Scott, You don't know what an old house is. Built in the fifties is like brand new. *GRIN* My house was built in the twenties, and one of the Toms on the list is working on a house that's over a hundred years old.
Get a home inspector to go through the house. He can find lots of issues if you want. Check the wiring to make sure it is grounded to all outlets and such. I don't think they started using Aluminum wiring until the sixties, so you should be OK there. Look for cracking in the foundation walls. Look for patches in the ceilings to see if there has been issues with water damage in the past. Do doors and windows open and close without binding. That can mean something as innocent as a poorly hung door, or just humidity expansion, but can also indicate shifting of the house. I'm sure you will get many other responses for things to look for as well. But a home inspection by a pro can be very useful. You can also get an inspection by a structural engineer if you are so inclined. -- Blue skies. Dan Rossi Carnegie Mellon University. E-Mail: d...@andrew.cmu.edu Tel: (412) 268-9081
