See also Chapter Eleven which covers condominium purchases and building a home. If you are considering buying an older home with lots of land and an attractive price tag, understand the repairs that will be necessary and the environmental issues. Older homes usually require more maintenance, so it will be helpful if you are handy with tools or can afford to pay for renovations. You would be wise to hire a professional building inspector to check the home's structure and appliances, plus check for lead or radon problems. Homes built prior to 1978 could have lead-based paint, especially those built before 1960.
Experts know that disturbing surfaces painted with lead-based paint creates lead dust.
Anyone can get lead poisoning, but children younger than 7 are at the most risk because their internal organs are easily damaged. Environmental experts can suggest ways to remove this type of paint safely. Check the library and your local newspaper for information. A home warranty, or home protection plan, is definitely worth considering in an older home. If warranties are purchased, the warranty company does not always require an inspection too, so ask before you spend money on both.