Real Estate Pros Cringe When They Notice These 3 Things in a ’70s Home

Homes built in the 1970s were filled with shag carpets, wood paneling, conversation pits, and avocado-colored everything. At the time, it was all state-of-the-art, functional, and groovy. But while you may be tempted to take the plunge and buy a ’70s-era home, you should know that some of the materials and technology used to build those homes aren’t in use today — and for good reason. 

These houses might be outdated, in need of some repair, or downright falling apart, but they’re still standing — and they’re often what’s available on the market for potential buyers in a vice-tight market. 

As with any house, you should be sure to hire an inspector who knows what to look for in terms of possible issues that can be pricey and time-consuming to remedy, because over time, regulations changed, innovations in construction were made, and certain products (asbestos!) proved unsafe. But, as Adam Weiner, an AIA architect, said to me, “These homes lend themselves to makeovers since they were built a lot better than their predecessors of the 1950s and 1960s.” So it may all be worth it.

So, what are the red flags you should look for when you’re looking at that dreamy ’70s build?

I spoke to an array of real estate pros, from agents to electricians, and by far, the biggest red flag is asbestos. Asbestos is a natural mineral fiber that was used for decades to fireproof and waterproof homes, and could be found in attics, siding, flooring, wrapped around pipes, in roofing material, and more.

It remained popular into the 1970s before being phased out of buildings, and even remediated from existing buildings, due to safety issues, according to Penn Medicine. Breathing in or accidentally ingesting toxic particles has been associated with everything from coughing and breathing problems to anemia and lung cancer. 

“The first thing that would prevent me from buying a house built in the 1970s would be asbestos,” says Joe Manela, an electrician and the owner of Bellcar Electric in Wyckoff, New Jersey. “Asbestos is usually safe as long as it’s not moved or damaged, but if it is, we have the airborne particles, which are not good for our lungs. Most of the time, I see asbestos covering the steam pipes in a house, and [home owners] are always bumping into that and disturbing it.”

Randy Miller, a real estate agent at Miller Pollack, Keller Williams Square Realty, cuts right to the chase. “You will need to hire a licensed contractor to remove [asbestos],” she says.

The hidden dangers don’t stop at asbestos. 

Jay C. Rosen, a broker and manager at Since 1917 Realty and Property Management, also brought up another common material used in ’70s homes — urea formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). It was a cheaper, easier, and more efficient replacement for fiberglass insulation. The foam, which supposedly did not burn, rot, retain moisture, or get moldy, was injected into walls. 

The United States Consumer Products Safety Commission banned it in 1982 due to “unreasonable risks to consumers from the irritation, sensitization and possible carcinogenic effects of formaldehyde emitted by UFFI.” The ban was overturned a year later.

“As it ages, urea formaldehyde foam insulation gives off formaldehyde gas,” Rosen says. “If you walk into a home that smells like old people, beware. Asbestos is terrible and causes cancer, but since the new millennium, it’s rare to find. UFFI foam kills you slowly, and is also rare. Which is worse — asbestos or UFFI — is a relative issue.”

Barbara Mandel at Coldwell Banker Realty in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania, says roof replacements are a budget line item you can’t ignore. 

“Roofs would definitely need to be replaced because the lifetime of a roof is about 20 years,” she says. “Most buyers would probably purchase a 1970s house after the seller replaced two layers (of roofing), and then the buyer would have to tear both roofs off for a full replacement, which could be more costly than a single roof. Roofs can be very expensive, and it’s a blind article.” (Her other hot tip? “Mold testing should take place if purchasing an older house.”)