By Joe Rizzo
President, Tiger Home Inspection
Back to Information for Home Buyers
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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 $1,000-$2,500 expenditure you might not have originally considered. Be sure to get a solid, candid appraisal 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. For your convenience, here are some average life expectancies for different house components. Our first article will address the exterior of the house; the next one will look at the inside.
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.
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969 Washington St Braintree, MA 02184 - 1-800-62-TIGER or 1-800-628-4437
Tiger Home Inspection is open seven days a week, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m