How Long Will that Home Sweet Home Last?

• By Sean Rizzo
  Tiger Home Inspection

You're considering buying that home of your dreams--a federal Colonial dating back to the 1700's. All your life you've wanted to live in a genuine antique, and you're about to realize your wish.

When budgeting for a home purchase and upkeep, you should consider the expected life of systems and components of that house. For example, a furnace has a life expectancy of 15-25 years. If you're buying a house with a 22 year old furnace, the odds are good that you might need to replace it in the not too distant future--and that's a $3,000 - $5,000 expenditure you might not have originally considered. Be sure to get a solid, candid inspection of the condition of the furnace -- and other components of the house -- prior to "signing on the dotted line." This will help plan your expenses and may be a negotiating point on the sale price of the house.

A home inspector can provide a guide as to the condition (and remaining life span) of items in your house. While this isn't intended as the "last word" on life expectancy, it provides valuable insight as to what you might expect. However, according MA Home Inspection law, the inspector is prohibited from quoting prices for repairs.