consider:
What to look out for in your new (old) home
An old house is, of course, old in all aspects. This means that it was built with old architectural disciplines. A leak fix, electrical re-wiring, or even a quick trip to your local suppliers and service providers may be able to resolve possible problems. You need to be aware of what to look out for to make sure that you know exactly what to fix when before you move-in.
1. Get the plumbing checked – That submersible sewage pump supplier may just come in handy if you find that you have an outdated sewage system. For your health and safety, make it a point to get your plumbing checked by a professional. It’s important to have this ready and fixed before you move in.
2. Check your electrical wires – An old home will most likely have old and weathered down electrical wiring. Get this professionally inspected and replaced to avoid accidents.
3. Replace all door locks – This goes for all newly bought homes, but it’s particularly important for old houses, as their door locks may not be as secure as they need to be. It’s easier to break into homes with old locks. Reinforce or replace door locks entirely to be 100% safe.
4. Check fire exits – You need to check that there are safe and accessible fire exits for every area of the house. Old home structural designs may not have this factor incorporated when the house was built.
5. Rust and mold – It’s likely that there’s some form of mold or rust build-up in an old house. Make it a point that you check every wall and surface for rust and mould and replace these with new material. This can be a big health risk if not done properly. You can hire professionals for this as well if you want to make sure that every inch of the house is checked.
6. Check the roof – The ceiling and the roof may just be the most forgotten part of a home. To avoid leakage and problems with the structure of the house, you need to confirm that the rooftop of the house is still sturdy and effectively protecting the house. The thing is, if you leave this unchecked, you will most likely not see the damage of a leaking roof until it is already at its worst.
Health and safety is a priority when you plan to move into a new home. You’re not just making sure that your new (old) home is safe, you’ll also save yourself from spending on repairs — the consequence of leaving things left unchecked. Once complete, there’s nothing left to do but start the fun part, moving in and focusing on the interior and exterior design of your vintage home.
