House age X-ray1970s

Built in 1974: 4 things worth checking before you offer.

Worth checking for this era. This is not a finding about a specific house. A full listing check is a separate step.

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  1. 1.Lead paint

    Federal rule

    Federal law requires a lead-paint disclosure for most housing built before 1978. Worth checking for this era.

    Pre-1978: the federal lead-paint disclosure applies to most housing built before 1978.

    How to spot it. Start with the year built. Ask for the disclosure, the EPA/HUD pamphlet, and any report the seller already has. Peeling paint is a condition clue, not proof.

    Who checks it. Lead inspector or risk assessor

    EPA: Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (Section 1018 of Title X)

  2. 2.Aluminum wiring

    Era check

    CPSC says homes built before 1965 are unlikely to have aluminum branch-circuit wiring, and that cables installed from 1965 through the mid-1970s may. Its outlet survey covered homes built before 1972 and did not develop information for homes built after 1972. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Single-strand silver conductors on a 15- or 20-amp breaker. The thick aluminum service cable from the utility is a different product.

    Who checks it. Electrician

    CPSC: Publication 516, Repairing Aluminum Wiring

  3. 3.Asbestos

    Era check

    EPA’s home guide says sprayed or troweled ceilings in homes built or remodeled between 1945 and 1978 may contain asbestos, and that EPA prohibited spray-applied asbestos insulation in 1973. Intact material is not, by itself, a project. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. Popcorn ceilings, older floor tile, and pipe wrap. Do not sand or scrape them to find out.

    Who checks it. Accredited asbestos inspector

    EPA: Asbestos in the Home

  4. 4.Federal Pacific panels

    Commonly reported, verify

    Stab-Lok panels from the 1950s into the 1980s are commonly reported, verify. In 1983 CPSC closed its investigation because the data it had did not establish a serious risk of injury. Worth checking for this era.

    How to spot it. A panel door that reads Federal Pacific, FPE, or Stab-Lok.

    Who checks it. Electrician

    CPSC: Commission Closes Investigation Of FPE Circuit Breakers

Elsewhere in the 1970s

What is worth checking for a house built in 1974?

Built in 1974: 4 things worth checking before you offer. On this checklist: Lead paint, Aluminum wiring, Asbestos, Federal Pacific panels. Each line is worth checking for this era.

Does a house built in 1974 have these problems?

No. The list is what is worth checking for this era. It is not a finding about a specific address. A full listing analysis is a separate step.