What you should know about the age of a home.

You can tell a lot about a home by the year it was built–the good and the bad. Building codes, materials and standards have evolved in the past century, which is great, we can wave goodbye to lead paint and knob and tube wiring, or almost.

If you’re house-hunting, having a base understanding of what you might expect by vintage is a good starting point as you explore properties.

Many homes will have had improvements over the years, while others feel more like time capsules that require updating to ensure home safety and insurability, especially if the home hasn’t been offered for sale ever or for many decades. An overview of some house systems is listed below, not just possible insurance flags, but also notes on life expectancies.

Electrical

• Knob and tube wiring: before 1950

• Fuse breakers:1935– early 60s

• Aluminum wiring: 1965–1972

• 60-amp panel: 1950–1970s

• No GFCI outlet protectors: before the 1980s

• Electrical panels nearing the end of life expectancy: before 1990

Environmental

Plumbing

HVAC

Roof

Spoiler alert: most houses will have items that require updating or might be nearing the end of their life expectancy. Knowing what to expect by the year built is a good starting point as you view homes and consider making an offer.

And don't worry if you find (fall in love with) a home that requires updating or might have deficiencies, there are multiple ways to navigate this, and that's where having a good realtor partner can make all the difference. You know who to reach out to.

Source: Inspect Canada. Although the information has been reviewed and is found to be accurate in Ontario, this should not replace a home inspection or specific information about the subject property you're exploring.