Buying an Eichler - watch out for...
First off, let me introduce myself to the community here since this is my first post. My name is Aaron and I'm happy to say I just opened up escrow on my first Eichler in southern California. This property is amazing but needs some TLC and were excited to bring it back to life.
Over the next couple days we will be conducting our inspections and I was hoping some Eichler experienced homeowners can lend some direction on what to lookout for. I'd like to know in your experience with Eichler what we should pay extra close attention to with our inspections.
Thanks in advance
Aaron
Do you know if your radiant heat works? An inspector should help you find out if there are any leaks in the system. Not all inspectors understand the ins and outs of Eichlers so you should find one who understands them. Also, termites are a big problem for most homes made from wood including Eichlers.
We're currently updating an Eichler in Southern California, ours was in quite a poor state. If your Eichler is in So Cal, the heat is likely to be forced air instead of radiant. I agree with Leslie, Termites are a risk, though perhaps less than some homes, due to the proportion of redwood used. If your home is older, electrics and plumbing may need some work to bring up to date. You may also want to consider what roof you have, if you have an old tar and gravel one, the house heats up a lot in summer. Lastly, check the flooring. If you still have the original 9" tiles then you may need asbestos abatement to remove them.
Send me a PM if you have more questions. Good luck with your Eichler.
Sorry for the dealy in response have been busy with the purchase. This home has forced heating so no radiant. Termite inspection calls for tenting so thats getting scheduled. The house does have tile floors but I think they where added in the 90's but Im not sure, what is the typical flooring for the Balboa Highlands tract? The roof is gravel so I will mos tlikely at some point replace it.
Thanks
Aaron
