Historic homes offer something special and many home buyers entertain the idea of buying a historic home, fixing it up and enjoying live there. Phoenix, AZ has identified 35 historic districts and there are dozens of other subdivisions with older interesting homes built in the 1950’s and before.
We have a few ideas we wanted to share with those looking at buying a historic home:
Use an agent who has knowledge of historic properties. These homes are generally over 60 years old and can have issues. A good agent can help point out problems that may or may not make the home a good choice. Naturally, you’ll conduct a home inspection on any home you make an offer.
Electrical, plumbing and AC can be a problem in many older homes.
In many of the homes they were wired without dedicated ground wires, commonly referred to as 2 wire homes. Many modern appliances such as TVs, stereos and computers need a ground circuit to be protected from line spikes. If you are looking at a historic home, make sure it has good wiring or budget to bring it up to current standards.
Many older homes were plumbed with galvanized pipe. Galvanized pipe deteriorates over time and can be prone to leaks. You’ll want to check this out and take the advise of a licensed plumber. Re-piping to copper is not cheap and involves tearing into walls that will have to be repaired.
Make sure the AC and heating systems are adequate for the home. Your inspector may advise seeking further inspections by a licensed HVAC professional. Again, HVAC problems and repairs can be expensive.
Grade and foundation issues need to be explored.
Many older neighborhoods in the Phoenix area use or used flood irrigation. Flood irrigation is where small canals literally flood the yards with water. If a prior owner changed the lot grading, there can be foundation and other structural issues. Again, a knowledgeable inspector should identify these problems and offer solutions or suggest further inspections by a specialist.
Remodeling Historic Homes:
Many historic home buyers have plans to remodel their new old home. There are rules and regulations one must observe when changing the exterior of a historic home in Phoenix. You’ll have to get special permits and have them approved by the City of Phoenix before making changes to windows and other exterior features. Cheap windows from Home Depot are probably not going to be approved.
Conclusions:
Historic properties can be great fun and offer a pride of ownership. Do your due diligence upfront before you buy and you will be less likely to buy a money pit. A historic home knowledgeable Realtor and great home inspector will be important to you.