Old Vs. New

One of my absolute favorite pastimes involves driving around older neighborhoods, although I’m sure I become a total road hazard, because I just can’t stop staring!  The mature trees, meandering porches, and unique architectural styles are all aspects of a home that just seem so right, so fitting.  Sadly, the new subdivisions that keep popping up often leave me feeling dismayed, as most of the houses feel like cookie cutter versions of the subdivision down the road.  All that to say, I love the look and feel of older homes.

Yet the reality is that I had never really lived in an older home until we bought our first house, and it was only built in 1947, so some might even say it’s young!  Or middle-aged?  However you look at it, the house definitely needed some updates, both cosmetically and internally.  It didn’t take long for us to realize that we needed to spend some moolah in order to modernize the guts of our home.  In fact, it was more like a two-by-four had hit us over the head when we turned the nozzle on the kitchen sink, only to find that barely a drip of water was able to squeeze out of our plumbing.  As it turned out, our plumbing needed to be updated, along with the water heater and furnace.

Looking back, I am so glad we doled out the cash to make those updates, but at the time, I must admit that I bemoaned the fact that I could no longer use that money to make our house look better.  How many of you have ever felt the same way?  I mean, no one even sees those things!  Yet despite my frustrations early on, I love knowing that there will be hot water for a shower, and I’m sure we both sleep easier knowing that the guts of our house are more reliable, plus they carry a warranty, so they could easily be fixed if something were to go wrong.

There are several other areas to consider when buying an older home.  Does it have a rock foundation?  Will the roof need to be replaced soon?  And while you may be swooning over the leaded-glass windows, will they hold heat?  Because if not, you may have to cover them up with Saran Wrap in the winter.  What about your pipes?  Are they galvanized steel?  If so, they may be rusted out.  And while we’re on the topic of pipes, we definitely recommend having a trusted plumber run a camera down your line as part of your home inspection.  Yes, it is worth the money, because clay piping often cracks over time due to encroaching tree roots, which are prevalent in older neighborhoods.  More on this later…

Don’t let these issues dissuade you from buying an older home, but make sure you’re aware of what they entail.  Before we bought our home, a friend casually said, “You know the only thing that works in an old house is the owner, right?”  The good news is that this does not have to be true if you know what to look out for.

What about you?  We would love to hear your old house stories, along with any other tips or things to be aware of when buying an older home!