What to Know Before Buying a 100 Year Old House (2024)

The old charm, character and craftsmanship of a very old house are what make them appealing to home buyers. They also often hold historical significance in the towns they’re located in. Buying a 100 year old house offers many benefits. However, sometimes it’s not all sunshine and rainbows when you discover a problem with the home — it could have electrical issues, foundations problems, and more.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with buying a 100 year old house. You just need to evaluate the true condition of the house, preferably with a home inspector. That way, you can hone in on what might be lurking in the old house before you buy. No matter how new or old the home is, there are things to look for when buying.

Below are things you need to know and look for before buying a 100 year old house.

Inspect for Possible Structural Considerations

No matter how solidly an old house was built, nature will affect it over time. This means that there will inevitably be foundation and structural problems when buying a 100 year old house. Some structural damage may be seen when you first look at it. However, other forms of damage to the home’s structure may be impossible to see — unless you know what to look for.

Foundation problems include:

• Major cracks or unevenness in the slab or perimeter foundation wall
• Corrosion, dry rot, or moisture damage in pilings or concrete foundation supports
• Damaged piers or support footings
• Dry rot or moisture damage in above-ground studs

If there are doors in the house that jam or won’t latch, or windows that continuously get stuck, there may be structural problems in the home. Other signs of structural issues include off-level, cracked tile or concrete flooring, and visible wall cracks that grow over time (although you may not notice growing wall cracks as a new home buyer).

The original framing of the old house could be compromised. It’s worth getting an expert opinion from a structural engineer or contractor before you buy a home. If the foundation requires extensive repair or replacement, it can get expensive.

Be Wary of Hazardous Materials When Buying a 100 Year Old House

Lead and asbestos are two hazardous materials that were used in residential applications until relatively recently.If the home you want to buy was built before 1978, the home may contain lead paint in the exterior and interior paint. It may also have asbestos insulation in the home’s crawl spaces, walls, and pipes.

Lead Paint

Lead paintis paint that contains the heavy metal. It was generally used in significantly older or historic homes that were built before 1978. Different lead compounds were added to the paint by manufacturers as a pigment. Lead also made the paint more durable, resistant to moistures, and quicker to dry. Not only was lead paint used up until the 1970s in homes, it was also used on children’s toys.

Lead is a highly toxic substance that will affect just about every organ in the body. Ingesting or inhaling lead can pose a potential health threat, especially for kids. It causes problems in the health of anything that ingests it or inhales it.

The use of lead paint in homes tapered off in the mid-1970s was finally banned in 1978. However, lead paint is still a major hazard because many older homes still have it. In fact, the older the home you’re selling, the more lead paint it will most likely have.

According to theEPA, lead paint that appears intact is not necessarily harmful. The EPA also says that lead paint can only produce dangerous lead dust if the paint has been damaged, such as if it is peeling, being rubbed, or chipped off during renovations.

This also means that removing or disturbing lead paint on doors, windows, stairs, and railings through normal wear-and-tear can also expose you and your family to health risks. There may be enough lead present to be a problem for the health of anything that ingests it or inhales it. Babies have a tendency to chew around window sills, doorways, etc. This poses a significant threat. Some of the symptoms of lead poisoning can be foundhere.

Lead paint is still present in millions of homes, sometimes under layers of newer paint. It’s right up there with asbestos as far as things that can be very stressful for homeowners, especially if you’re selling.

First of all, there’s little chance you have lead paint in your house if your house isn’t a historic home or very old. Lead-based paint is a dangerous source of lead, but precautions can be taken to reduce exposure. Ahome inspectionis the best way to find out if you have lead paint in your home.

Paint over lead paint is a viable solution — but it’s only effective if the old finish of the lead paint isn’t chipped or peeling. Most Realtors recommend painting your home if you’re selling, even if your house doesn’t have lead paint. Additionally, the encapsulated area must be monitored over time to prevent exposure to lead paint chips and dust.

What’s the law when selling a house with lead paint?

While selling a home with lead present may be challenging, it is doable — if you know about your legal obligations as a seller. You must have aseller disclosurestatement that details facts known about your home’s condition.

Lead paint is an issue that is a federally mandated disclosure. In Massachusetts, theLead Lawwas passed in 1992, and it dictates how homes with lead paint should be dealt with for all the main parties of concern—sellers, buyers, rental owners, renters, real estate agents, etc. All real estate agents must comply with the lead paint law.

Asbestos

One good thing is that insulation tucked away in inaccessible walls most likely won’t pose a direct risk. If you plan on knocking down walls in the 100-year-old house, or doing some other expansive project, it’s better to get the asbestos removed. Again, removal can get pretty expensive — a whole-house removal costs $20,000 to $30,000.

Insects and Pest Removal When Buying a 100 Year Old House

Old homes usually have pests that live inside, especially if the house has been empty for many years. While some pests are just in inconvenience, others can be downright hazardous to your health.

For example, mice may be present in the house. A pest company can help remove the mice and prevent future problems. On the other hand, termites are an entirely different issue. Many old homes have termites, unfortunately. And some of the areas that are infested may be worse than what meets the eye. Old powder post beetle damage may be an issue in an older home as well.

Updating Outdated Electrical

It’s almost a given that the electrical system will need updating. Most electrical issues can be categorized as either a safety problem or an inconvenience. For example, older homes usually don’t have enough outlets. This is a convenience issue.

On the flip side, if the wiring is so old that wire is exposed, it’s a safety hazard — electrical fire, shocks, short circuits, and power failures could occur. The electrical service panels and circuit breakers may also be deteriorated and need replacing. Rely on a licensed electrician to perform any necessary electrical work to the home.

Address Inefficient Windows

A 100-year-old house will most likely have old windows. Inefficient windows equal higher electrical bills and poor home insulation. Installing ENERGY STAR certified windows, doors, and skylights can reduce your energy bill by an average of 12%.

The downside is that when it comes to windows, you get what you pay for. Window replacement for the entire house could cost $15,000 and up. It’s a good investment in the long run. Another option is to seal cracks around your windows and reinforce your home’s insulation, which will run about $1,000.

Inspect for Plumbing Problems

Older homes come with old plumbing systems, and the material used in the supply and drain pipes matter. PEX, brass, and copper pipes last about 50 years, while steel pipes may need replacing after 20 years.

An old plumbing system can result in flooding and eventual mold infestations. Be sure to find out how old the pipes are and what they’re made out of, before you commit to buying the home.

Your Insurance May Be Expensive

Like all types of insurance, the cost of homeowners insurance is based on risk. Your quote will be based on the fact that the 100-year-old house is more prone to problems. You can still get a deal, but know that quotes will be pricey based on the age of your home.

Shopping for a new home can be fun and exciting. Shopping for a homeowner’s insurance policy, not so much. While homeowner’s insurance is not required by law like auto insurance, your lender will insist on your maintaining a certain level of coverage until your mortgage is paid off.

Even if you own your home outright, you should still keep up your coverage. It will protect you against any damage your home may sustain as well as, against any injury or property damage claim you many incur in connection with the property. While those monthly insurance fees may be a necessary expense, they are not an insignificant one, so do a little legwork before you sign on the dotted line.Need help with your home insurance when buying?Get expert help from your UpNest network agent.

Check out the Ratings

Before you start shopping for anything, it’s always a good idea to see what kind of experience other consumers have had with the company in question.

Market research company J.D. Power breaks it down for youhere, ranking a number of top companies in categories such as policy offerings, customer interaction, price, and overall satisfaction. If you’re leaning toward one specific company, however, you should also check out any complaints that have been filed against that company on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’website.

Online vs. In Person?

Some people like conducting business face to face, while others prefer the speed and efficiency of transacting business entirely online or over the phone.

If you prefer the former experience, look at the local directory listings to see what insurers have agents in your town and then check out sites like YP.com, Yelp and Angie’s list to see reviews for those agents. If you prefer an all-virtual experience, any of the major carriers should be able to help you, so you can focus on other criteria such as price, coverage, and overall customer satisfaction.

Total Value

In order to determine the amount of coverage you’ll need, make an inventory of all of your home’s contents as well as the approximate cost to replace each item should it be stolen or damaged. You’ll also be insuring your home’s contents along with the dwelling itself. When it comes to deciding on the level of dwelling coverage you’ll need, you should base this on what it would cost to rebuild your home, rather than the price you paid to purchase it.

Compare Coverage

Most standard homeowners insurance policies cover the same basic categories: your property, its contents, certain expenses you may incur as a result of your property being damaged (for example, a hotel stay on account of an insured loss), and a certain level of liability coverage should a visitor suffer any type of accident on your property.

Insurance companies may differ from each other in the size of the deductible they require at different price levels and in the pricing plans for any optional add-on coverage, such as flood or earthquake protection.

Is buying a 100 year old house worth it?

It’s worth buying a 100 year old house, or even older — if you understand the true condition of the property. An experienced Realtor from UpNest, which is owned by parent company Realtor.com, can help you invest wisely in the charming 100-year-old home of your dreams.

All of our partner agents are skilled, licensed agents who perform in the top 5% of their markets. Work with local market experts with experience in your neighborhood who will get you the best deal possible.

UpNest, whichis owned by parent companyRealtor.com, is a no-cost service for home sellers and buyers to find the best real estate agents locally. The UpNest platform allows you to compare multiple agents in your area so you can compare reviews, commission rates, previous sales, and more.

Our network agents have been carefully vetted and often offer competitive, lower than average commission rates to UpNest customers. There is no obligation to sign up with one of our network Realtors, but when you can potentially save thousands on commission – why wouldn’t you? If you’re ready to get started, just enter your zipcode below!