Some people find it very hard to resist the charms of period properties.

Lots of people would jump at the chance to buy an older home, or period property. Older houses tend to be quite large and spacious and are full of lots of character after all.

Of course, you shouldn’t buy a period property without first thinking long and hard about whether it is the right decision for you. These kinds of homes tend to be quite expensive. They often need a lot of work done to them to ensure they are well-maintained.

If your budget can handle a mortgage for a period property, you need to think about a few other things. Here’s a quick checklist of all the important items to review when considering whether or not to buy a period property.

Check The Windows

When you view a period property, it is really important that you make a note of the type of windows. Generally speaking, the majority of period homes will still have the original windows that they were built with. These will be single-glazed and, as a result, probably very drafty and won’t provide much insulation to your home.

If so, check with a window firm like Pinehurst Window to see how much it costs to replace them with modern windows. This could end up being quite a sizeable quote. It’s best to sort it out before you commit to buying the house to make sure that you can afford the window replacements. 

Assess Any Damp Issues

Something else to keep an eye out for is damp and mold on the walls. Damp is a problem in the majority of period properties. Thankfully it can be easy to deal with as long as you don’t leave it for too long.

You might need to call in a professional damp proofer to seal problem walls. This should dry them out and prevent the spread of more damp. Once the situation is under control, you will then need to keep the whole house well ventilated, especially in problem rooms like the kitchen and bathroom. This should ensure that there is no more damp caused.

Insulation Issues

Insulation regulations weren’t a thing when most period properties were built. So there is a good chance that the insulation in the period property won’t be up to much. This might not cause a problem for you, as the walls in older homes are generally very thick. The house might not really need any insulation if that is the case. However, it could still be worth finding out about the ways you could retroactively fit insulation systems into the home. This can make it as energy efficient as possible.

Is It Listed?

When you are looking at a period property, you will no doubt think of some really great decorating ideas that you can use to spruce the whole place up and to turn it into your perfect home. However, if you want to make any significant structural changes, you will need to check to see if the property is listed first.

Old buildings and structures are sometimes listed if there is a historical significance to protect them. For instance, to retain certain features. If the property you are looking at is indeed listed, then you will be really restricted with how much you can make any alterations to it.

Think About The Best Way To Handle Period Features

There are a ton of period features that most older homes will have. These include things like open fireplaces, exposed ceiling beams, and original tiles. These are usually the features that will give the period property all of its character and charm. Will you keep these or will you remove them so that you can add some more modern features? This will be entirely up to you, but it is worth remembering that period features can usually add a lot of character to older homes.

Review Any Structural Issues

Make sure you get a survey carried out on the period property before you do decide if you want to buy it. This will flag up any potential structural issues that could end up being very expensive to fix.

So, will you go for an older home?