When you’ve lived in your home for years, it’s easy to overlook small signs of ageing or the fact that your décor or fittings are dated and it’s also likely that there may be more critical signs of ageing that you will need to address before you put your home on the market.
Cosmetic signs of ageing
Dated kitchens: This is the ‘make or break’ room for many buyers so if you haven’t updated your kitchen since last century and still have vinyl flooring and fluorescent lighting, it would be a good idea to consider tiling the kitchen floor and replacing the light fitting.
Dated bathrooms: Another room that deter an otherwise keen potential buyer. If you don’t have the budget to redo the whole bathroom, changing the taps and tiling the floor will make a significant difference.
Loud paint and/or wallpaper: Colour schemes are very much a personal choice and a bold statement wall can be very appealing but if your bathroom walls are still avocado green or your lounge walls still have wallpaper from the 80’s, it’s best to repaint in a neutral colour before inviting people to view.
Wood panelling: This was a very popular finish in the 70’s, often even extending to ceilings and not only will it definitively date your home to half a century ago, it also makes rooms look very dark. It’s also not that hard to remedy - remove the panelling, install drywall and slap on a fresh coat of paint.
Popcorn ceilings: Another throwback from the 20th century, and one which is unlikely to ever regain popularity. Fixing it is also not too difficult but it IS messy so best to hire a contractor.
Building/structural signs of ageing
Although older homes have a lot of character and are perfect for buyers looking for a renovation project, they are likely to be deterred by a house that looks very likely to become a money pit sooner rather than later.
All materials have a lifespan and even the most well-built homes will eventually start to show their age and, as a homeowner, you need to know what signs to look for so you can step to prevent these issues becoming long-term problems, and have your house in a good enough condition to attract buyers.
The following are the most common signs to be on the lookout for:
Water leaks:Leaks or water stains around the interior of your home and especially beneath bathroom areas are usually a clear sign of leakage and could be an indication of a plumbing system that’s nearing the end of its lifespan. Check visible piping and look for any rusted or corroded materials. Also keep an eye out for ‘spongy’ flooring in the bathroom.
Sagging gutters: This is often merely be a result of neglecting to regularly clean the them out, especially in autumn, but it can also be an indication of more serious wear and tear over the years. Repairing the issue may just be a matter of replacing one section of guttering but it could also be an indication of a rotting roof with mould growth from excessive water, so it’s best to get the whole roof checked out if the gutters start to sag.
Damaged roof shingles: Because your home’s exterior is its first line of defence against the elements, the roof generally takes the worst beating but because it’s high and out of sight, it’s easy to miss the first signs of damage. If the edges of your shingles are curling, your roof needs attention and if granules are missing and worn and starting to appear “bald”, it’s an indication that the shingle thinning down and will therefore no longer hold up very well against the elements.
Cracking brick and mortar: Brick is known for its strength and integrity but, even though it’s more durable than most materials, it will also age over time and you need to keep an eye out for brick that’s starting to break apart. Unfortunately, bricks cannot be repaired, they need to be replaced.
Mortar will also eventually begin to break down and as soon as you see this start to happen, you need to scrape out the old mortar and replace it with new, sealing any gaps between the bricks.
Banging pipes:Like everything else, pipes incur wear and tear and it’s possible for a section to break loose and this will often result in a banging noise when you shut the water off because they're no longer properly secured properly in the walls. When this starts to happen, your pipes need to be inspected and may need reinforcement or even replacement.
Flickering lights: this could be a sign of numerous issues, including loose service conductors in your main electrical panel, an outdated breaker box with worn connectors or a switch failure and these are not uncommon problems in older homes.
And, bearing in mind that loose or outdated wiring is one of the leading causes of house fires, so it’s definitely not an issue that should be ignored, call the electrician as soon as you notice the flickering begin to occur.
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