I got to head up out of the Valley to Prescott for this one: a Victorian built around 1924 on a street full of historic homes. I grew up in an 1895 Victorian in North Dakota, so houses like this feel like home to me. They have more character than anything we build today, and more surprises.
Three units, one water heater
The house had been converted into three rental suites, each with its own kitchen, bathroom and HVAC, and each with its own electrical service. But they all shared one instant water heater, tucked into a hidden nook up near the ceiling. The upstairs had been converted into living space, so there was no attic to inspect.
Settlement on a pier-and-block foundation
Like a lot of homes from that era, this one sits on concrete blocks and piers, not a slab. When those blocks settle or water softens the soil around them, the whole house moves with them. I found cracked door frames, doors that would not close right, cracks running through the ceiling and an exterior wall that was visibly bowing out. Poor drainage between the houses is a likely cause. Wood framing that reaches down close to the ground also raises termite concerns, even at Prescott’s elevation.
A roof leak hiding above a window
Inside one unit, a small brown stain led me to bubbling paint above a window. My moisture meter was off the charts. The water was coming in at the roof above that window, running down beside it and spreading across the wall. The roof had been redone a few years earlier and looked good overall, but there was a gutter right above that spot, and the leak needed to be found and fixed.
No sewer cleanouts
A local plumber joined us to scope the sewer line, and we could not find a usable cleanout anywhere. The vent stacks were on a steep roof, and some pipes were too small for a camera. In the crawl space, most of the drain piping had been updated to ABS, but there was still cast iron in places, including a cracked section that had been patched. With no cleanout, any future clog may mean pulling a toilet to get a camera or a snake in. I recommended having a cleanout installed.
Other things I found
- An air admittance valve mounted too low under a sink. It needs to sit above the flood rim.
- An HVAC unit gurgling, likely low on refrigerant, and no air filter in the return.
- Missing shingles and an abandoned chimney on the roof.
- Gutters full of leaves.
Older and historic home inspections in Arizona
Historic homes need an inspector who knows what to look for in old foundations, plumbing and wiring. We are based in Gilbert and inspect homes all over Arizona, from Prescott to Globe and Florence, and the historic neighborhoods of Phoenix and Mesa. Add a sewer camera scan on any older home. Every home inspection includes a termite (WDO) inspection at no extra charge, plus a 1-year termite warranty through Firehouse Pest Control in Gilbert if no active termites are found.
Buying a home? Book your inspection online or call 623-399-0079.
Property Inspections Plus is a Gilbert, AZ home inspection company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our service areas.
