How To Restore a Historic Home, the Proper Way

Taking on a remodeling project is not for the faint of heart, period. However, when the project involves historic home remodeling, very few people have what it takes to see the entire project through from beginning to end. This is because historic homes come with issues and considerations that are uncommon or unheard of with newer homes, such as design restrictions, major structural issues, the inability to pass inspections and much more. What that being said, don’t let this information deter you, as remodeling a historic home can be a complicated endeavor, but it comes with ample rewards.

Early Planning Is Essential

When you buy any fixer-upper, it’s important that you start planning the remodel early in the process. However, when you invest in a historic home, it’s essential for your sanity and budget that you start planning as soon as you have the keys in your hand, if not beforehand. Ideally, you will have a list of contractors you plan to work with (You will need several), a hefty cash reserve strictly for bringing the home up to code (because, chances are, you will need to do this before you can get a loan on the home) and an idea of how you want the home to look (as you will likely need to run the design by the community’s historic committee).

Nail Down the Design

Once the home is up to code, you then need to consider the vibe you’re going for. Do you want a historic shell of a home with a modern interior, or do you want to maintain the historic charm with modern conveniences hidden throughout? Neither answer is wrong, but it will dictate your next steps, so it’s important that you nail down those details early on.

Know Much of the Design Is Inherent in the Home

Though remodeling historic homes does come with its fair share of challenges, there are a few aspects that may make the processer easier than dealing with a newer structure. For example, old homes often boast beautiful architectural features and stunning wood floors, both of which are easier and cheaper to restore than install new.

Historic home remodeling is not easy, but then again, nothing worth doing is. If you decide to take on a historic project, keep these considerations in mind.