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Originally Posted by Ch28
I’ve also looked at properties that are in the 30+ year range because townhomes from that era had way bigger square footage, but significant other doesn’t want to go that old because of potential issues
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Older townhomes are probably better built (plywood vs OSB, better finishing) and will likely have forced air heating which will cut down on your heating costs significantly over the long term.
The biggest issue with older townhomes is their layouts. Most modern homes have higher ceilings and 'great rooms' with kitchens and living spaces that blend into a single room.
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For those of you that have purchased an older home/townhome, what were the major things that you looked out for?
We’ve been looking at a bunch of townhome properties that were built in the early 2000s, so we’re looking at properties that are anywhere from 15-20 years old.
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Our townhouse was built in 2000 and IMHO, it's a good mix between old and new. The developer who built our complex won Georgie Awards in the early 2000s for bringing smaller, open-concept townhouses the Lower Mainland. Townhomes from this era are still likely to have natural gas heating which will cut down on your operating costs significantly over the long-term. Also, you will likely have larger windows because modern design tries to minimize heat loss. You may have a few extra closets - for example, a linen closet. Our subfloors still have plywood. The drywall for the most part is straight. You will also see small details that required extra work - an extra bit of drywall, etc. - that you don't see in modern homes because they all add cost.
Rain screening was made part of the code in 2001/2002, so if you're looking for a townhome older than that, you'll want to pay close attention to the design aspects of the complex - sufficient overhangs, siding type, etc. Also, roofs and windows will need replacement soon for this age of home - you'll want to make sure the strata has a replacement plan for those big ticket items.