There’s something special about homes that have seen generations come and go. However, you will want to ensure that practicality, comfort, and even your family’s health won’t be sacrificed in exchange for character and ambiance. There are many details that won’t be apparent during a typical viewing with an estate agent in attendance.
If you haven’t taken the plunge yet, it would be wise to get a professional home inspection or home buyer’s report so that you can see just what you’re letting yourself in for in terms of renovation costs. However, if you fell in love and the deal’s already done, you can still use home inspection results to prioritise your task list. Here are some of the vitally important, non-cosmetic things to attend to before you start thinking about things like decor and kitchen upgrades.
Lead Plumbing Pipes and Fittings
If your home was built before 1970, there’s a chance that lead-containing pipes and plumbing fittings may have been used. Lead can leach into drinking water and presents a health risk that must be addressed. A home inspection should include examination of the plumbing system, and if lead is found, local plumbers in Manchester can help you by replacing them.
Of course, ensuring that the roof over your head is intact is important, and while we’re thinking of damp from above, let’s not forget about damp from below. Apart from the structural damage that moisture can cause when it gets into your home, there’s also the matter of mould which is known to trigger or aggravate respiratory conditions.
Issues with the foundations are among the strongest reasons for having an old house checked thoroughly by professionals before you buy it. If your older house came to you as a legacy or you didn’t receive a report on buying it, do have it checked out. Warning signs include cracked walls, uneven floors, and doors and windows that don’t open and close properly. Regretfully, the repairs will be costly and urgent.
Just having asbestos building materials in your home isn’t necessarily a problem – but if it begins to deteriorate, it can be very hazardous. Professionals will be able to tell you whether just sealing things up is sufficient, or whether you will need to go through the costly business of asbestos removal. Under no circumstances should you consider attempting asbestos removal yourself.
Faulty electrical systems are dangerous. They’re responsible for a great many house fires, and there’s the risk of electrical shocks or even electrocution. Since home inspectors don’t usually try to sell you any services, reserving their role to only diagnostics and reporting, you can be sure of an unbiased assessment of your electrical system. Unfortunately, electrical safety certification is not yet a requirement when selling a house in the UK, but you can ask for certification or obtain a professional opinion yourself – preferably before committing to a purchase agreement.
Energy Efficiency, Features and Layouts
Poor insulation, and awkward, old-fashioned features and floor plan layouts aren’t potential life-or-death issues, but they should be taken into account since having a safe home and a comfortable one are not necessarily the same things. An Electrical Performance Certificate is required when selling a Manchester house, however, if you are already the owner of an old home, the cost of setting things to rights should be taken into account. Do attend to the more important issues first, but be aware that these are also on your to do list.
With careful judgement and a bit of luck, your old home can become the dream house you always wanted, but it might just take some work to get it there.
