Home and Garden

Buying an Older House? Things to do Before You Decorate

Buying a house is exciting, and you have probably viewed many properties before finding the perfect home for you and your family. If you have chosen an older house as your next home, you were perhaps attracted to its character and unique charm, which are things that can be hard to find in newer homes. The appeal of an older home is obvious; all that history and old-fashioned charm certainly make old properties an attractive choice. But, when you decide to buy an older property, it is crucial to understand that extra care is needed to ensure it is in good working order and without any problems. Once you have moved in, it is essential to carry out any necessary checks before you get stuck into renovating the property and decorating it. It is much better to discover that additional work is required on the house before you start investing money in decorating and making it look perfect.

If you are preparing to buy an older house? Here are some things to do before you decorate!

Inspect the Roof

Calling a roofing company to come over and inspect the roof of your new property is an excellent idea and something you may want to do as soon as possible. Roofs do not last forever, so if your property is old and the roof has never been replaced, chances are it will need to be done sometime soon. While obvious problems with your roof can often be spotted from ground level, other issues cannot be seen without venturing up onto the roof to inspect it thoroughly. A roof inspection is a task that is best left to a professional company. To start with, it can be challenging to notice roof problems if you are not experienced in the industry and are not sure what to look out for. Secondly, accessing the roof is dangerous, especially if you do not have the appropriate safety equipment. 

Check the Electrics

Calling a qualified electrician to come and check over the electrics at the property is vital. You certainly don’t want to spend time and money carefully decorating your new home to match your tastes, only to discover that the walls need to be ripped open to allow for rewiring. Having your home rewired can be a disruptive process, so having an electrical survey carried out is a wise idea so that you can plan if rewiring is required.

Assess the Plumbing

Another main aspect of an older home that may need some attention when you move in is the plumbing. Plumbing issues can cause a host of problems and be challenging to track down and resolve. If you notice any issues such as small leaks, or dampness, it is advisable to get these checked out as soon as possible. A small leak can cause major damage to a property. So, being alert to the signs of a potential plumbing issue and getting this resolved quickly is vital before you do anything else.

 

12 thoughts on “Buying an Older House? Things to do Before You Decorate

  • Whenever I watch the design shows, an inspection (or lack thereof) adds quite a bit to the renovation budget, but things have to be fixed.

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  • I purchased an older home, and I found this post really helpful.

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  • Older houses can have so much personality to them. When we buy a house I will refer back to this article.

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  • I’ve always loved older houses. They have more excitement to them. Current houses all look the same.

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  • I’ve always wanted to live in an old house. I love the character of old houses but I’m a little nervous about the upkeep!

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  • This is a really great and very informative post! Thanks for sharing this with us! I’m gonna share this with my parents

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  • This is so helpful! I’m gonna share this with my sister who is planning to buy an older house.

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  • I have considered purchasing an old house. I think it would be fun and awesome to decorate, renovate and make the place even better. Thanks for these tips! They are noted.

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  • Always get a home inspection before buying a house. It’s a way to determine what’s wrong with the house before you purchase it.

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  • This is so true, old places have quite a bit of thing that should be checked just because of how old everything is. Thanks for sharing!

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  • Oh yes! These are definitely the most important things to check when buying a new home!

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  • We almost bought an old house, and I worried about the things that might have to be dealt with since it was not as modern. Good to know about what things to take care of.

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