There is a lot to be said for older homes. They ooze charm and tend to be located in well-established neighbourhoods featuring quaint, tree-lined streets, decent schools and a stable, if not pleasant community vibe.

Given that many Toronto homes fit that general description, what should home buyers be looking for when considering a home that’s 100-plus years old? There are certain concerns that are especially characteristic to century homes. Prehistoric plumbing, wiring, windows and insulation can result in expensive repairs and upgrades. The more you know about them, the better armed you’ll be to make a wise decision.  Here are some considerations you may want to mull over:

Double Inspections – Being aggressive when it comes to fault finding is a smart move when you’re spending hundreds of thousands on a house. Think of two inspections as an initial investment in the long-term health and safety of your home. The money you spend today can save you big sums down the road. And remember that even the most experienced and knowledgeable inspector can miss things.

Depending on the issues you uncover, you may also need to hire a structural engineer, foundation expert or contractor to lend their expertise. These are usually even more costly, but again a little financial pain upfront will likely save you financial setbacks in the long run.

Ensure Your Insurance — As you’re phoning around for home inspectors and building experts, you may want to gather information about insuring an older home. Older homes quite simply come with more risk and this can be pricey especially if you dealing with a house that has knob-and-tube wiring or structural issues, for example. Know what you’re getting into as finding out later that the home you just bought will cost a fortune to insure could be a big financial blow.

Beware of Hazardous Materials – Lead paint and asbestos were common building materials back in the day that have in the interim been deemed a danger. If your house was built before 1960, there’s a good chance lead paint was used and this can be a problem for babies, young children and pregnant women.  This toxic material has been known to cause abdominal pain, memory loss and developmental problems. D-I-Y remediation is doable but know that it’s a long and tedious process.

Widely used in older homes, asbestos is now deemed a hazard because its fibres irritate lungs and can lead to a deadly form of cancer as well as other serious lung diseases. Asbestos is relatively common in houses built before 1975. It can be found in insulation, siding, linoleum, vinyl tiles and plaster.

Radon is a gas that can increase your risk of lung cancer. It enters your home through any opening in which the house comes into contact with the soil. Test kits are available for this radioactive gas.

Pesky Pests – We could write a book on this subject but instead we’ll just stick to the sticklers. Termites are a not uncommon problem in the GTA. You may want to inspect your house for termites before purchasing if you suspect it has them. Signs of an infestation include flying termites, hollow sounding timber and tunnels in the wood. Termite treatment and control is not cheap with online estimates starting at about $3,500.

Mold & Mildew — Mold and mildew can be an issue in any age of home but it is perhaps more prevalent in older homes due to the years under which a bad mold situation can take to present itself plus having a space in which poor circulation exists. Mold remediation can be very expensive, in the thousands of dollars kind of expensive.

Infrastructure Issues – We mean electrical, plumbing, roofing, foundation. These are the areas of a home where old doesn’t add up to charming. It’s not unusual for older homes to need new electrical work as some are outfitted with knob-and-tube wiring. This can be a fire hazard, while older plumbing can cause water problems that can lead to a host of pricey repairs. Consider getting more than one opinion regarding a roofing concern. A crumbling foundation can spell out a number of additional issues, from flooding to structural issues.