3 Tips for Buying an Older Home
An antique home comes with style and character, but there may be problems involved as well. Sometimes these are obvious, while other times they are hidden beneath the surface. Before you make the commitment involved with buying an antique home, you need to make sure that you are ready to accept the challenges involved.
- Anticipate That the Home May Need Remodeling
An older home doesn’t necessarily translate to “fixer-upper.” Plenty of vintage homes have been well cared for through the decades. However, the house may not be up to current building codes and requires antique home restoration Easton to make it safe and habitable. You may also want to make cosmetic changes, such as taking out the formal dining room to create an open concept.
- Check With Historical Societies
Antique homes may have the protection of historical societies or homeowners associations to make sure that they do not become too modern. This does not necessarily mean that you cannot remodel your new home, but it may mean that there are restrictions on the upgrades you can make. Best to know what you can or can’t do before finalizing the sale.
- Measure the Doorways
If the home is more than 100 years old, it was built during a time when household items tended to be smaller. Measure the doorways before buying to make sure that your furniture and appliances can fit through. If they don’t, your options may be remodeling to widen the doorways, selling your possessions and buying smaller replacements, or buying a different house, perhaps one that was built more recently. The choice is up to you, but this is a problem you want to resolve well before moving day.
Don’t assume that you have to live like a pioneer to own an older house. You can usually update it to have all the modern conveniences while maintaining its old-fashioned charm.
