MissRibena
Registered User
- Messages
- 350
Hi everyone
I'm buying a detached house built in approx. 1930. It is being surveyed on Saturday for me but I wondered if anyone had experience of buying older houses and had tips on what to look out for. I know dampness and dry rot are common and may require special testing so I'll make sure the engineer takes care of that. I could see no visible signs of either but am far from an expert.
The house has no central heating but has been rewired and has modern storage heaters in all the rooms. The first thing I want to do on ownership is get rid of this and get central heating (probably dual oil/gas and solid fuel).
All the original woodwork is there and is in very good condition. The original windows have been replaced with PVC ones.
The extension housing the kitchen, bathrooms (up and down) and one bedroom is a pitched roof so no flat roof to worry about at least. I want water, sewerage and plumbing in general looked at really closely since it would be easier to get the plumber for the central heating to do the lot if needs be.
None of the four fireplaces have been blocked up and they seem to all be in working order (obviously I want to get the engineer to look at this more closely). There are no visible signs of cracks in the chimney breasts or soot or smoke, although I know that that doesn't say much.
My intention is to keep it as close to original as possible without actually living in 1930! The original rooms have high ceilings and picture rails so I'm not keen on drylining if I don't have to. The original woodwork looks fine and I'd really love to be able to hold onto it too.
So should I be looking out for other problems, steer the engineer into any particular direction? Has anyone bought a house of this vintage and run into unexpected problems?
Also, anyone know good places (preferably in the sticks) where you can buy old furniture, kitchen units, tables and that kinda thing - either restored or not? I'm keeping an eye on the Buy and Sell because anything modern will look mental in this house.
Thanks
Rebecca
I'm buying a detached house built in approx. 1930. It is being surveyed on Saturday for me but I wondered if anyone had experience of buying older houses and had tips on what to look out for. I know dampness and dry rot are common and may require special testing so I'll make sure the engineer takes care of that. I could see no visible signs of either but am far from an expert.
The house has no central heating but has been rewired and has modern storage heaters in all the rooms. The first thing I want to do on ownership is get rid of this and get central heating (probably dual oil/gas and solid fuel).
All the original woodwork is there and is in very good condition. The original windows have been replaced with PVC ones.
The extension housing the kitchen, bathrooms (up and down) and one bedroom is a pitched roof so no flat roof to worry about at least. I want water, sewerage and plumbing in general looked at really closely since it would be easier to get the plumber for the central heating to do the lot if needs be.
None of the four fireplaces have been blocked up and they seem to all be in working order (obviously I want to get the engineer to look at this more closely). There are no visible signs of cracks in the chimney breasts or soot or smoke, although I know that that doesn't say much.
My intention is to keep it as close to original as possible without actually living in 1930! The original rooms have high ceilings and picture rails so I'm not keen on drylining if I don't have to. The original woodwork looks fine and I'd really love to be able to hold onto it too.
So should I be looking out for other problems, steer the engineer into any particular direction? Has anyone bought a house of this vintage and run into unexpected problems?
Also, anyone know good places (preferably in the sticks) where you can buy old furniture, kitchen units, tables and that kinda thing - either restored or not? I'm keeping an eye on the Buy and Sell because anything modern will look mental in this house.
Thanks
Rebecca