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Andrew Shader Explains How the Age of a Home Can Affect Renovations

Age can help to give a home character and personality. However, as a home ages, you may find it needs more renovations than it ever did before. Additionally, a home’s age can determine which types of renovations are even possible while maintaining the structural integrity of the home. That’s why Andrew Shader thinks you should pay special attention to the age of any potential real estate investment.

Depending on where you reside, the home you’re living in now was likely built somewhere between 1960 and 2000. A home that was built well is more likely to age well, but that doesn’t mean your home will never need renovations.

Emergencies can occur, which means you may not always be able to foresee the fix-ups your home will need. However, as long as you make room for repairs and upgrades in your budget, home renovations don’t need to break the bank.

Let’s take a look at a few renovation-related characteristics of homes depending on how old they are now and what you can expect as a homeowner.

Andrew Shader

Homes that Are 60 Years Old or More

Homes built in 1960 or before make up about a quarter of all homes. In general, the most needed service in a home of this age is electrical repairs and updates, with plumbing and HVAC repairs following closely behind.

Additionally, when it comes to upgrading the exterior of a home built in 1960 or before, roof replacements are the most common need, followed by window and skylight replacements.

Homes that Are 40-60 Years Old

Between 1961 and 1980, fewer homes were built in the U.S. than in previous generations. In fact, homes built during this period make up only 21% of all homes today.

When it comes to interior upgrades, homes of this age most often need kitchen and/or bathroom renovations before they need living room or bedroom updates. Plumbing is the most common need when it comes to updating an entire system in a home of this age.

Homes that are 20-40 Years Old

Homes built between 1981 and 2000 make up the largest percentage of today’s homes at 29%. Like the generations that preceded it, the homes of this time were primarily single-family detached homes, though it was more likely to see a new home of 2,000 to 3,000 or even up to 4,000 square feet than it was to see one under 2,000 square feet in size.

The most common home renovations needed on properties of this age are plumbing system upgrades, roof replacements, kitchen and bathroom upgrades, and exterior lighting repairs.

Homes that Are 20 Years Old or Less

Homes built in 2001 or later make up 25% of all homes and tend to be larger than 2,000 square feet, much like the homes built in the generation prior. Unlike previous generations, however, home security and automation upgrades are a more common expense than HVAC or plumbing updates.

Advice from Andrew Shader 

Based in Fort Lauderdale, Andrew Shader is proud to be a top real estate professional in his area, helping his clients to optimize their property’s value for sale. His proven strategies have led to property value increases of 60% or more.