Hand-carved stone fireplaces, artisan-designed moldings, and astonishing architecture are some things a Victorian-era home can provide, but you can’t make this purchase without considering a few things. While there’s a lot to love about an investment of this magnitude, things have to be done. Failure to adequately plan and prepare can lead to headaches and disaster.
Two Inspections
People generally get a home inspection while in escrow. This usually provides some peace of mind. Most likely, the inspector is going to catch most issues. The problem is that you’re not purchasing a modern home. Inspectors are human beings and can make mistakes. With this in mind, you should have two inspections done on the property. If the home inspector misses something, the issue could be more costly with an older home. The second inspector may catch problems missed by the first one. This information will come in handy as you may decide to cancel the contract for severe issues.
Updated Water System
A Victorian-era home has a lot of charm. There’s no denying that, but it also comes with problems modern homes won’t face. A house this old is bound to have issues, like shifting pipes. This happens after many years, and it could restrict water flow. No matter how beautiful your Victorian-era home looks, inadequate water flow is going to lead to issues. This isn’t the only issue you might face with centuries-old plumbing. A reverse osmosis filter system is recommended for older homes connected to outdated infrastructure. These systems work to soften the water supply, make tap water palatable, and extend the lifespan of appliances that use water, like laundry machines and dishwashers.
Addressing the Paint
Most older homes, including beautiful Victorian-era houses, have lead-based paint. This is a problem, especially if you find chipped or damaged paint. Some of these homes might have been updated by previous owners who attempted to modernize, but if you’re purchasing a home that hasn’t been modernized in any way, it’s essential to consider the paint. You’ll need to hire professionals that can handle the job and repaint the house using safe paint options. This isn’t going to be an easy job because it’s a detailed job, so you must be patient. It’s not something you should ignore.
Insulate Quickly
Victorian-era homes weren’t insulated too well. Some were insulated with discarded newspaper, hay, and shredded textile. The insulation these materials provided wasn’t enough at the time, and it certainly isn’t sufficient today. Sure, a sound AC system can make a difference, but the amount of power needed to keep everyone in the home comfortable is going to be immense. This isn’t only unwise; it will also force you to have a bigger carbon footprint. It’s essential to have the insulation inspected to ensure everything is okay and in good condition. If this is not the case, you’re going to have to install proper insulating materials.
Addressing Mold
A problem that some of these homes can have is mold. After so many years, one minor water leak can lead to a significant mold issue after a while. What’s worse is that mold isn’t always visible. This won’t matter, though. The health issues associated with mold will still be there. Mold remediation is the only solution. This process used to take a long time, and it required some major work. Sometimes, they had to destroy parts of the house. The good thing is that technology has gotten a lot better, and you can use something like heat treatment to eliminate mold within the walls of your new home. This is an excellent way to guarantee mold is not in your home.
These are just some things you must know about buying a beautiful home like this. Use this information to prepare for this purchase, and you’ll feel great when the house is finally restored to its formal glory.