Wondering which questions to ask when buying an older home? Older homes are common in Northern Virginia, so there’s a good chance you’ll encounter them in your home search, especially inside the Beltway and closer to Washington, D.C. Below, you’ll find some bullet points that have some good questions to ask when buying an older home. 

Questions to Ask When Buying an Older Home in Northern Virginia

- Has the home been remodeled over the years? 

- When was the last time the windows were replaced?

- Is there central air conditioning and heating?

- What kind of foundation does the house have? Here in Northern Virginia, it’s common for older homes to have concrete block (often called “cinder block”) foundations. For instance, I just bought a home in Falls Church that was built in 1937, and it has a concrete block foundation. Concrete block foundations were used well into the 1980s here in Northern Virginia.

Looking for more questions to ask when buying an older home? I sell a lot of older homes in Northern Virginia. Call me at 703-462-0700 or email me at DarrenRobertsonHomes@gmail.com so we can discuss the types of homes that you’re looking for.

- Does the home have basement or a crawl space? Is it built on a concrete slab? These are also important questions to ask when buying an older home. Concrete slabs are not as common in Northern Virginia as in certain other areas of the country, like the southwest. 

- When was the last time the roof was replaced?

- Does the home have copper water supply piping?

- What material is the sewer supply piping made out of? 

Some people think that old homes are inherently not as in good condition as a newer home. However, many homes have been superbly maintained and renovated over the years. During a home inspection for a client a few months ago, the inspector commented that the 1940s home my client was buying had more steel and more wood than many newly constructed homes. The fact is that newer construction these days doesn’t always mean better construction. 

Speaking of home inspections, your inspector will also be able to give you some more great ideas regarding questions to ask when buying an older home.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our article on the types of questions to ask when buying an older home in Northern Virginia. Call me at 703-462-0700 or email me at DarrenRobertsonHomes@gmail.com to schedule some home viewings! Whichever area you're most interested in, you'll find a lot of options in this fall real estate market.