Category: Home and Living Discussions

5 Problems With Buying an Old House

Two key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money and Home and Living Discussions. Our primary residences are the biggest purchases many people will ever make. The age of the property is a significant consideration and there can be issues with purchasing older houses. The following contributed post is entitled, 5 Problems With Buying an Old House.

* * *

https://unsplash.com/photos/QmU_1X9ZHXo

Old homes come with a particular elegance and grace. Unlike new builds, they are filled with history and, depending on where you live, you may be the latest in a long line of inhabitants to make this house into a home. However, while many people will romanticize old homes, they come with their fair share of issues, so if you’re planning on investing in an older property, you must understand what problems you might encounter.

It Is Not Energy Efficient

New homes are made to conserve and retain energy. Some homes are so good at this that you may not even know it’s winter, as the insulation is so effective that it efficiently traps the heat inside. This is not the same as old houses, especially considering they do not come with double glazing and other amenities essential for conserving energy.

While this might not be much of an issue in the summer, you want to enjoy the heat; it will become a problem in winter. You might think you can counteract the chill with a wood fire or ramp the heating up, but this will make your energy bills skyrocket, which is never something you want.

It Can Be Difficult To Upgrade

If you’re someone who wants to combine the traditional with the modern, it’s perhaps best to wait and make sure this is possible. Old homes do not come with the convenience of newer builds, or even houses that are 10 to 20 years old.

This will make it difficult and expensive to upgrade them. For example, if you want to bring smart home technology into your house, you might be in for a surprise. Often, there is not the space to do so, and the foundations may not be as stable as you’d like them to be, which will make any upgrades challenging at best and dangerous at worst.

The Pipes May Be Rusted

Likewise, there’s also the risk that the pipes have not been updated in years, which means there could be rust and decay within the walls. If you’ve ever owned a property before, you don’t need reminding how hazardous this can be, so it’s worth checking on the pipes before moving in.

There are several ways to do this. You can request an inspection to ensure the house is safe for you to live in and fit for purchase. Alternatively, you might want to look at dye tablets for leak detection, which can identify any issues later on. This approach is useful for any house, but it may be most useful for an older house with the original pipes.

The Roof Could Be Damaged

A damaged roof is another issue that you may encounter when purchasing an old house, especially if the house is close to woodland or near overhanging tree branches. Over time, these environments can cause debris to damage the roof, causing the tiles to crack or fall, and this opens up the chance for gaps in the roof.

This will impact energy efficiency, making it impossible to keep warm, and it could also cause severe issues with the house’s frame. As houses are made of wood, weather damage can cause damp, and therefore rot, which will affect the house’s structural integrity, which is not something you want to encounter. It could be both costly and dangerous if you do not spot the issue quickly enough.

Pests And More

If you’re used to modern homes, you are going to be shocked at how easily bugs, critters, and pests can get into an old house. There are many reasons this would happen, and it usually relates to holes in the brickwork, but a damaged roof can also be inviting for them, especially during winter.

Pests and more are not something you want in your house, even if you’re an animal lover. If you are scared of bugs and spiders, it can put you off purchasing an old house altogether, but you can take action to keep these pests out, so they do not make things worse. Call an exterminator to deal with termites that could affect the structure, and seal up any gaps that you find.

This Old Place

While elegant and steeped in history, an old home can come with an array of issues. With this in mind, you must ensure that you know what you’re getting yourself into and whether all the repairs and upgrades will be worth it. If you decide they are, then you can enjoy a house that will soon become a home once again, as it has for many centuries before you.

Homeowner Discussions: Is It Better To Relocate Or Revamp?

Three key focuses of my blog are Financial Literacy/Money, Home/Living Discussions and Home/Property Discussions. A popular television show is “Love It Or List It” where homeowners must decide whether to update their current property or find a new one altogether. It’s something all homeowners must face. The following contributed post is entitled, Homeowner Discussions: Is It Better To Relocate Or Revamp?

* * *

Credit: Pixabay CC0 License

A happy home life is something that everyone deserves. So, when you’re not 100% satisfied with the current living situation, you will have a number of key questions to consider. The most pertinent, however, is whether to move property or invest in improving the one you already own.

While there’s no single right or wrong answer for everyone, there are several key factors to consider. Be sure to consider the following issues and you won’t go far wrong.

The Financial Aspects

Given that a property is the greatest financial asset at your disposal, it’s impossible to ignore the monetary elements. When relocating, buying a fixer-upper could be one of the greatest ways to bolster your financial status over the long haul. However, it will require a lot of patience. Moreover, you’ll need to remember that buying and selling properties comes with various taxes, fees, and hidden costs.

Meanwhile, most people can add value to the existing property as well as their home lives with ease. Land clearing with the view to creating an extension or adding luxury backyard items can deliver a fantastic ROI. Meanwhile, attic and cellar conversions are capable of making the home feel bigger. They also add significant value. Moreover, you can complete projects one at a time to aid your cash flow at this time.

In many cases, then, working on your existing home is probably best in the short-term. However, each route can deliver benefits in the long haul. The key is to do it correctly.

Lifestyle Changes

When buying a property, you aren’t just purchasing a building. You are committing to a new way of life. Therefore, it’s essential that you think about those impacts on your life as well as the benefits of the property itself. When moving to a new city, weighing up the career prospects and living costs is as crucial as the cost of the property. Otherwise, it won’t become the foundation of a happy life like you crave.

Even when moving locally, you may need to consider transport links to your work or the schooling facilities. The truth is that your move may provide an upgrade or a downgrade. Only thorough research will give you a clear indication of what to expect. If you decide that a move is right for your future, it’s important to choose a suitable time for the move too. Moving during your child’s exam season, for example, may not work.

Staying put offers stability and convenience, but only you will know if it’s where you wish to stay. If the surroundings are a source of displeasure, a move could be right.

Personalization

When hoping to make a house a home, character-defining features are vital. If planning to move into a new property, you should invest in personalization from the start. Living in someone else’s dream property will never deliver the best results, even if the surroundings are impressive. This is another incentive to choose a home that needs a little work. It’ll save money, that can be spent on those updates.

If your current home is in good health and just needs a little updating, cost-effective ideas work wonders. New kitchen cabinet handles are far cheaper than gutting the room. Meanwhile, a change of color scheme or rearranging the furniture can bolster living spaces. Fixing TVs to the wall or using shelves rather than display cabinets can deliver stunning rewards too. Increased floor space is the key.

It’s quicker to personalize an existing space, but starting from scratch in a new home may be better for some. But only if you have the time and budget needed for success.

4 Ways To Prepare For The Big Moving Day

Two focuses of my blog is Creating Ecosystems of Success and Home and Living Discussions. Each of us has to change addresses and move at some point in our lives. Moving can be a gargantuan task if not properly prepared for. The following sponsored post is entitled, 4 Ways To Prepare For The Big Moving Day.

* * *

Moving into a new residence can be an exciting adventure, but it can be daunting as well. If you want to be prepared and keep the associated stress levels down to a minimum, use these four moving day tips.

1. Clean Deep

Before you pack even the first box, start your adventure with a deep clean of all the rooms in your home or apartment. Move misplaced items back to where they belong and take a long look at what you own. Imagine the objects in your new home as you deep clean to decided if they will fit. You may be surprised at all the long-lost stuff you find as you deep clean.

2. Discard the Old

If you can not imagine the objects in your new home, discard them or give them to a thrift store. As you go through closets, be critical of worn-out attire you use to wear, clothing your children have outgrown, and the t-shirts with holes. Being realistic about the last time you used an object or wore a piece of clothing can keep you from packing something you will probably discard a few months after you move.

3. Pack Early

Don’t wait until the last month to begin packing your possessions. Locate some moving supplies Kansas City Mo and pack away items that you don’t regularly use. Dedicate a space for the boxes and crates as you pack objects away to keep from tripping over the cartons.

4. Clean Continually

Stay organized by cleaning continually in what would otherwise become a disorganized home. Making sure items are in their places will make it much easier to pack in an organized manner. Being orderly will also allow you to know where items are that you regularly use.

Organizing your household before you begin moving can make a difference in how stressed your moving day becomes. Also, remember to discard items you no longer need and give yourself an excuse to get new things once you are settled in your new home or apartment.