Why Knowing a Home’s History Matters

Unless you’re moving into a brand-new place, chances are your home has a backstory. It could be anything from decades-long careful maintenance AND renovations or even details about who lived there before. If it’s not a “George Washington slept here” type of history, chances are it’s all fairly normal and innocuous. Until it isn’t.  

Knowing your home’s history matters. Doing your “home homework” gives you knowledge and a better sense of its true value and condition. Understanding your house’s history can help you make repairs the right way. Also, if there are issues uncovered, you can use the information to negotiate a lower price, ask the seller to make necessary repairs, or in serious cases, walk away from a potential money pit. 

Things You Should Find Out About 

Knowing the exact year of construction helps you determine the state — and safety — of a host of different construction techniques and materials. Before you commit to starting repairs or a remodeling, here are some key things to investigate: 

• Asbestos and Lead – If your house was built before 1978, it may contain lead paint. Both asbestos and lead were commonly used in insulation, flooring, siding, and paint. Abatement or encapsulation may be required before doing work that could disturb these materials. 
• Plumbing and Electrical – The age of your plumbing and electrical systems also matters. Copper plumbing and knob and tube wiring were typically used until the mid-20th century and often need replacement. Check if updates like PVC or PEX plumbing and grounded wiring have been done.  
• Structural Issues – Foundation and structural problems will only worsen over time. Look for signs like sloping or buckling floors, windows or doors that stick or won’t close, cracks in walls or foundations, or a musty basement.  
• Historical Significance – You need to know if the home is in a special historic district because it will affect your ability to make repairs and alterations, and it might also increase the cost of any upgrades. 

For this article, we’ll assume you’ve done the due diligence of hiring an experienced home inspector to thoroughly evaluate the property. They can spot signs of major defects like foundation cracks, roof damage or plumbing problems. An inspector will check that essential systems like electrical rewiring, plumbing and structural repairs were done with proper permits and paperwork. They can also tell you if any past DIY renovations were done properly according to building codes. 

Things You Might Have to Ask About 

Digging into the details of your home’s past requires some detective work but provides insights you can’t get any other way. While the house may look fine now, understanding its history, previous owners, major repairs and events affecting it over the years helps ensure it’s still structurally sound and safe for you and your family today 

• Former Owners – Digging into your home’s history often means finding out who lived there before. If possible, track down previous owners and get details on any major renovations or repairs they did. Knowing what was changed and when can help determine if anything needs updating or re-checking now. 
• The Neighborhood – Go online and research significant events that affected homes in your area. For example, if there were any natural disasters, environmental issues or social problems that could have affected your house. If at all possible, it’s also a good idea to drive by the house at different times of day and night to get a sense of traffic and noise levels. 

Things the Realtor or Homeowner Might Be Required to Tell You 

Because disclosure “musts” can vary widely, state to state, this is a grey area and it’s a good idea to know which laws and statutes apply in your new location.  

• Significant Events or Circumstances – Because certain events can stigmatize and affect a home’s value, many state and local governments are required to tell you whether a murder or suicide—especially one that’s highly publicized—has taken place on the property. For example, if you live in California, any death on a property (peaceful or otherwise) needs to be disclosed if it occurred within the last three years. The seller must also disclose any known death in the home, but only if the buyer asks. 

• Condition of the Property – As we noted above, this type of disclosure isn’t mandated nationwide, but is definitely worth bringing up. For example, New York State’s Property Condition Disclosure Act specifies that sellers notify buyers about whether the property is located in a flood plain or agricultural district, whether it has ever been a landfill and similar factors that may affect its value. Many states also require owners to reveal instances of mold infestation and/or removal, since allergic reactions can have serious health implications. 

Is a Move in the Works?  

Why not let the professionals at United Van Lines take care of the heavy lifting? United’s full-service moving packages provide flexibility to mix and match the services you want and need, from packing and unpacking to standard furniture placement.     

Get a quote from United Van Lines today.     

Do you need help settling in? Check out our other blogs for moving tips and packing advice, as well as city guides and a wealth of other helpful, time-saving information.