How old is old?

Electrical wiring in the brain is going, structural issues in the hip still need fixing.

 

@Bonz @Gockie Thank you, I have actually never thought about insulation and the cost of utility bills! Sounds like its mostly structural and wiring issues that I really have to keep a lookout.

@Westminster Restumping sounds like a job and a half !

 

Most structural maintenance issues are relatively easy to deal with, and in the scheme of thing relatively cheap to fix. Retro fitting a home with insulation, double glazed windows and heat recovery units to reduce utility costs and make a home more livable is not cheap.

Not doing the upgrade just means you are pumping money into the utility companies pocket for no net benefit. A properly constructed home should cut a third off your power bill. Apply the saving to your mortgage and do the sums on how much more quickly you pay the mortgage down. It's anno brainer really.

 

That is the important part !

I wonder why someone did not come here earlier so we could have some of them now

 

Are you sure you haven't got us mixed up? I had my hip rewired & restumped a few years ago now..

 

Well you are both about the same height

 

@Gockie The design and build of those houses must be quite amazing to be still habitable after 400 years

I agree that upgrades to reduce utility costs are important, but I think the law of diminishing returns apply here, and I need to find a right balance in terms of renovating/repairing the house. i.e. if I do purchase the house and the roof is falling apart, heating and insulation wouldn't be my greatest concern, and it would be on the " this can wait " list

 

I think good maintenance is a huge factor.

An old house well maintained can involve less future expense than another house half its age that has been neglected.
Marg