Questions to Ask the Seller About an Older Home
What to ask the seller of an older home, system by system, which documents to request and why each answer matters.
Mario Rodríguez
UFFI Foam Insulation in US Homes: Years Used and What Happened to the Ban
Urea-formaldehyde foam was injected into many walls in the 1970s. The 1982 CPSC ban, why it was lifted in 1983 and what it means today.
Asbestos Floor Tiles (Including 9×9 Tiles): How to Tell and What to Do
Old vinyl tiles, sheet flooring backing and mastic may contain asbestos. Why tile size is not a test and what to do before any flooring project.
How to Tell if You Have a Lead Service Line
Check the utility inventory, look at the pipe where it enters the house and test the water: how to find out if a home has a lead service line.
Buried Oil Tanks: Which Homes Might Have One
Houses once heated with oil may still have a buried tank. Who regulates them, the clues to look for and what to ask before buying.
Federal Pacific (FPE) Panels: How to Tell and What to Do
What CPSC found about FPE Stab-Lok breakers, how to tell if a house has one, and what to ask the electrician and insurer.
Buying an Older Home: A Checklist by Stage and Build Year
A stage-by-stage checklist for buying an older home: what to check before the offer, during inspections, before closing and after you move in.
Specialty Home Inspections: Which to Order Based on the Year Built
Radon, lead, asbestos, electrical, sewer scope and more: which specialty inspections fit a house based on its build year.
Chinese Drywall: Years, Warning Signs and How It Is Identified
Problem drywall installed mainly 2001 to 2009. The warning signs, the CPSC/HUD identification method and what to ask.
House Built in 1970: What to Expect and What to Check
Aluminum wiring, asbestos, lead paint and pre-1986 plumbing: what a 1970 house may have and what to ask before you buy.