We’re romantics at heart. The rescuers. We’re the people who will stop on the side of the road to help a turtle cross safely. The ones who always played matchmaker and basically tried to adopt people who need a little love. Especially if they don’t want it. And despite our own demise, it’s the way we’re made because when the two of us are together, we’re a little reckless. We can’t decide if this is good or bad.
Sometimes, we just can’t help ourselves.
When we saw those swings in the front yard, it reeled us in a little. And when we were able to take in the view of that established, charming neighborhood with a great location zoned for a fantastic school and a swimming pool to boot… we were hooked. We had visions of our next chapter to be built there. I was itching to dive in to our next project, and wanted to bring this house back to life… to give it a little love.
We looked out the window the other day, and saw Malone hitting the baseball with Aiden. Emerson was swinging with our new neighbor. Laughter and squeals. We have so much to do, but we looked at each other and said, “This. This is why we purchased this house.” Our lives are looking completely different than they did in our previous situation.
But sometimes, as we’ve mentioned before, you have to reel it in a little in the land of love. I mean, what if he’s just not that into you? Jk. This isn’t relationship advice. But in a way, it kind of feels like it, because we did fall hard for this house. And on the surface, it really made absolutely no sense. We even signed the ‘nope’ papers in the land of real estate and almost walked away. And then came back. Because duh… who doesn’t want a house with a ton of issues? Winning.
Unintentionally, we were given a crash course on what the home would need in all due time. And while lots of people fall in love with the notion of bringing something back, a lot of times they fail to consider all the things… before diving in. I mean, life isn’t like the movies… or is it? {Refresh if the video isn’t loading. It’s the best.}
Jamin tells me I was expecting unicorns and butterflies. While he did go in a bit more cautiously than I, it was all a part of a rude awakening. Consider this your crash course on things to think about. Because while we feel like we did our homework, we’re still learning. But this is what we’ve been inducted into so far with all of the things:
1. Inspectors can miss things. Big things.
When you hire that guy to come see your house, do your homework. They’re only human. You can have the best of the best and he can still miss something. Ours did, and he was the best of the best. This something was something major and random all at the same time. And it honestly wasn’t his fault because it all comes down to you never know what people are going to do and who knew that thing was there? Human nature at it’s finest. Let’s just say it was a potential health issue that left us completely baffled and we walked. Almost.
I read somewhere that people recommend having two inspections. We had an over all, and he spent hours at the house. Then we had an HVAC inspection. That experience was an entirely different beast. We also had three contractors visit the house… one was a friend, two were potential people we wanted to work with just to see if our final vision for the home was something they saw as doable with our timeline and budget. We also had a septic system inspection, and had it cleaned out, as it had not been touched in ten years. {Septic systems aren’t supposed to be a big deal, but they still wig me out. But more on that below…}
Just get ready. Because houses are like people. Layers of history… and super complicated.
2. Are you planning a redo? What are your city’s codes? What are the laws?
Hold on to your butts.
Because oh my gosh, y’all. They warned us. Our friends did. All of them. When I wrote this, we were being held up over a re-inspection of an already inspected {and cleaned out} septic system. We could not begin until it had been inspected. Because once you decide to demo a house, everything must be brought up to code, and it’s a different code than the initial standards under which the home was purchased. Yep. Guess who’s septic tank passed inspection and was cleaned out the first time, but now they’re telling us we need a new one? These guys.
Can we do anything about this? No.
And there are a lot of people being affected by this one tiny hold up. Something we’ve only begun to barely touch, and something we will be big experts in, I’m sure, by the time we’re done. So far with our experience, it’s like we’re supposed to meet the standards, but we also have to figure it out on our own. We understand that inspectors are just doing their jobs, and that there are codes for a reason. But there has to be a better solution to this process. Until that day, be warned and try to do your homework… but that’s an entirely different post, all on it’s own.
And something else to consider as a total side note: What will the neighborhood take with the new property value? If you’re planning a renovation for you, awesome. No worries. But if you’re planning a renovation for resale in the future, make sure you don’t price yourself out of the neighborhood. Which is probably good to consider anyway since you really never know what can happen in life. Take a look at your numbers and crunch them along with what you plan to do.
3. The House History
Kind of like relationship 101, what’s your houses history? I mean, how much baggage does it have?
How many awkward updates were done before you were able to get to it? As we stated above with the inspector of our home, it really wasn’t his fault that he missed something completely random. But you never know what people are going to do. How many owners has the house been through? Did you buy a home from Great Aunt Myrtle who took excellent care of her single owner home for years, always doing her due diligence? Or did you buy it from the crazy cat lady who abandoned it due to a build up of bat dung in the attic because of an infestation she just couldn’t get rid of, after its tenth owner while the insulation is falling out and the wiring has rotted? Things to consider, y’all. Dig up as much as you can, and ask around. Do your homework because it helps to know what you’re dealing with.
4. The roof
How old is the roof? What’s the condition? Is there a slope? Is there moisture present? And if there’s moisture present… what needs to be done about mold? Remember, we have some experience with mold… not fun. The rules change when it comes to mold.
Our roof has a slope that needs some reinforcing… but other than that, no moisture which we were glad. This roof and color are not our favorite right now. But it’s not in the docket to replace something like that, when so much else needs to be done. Just keep an eye on those needed repairs… we have enough to keep our hands full for years to come.
5. Windows –
Roof and windows will probably be your two biggest immediate issues since changing them will be better for the home. Ours has single pane windows, that more than likely have never been touched. And not the cute historical kind with wavy glass because 1976 was past that era. More the gross 70’s kind covered in storm windows that need an entirely new redo to make the home more energy efficient. I still find something about that charming, but the idea of escaping those in a fire have my paranoid side doing the crazy awkward dance since garden stools can kill you.
6. Wiring –
Are the plugs and all the wires up to code? Are the boxes up to date? Was it rigged in odd ways around the home because the previous owner thought he could take it on? Older homes will have faulty wiring that can become a fire hazard. Just something to consider. Our home needs it all.
7. Plumbing –
What’s your current pipe situation? Older pipes can contain lead which are unsafe for drinking… and can cause a bigger hazard to burst and cause big damages. I’m sure there’s quite the horror stories to be told here regarding all things pipes. And newer pipes can burst anyway because of shoddy construction work after a slow gradual leak over time… remember our bathroom redo? Yay!
8. HVAC and insulation –
They found moisture under our house, and the entire thing needs to be torn out and redone. We need a new system. We also don’t want little lungs breathing that in. So it’s a top priority for us to replace. We were quoted 10K for a fresh update. It’s something to consider for your health and an energy efficient unit. I’d love a new kitchen, and more on that later, but unfortunately, we had to make sure that the HVAC came first.
9. Foundation and Structural issues –
It’s kind of like skin, and how it ages depending on where you live. Tanning bed during the glory days = wrinkles later in life. How has your home aged? How will it hold up in a storm because of its age? In the south, we have more humidity. That means we’re at a higher risk for termite damage, mold and even sink holes. Know your area and what the homes are prone to. And speaking of termite damage, this is standard with home inspections. So have that done, too.
10. Lead + Asbestos + Radon –
Do you have lead paint around your windows? Do you have asbestos in your house? Is radon an issue where you live? Do you have a hired professional who is making sure he or she is looking into all this and handling it correctly and safely? Do you think you can take it on? Take a look at all things poison and death before moving on. Kidding not kidding. There’s more, depending on where you live.
11. Insurance
What will your homeowner’s insurance be with all these changes? Property tax?
12. Your sense of humor
Come packing heat when it comes to all things laughing at yourself. Because if you can’t do that… what else do you have? We’ve lost some sleep over this. But we’re laughing our way through it, too because this is an adventure, and we’re taking it on one day at a time. One day, we’ll look back and laugh at all of this. I think.
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It’s not all gloom and doom. It’s give and take with older homes and all the necessary changes. There’s that sweet charm that really can’t be duplicated nowadays, and there’s that issue of what you’re willing to do, to change it and bring it up to date. The master bath is tiny. What will we change about it? What can you do to the layout? And then there’s historical preservation societies that one must deal with. Our home clearly isn’t even in that arena but make sure that’s not something you have to contend with in your area. What’s your environmental impact, and do you think you’ll change it again in a few years?
I feel like it’s the same when you relocate anywhere… the pros and cons just come with higher stakes because suddenly, you’re taking on a project with a life of its own.
We literally made a pros and cons chart to help us. It’s a lot… we know. I was all about the diagrams. And lost sleep. And trying not to pull my hair out. Oh wait… we still are. I’m still waiting on a dead body to fall out of our walls.
It’s because we’ve been dealing with all this, and want to make sure we’ve considered all the possible issues that can come from an older home. And we didn’t even cover the cosmetic issues. We’re still learning as we go, but an older home has been an entirely new world with us.
We know this list is nowhere comprehensive, and if anything is just an overview that shall henceforth be known as all things that traumatized the romantic Ashley. Go ahead. Lay it on us. We want to hear your story. What did you learn through all this? Was it worth it in the end? Or are you in the middle of it now? Tell all, y’all!
Anna says
I love this – your sense of humor IS so important! Older homes are a lot to take in but in the end all of your hard work will give you a not-cookie-cutter look like no other! The Money Pit is my favorite.
Beth M. says
Why must our homes require maintenance???? Being an adult is hard….and expensive! We’ve dealt with tons of water issues, radon, mold, termites, foundation issues, old windows and insulation, and so much more in the three homes we’ve owned. Not sure why water issues follow us everywhere! This is a great list! Wish I’d had it in 2005….;)
Maggy Robertson says
Yeah! These things are important to consider if you opt to buy an older house. Sometimes, people think that they could save more money if they buy older houses but that is a mistake. Thinking about the repair and total makeover, that will cost you a lot. Unless if you have the skills to do everything by yourself, then that would save you a dime. Great post!
ashley @ the handmade home says
RIGHT?! By the time we’re finished with this house, it will have been just as costly as a brand new build. But… we also got the charm and custom additions we couldn’t get anywhere else…so it’s definitely a big fat list of pros and cons. ;}
Maryann C says
The scariest two words when buying a house? Well water. I didn’t read that in your description, so I’m guessing you have town/county water and sewer? Praying you do. We did a well only once, and that’ll never happen again. It cost a fortune, and we ended up with our own personal water treatment plant in the basement.
ashley @ the handmade home says
See?! The things you don’t think about! Yes we are on city water – that’s one place we were able to save on! Crazy!
Kathy N. says
10 years ago we bought a house that had been built in 1969. There was not a surface in the house that we even liked. The draw was the neighborhood, the 3/4 acre lot with lovely landscaping, the front porch, and the potential. My husband is very talented so other than an occasional plumber or electrician we’ve done the work and along the way we’ve found particle board sub-floor even in the wet areas, nailed with a million nails because there had been a leak, live wires in the walls and a bar sink that , and I am not kidding here, drained into the crawl space. We’ve had to replace duct work, not once but twice. And, if we ever want to add the downstairs master bedroom that we would like we will have to remove an old septic tank. Has it been worth it? Absolutely! It’s not perfect, but it reflects us and our family and meets our needs. Most likely it will never be “done”, we have long range plans and Lord knows we are not getting any younger. But every morning I wake up and look out my bathroom window and I’m just grateful for this place, and this view. Hang in there, it’s going to work out just fine, and yes, keep your sense of humor. Maybe it’s time for a sequel to the Money Pit movie!
ashley @ the handmade home says
Into. The. Crawlspace?! ??? you have my utmost respect and this comment just made my day!