Older homes have character a new build can't match — and systems that have aged for decades. Here's what an inspection focuses on, so you can love the charm and respect the age.
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An older home isn't necessarily a worse home — many were built with materials and craftsmanship that hold up beautifully. But every system has a service life, and in a home that's 70, 100, or more years old, the wiring, plumbing, heating, and roof may be on their second or third generation — or original and overdue. An inspection of an older home pays special attention to these aging systems and to updates that may have been done well or poorly over the years.
Knob-and-tube and aluminum wiring have safety concerns and affect insurance.
Federal Pacific and other obsolete panels may not trip reliably.
Galvanized and polybutylene pipes corrode, clog, and fail.
Decades of settlement and freeze-thaw show up as cracks and uneven floors.
Layered roofs, worn shingles, and minimal attic insulation are common in older homes.
We assess whether past renovations were done properly and to code, or just covered up.
The goal isn't to talk you out of an older home — it's to make sure you know what you're buying and can budget for it. An inspection gives you a clear picture of which systems are near the end of their life and which have plenty left, so you can plan upgrades over time instead of being blindsided. On an older home, a sewer scope and radon test are especially worth adding.
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Older homes benefit from the specialty services and warning-sign guides. Browse the full Learning Center, explore our defect library, or see the complete 120-point home inspection. We serve Hutchinson and all of McLeod County.