First-time home buyer, owner occupant 3-family built in 1880's

[Matt Whitermore]

Hi all,

I am under contract on a 3-family house in Albany, NY and was hoping to pick the brain of anyone out there who has experience with old properties like this built pre-1900. Is there anything I should be looking out for with my home inspector during my home inspection other than the obvious items - foundation/structural, mechanicals, etc.?

Thanks!

[Matt Castle]

Foundation: look for settling cracks along masonry outside and inside if basement/crawlspace. Look at permanently affixed shudders for gaps along windows, or any other affixed item that has been on the home for many years that was installed square that may be out of square now. Find the sill plate on foundation to check for water damage, drainage issues, or wood destroying insects. 

Roof: inspect the attic to find current/old water damage. Plywood not a huge deal but rotten rafters gets expensive. Ask age of roof shingles/metal obviously. 

Plumbing: ask when waste lines were last replaced (if at all). Nothing worse than buying a new place and have to replace a sewage line from the house to the street for 10k. Turn sinks on full blast and note the rate of drainage. 

Electrical: knob and tube wiring was popular then, so ask if original electrical remains. If not, when was it replaced and with what. In many places, if you discover knob & tube you have to replace it. Some will even head fake you by replacing 1ft at an outlet so it looks like it was replaced, but didn't do full job. 

Mechanicals: hard to check AC in cooler weather, but drop AC 10 degrees before house temp and check it. Then do same with heat. Inspectors often do this but you can do it too during a showing. Ask age of HVAC, warranty transfer, etc.