Buying A Home With No Attic Access

There is no attic above that part of the house.

Buying a home with no attic access.

Of course no one can inspect the interior of a chimney from the attic but an inspector can note whether the structure itself is solid within the attic space. The inspector did like this as there is no way to know what is up there which makes sense. This is especially the case with older homes. About 3 4 times per year for the last couple of years water drips into the living room window.

The front half of the house has vaulted ceilings where the back does not so there is an attic up there however there is no attic access. 2 the attic access opening may have been removed during a remodeling. Our living room looks similar to the one in your photo. We were told not to worry about it but the more and more we are thinking about it we are concerned about what is up there.

The home inspector told us there was no attic access we asked the previous owners and they confirmed. More often however the attic access is located in a closet or hallway where there s a direct pathway for air to move between the unconditioned and conditioned spaces of the home. After reading we will definitely make sure to gain access to the attic. The seller s agent and the seller have no knowledge of there ever having been attic access that being said they ve only owned the property for 8 years.

So you should not consider buying a house that has no way to get into the attic. I can tell you that it is a real pita sometimes. I own a split level home with a cathedral ceiling in the living room. This is not a good sign.

If the access panel is locked nailed or caulked shut then ask the seller to get it opened for you. If the attic access is located in an unconditioned part of the home such as a garage insulation and air sealing may not be needed. The portion of the chimney that isn t exposed to the elements can also weather and deteriorate. If you find this situation in a house you are considering buying do not proceed until the seller provides an attic access for examination by you and your home inspector.

Sometimes a home inspector will open a secured panel if the seller gives permission and holds the inspector harmless for any damage. The home style is eclectic victorian and it is a single level. We recently bought our first house built in 1890 victorian farm house massachusetts.