There’s something romantic about owning an old, country house. Beautiful natural surroundings, spectacular scenery and perhaps an ocean view, add to the appeal. Everything seems so perfect. However, before jumping at an apparent bargain in the country, it’s a good idea to thoroughly check out exactly what you are buying.

Older houses in remote areas offer peace and quiet, a sense of individuality and closeness to the land, but the price paid for these amenities is often much more than the mere selling price. In fact, an unbelievably low asking price is usually a warning sign that the property needs work. As a rule of thumb, the older the house, the more repairs it needs to meet modern standards.

Before buying an older house, follow three simple rules: inspect, inspect, inspect. If you lack building expertise, seek out a professional home inspection agency or an architect for assistance. Think of the fee paid as insurance against paying thousands of dollars later repairing unforeseen faults.

Start by checking the site services. If the well cannot deliver potable water, you may have to drill an artesian well, which costs ten to twenty times more than a dug well. Has the septic system been approved by local health authorities? Not only must it function, the septic field must be remote and downhill from the well. Local codes dictate the required separation distance.

Often, carpenters without formal training in construction techniques or non-carpenters built older homes. They assembled the structure piece by piece to the best of their ability. Sometimes, the structure was over-designed, i.e. stronger than necessary for the loads to be carried. In other cases, the structure was under-designed, resulting in sagging roofs and floors as the house aged.

Checking the foundation is critical. If the foundation has deteriorated, what sits on it is not worth considering. Check for cracks and signs of water entry. Differential settlement may have occurred over time, which means the house has settled faster on one side than on the other. This problem creates other problems in the wood framing such as warped window and door boxes, and sloping floors.

Look for roof leaks. Water entering through the roof migrates down to and damages other building components. Excessive moisture accumulation rots the finishes and structural members. The cost of repairs caused by a roof leak depends on how long the water entry has gone unchecked.

Masonry chimneys have a habit of crumbling over time. Repairing a few loose bricks and mortar is relatively inexpensive, but relining the flue pipe and replacing corroded flashing is considerably more costly. When the chimney is in bad shape, the fireplace may also have been neglected. Check both for safety’s sake.

Once the structural items have been inspected, ask an electrician and plumber to estimate the necessary upgrading to their respective systems. In some municipalities, rewiring an older house is mandatory upon resale.

Besides the practical concerns of buying an older house, you will no doubt want to touch up the cosmetics. Kitchen and bathroom remodelling are usually in order, but they are the most expensive rooms to upgrade.

Whether you’re purchasing a charming old country estate as a principal residence or a weekend retreat, remember that you wouldn’t buy an old car just for the charm!

DIFFERENTIAL SETTLEMENT

Differential settlement occurs when one part of a house sinks at a different rate than another. The symptoms range from the obvious, such as a cracked and leaking foundation wall, to the more subtle, such as deformed window and door frames.

A main cause of differential settlement is poor soil compaction under the footings. When a house is built on fill, the fill must be well compacted and free from organic material. Organic material, such as tree roots, rot over time, leaving voids which reduce the load bearing capacity of the fill. The fill then compresses unevenly, resulting in differential settlement.

Differential settlement also occurs when a foundation wall is subject to irregular loading conditions. The crack often seen where an exterior basement stairwell wall meets the main foundation wall is a good example. The weight of the house pushes the main wall down farther and faster than the stairwell wall. A vertical control joint at the juncture alleviates this problem.