Are You Prepared for the Maintenance of an Old House?
Well, in a lot of major cities in the US (and especially in Europe) theres old houses, like NYC has a lot of old houses (and everyone loves those brownstone apartments), and of course, they’re charming. At the same time, though, just keep in mind here that old houses have a way of making people lose all common sense for a minute, and yeah, that’s said with affection. Like, a lot of affection here. The original floors, the chunky trim, the weird little built-ins, the stained glass, the high ceilings, the front porch that looks like it belongs in a movie (if you're looking into the suburbs at least), well, it all gets very persuasive very fast.
If you look at Pinterest, real estate magazines, or those home tours on YouTube, well, of course, it's not hard to fall head over heels. Basically, there can be cracks in the ceiling, but most people's minds gravitate towards how much character a home has instead, and how fixable it can be. And to be fair, old houses can be incredible. They have personality. They have history. They don’t feel copied and pasted from every other house on the block that you basically see nowadays.
But with that said, they also come with maintenance, like a lot, and people just underestimate it by a lot.
The Charm Usually Comes with a To-Do List
Like, a big one here. But really, that's the thing with an old house: the pretty stuff and the needy stuff are often sitting right next to each other. Those original wood floors? Gorgeous, but maybe they need refinishing. How about that vintage tile? Adorable, but one wrong repair choice can make it look painfully out of place. Those old windows? Well, they probably make the whole house freezing in the winter, considering the glass is so thin.
You already get the point here, what’s beautiful and adds that character tends to be the exact same thing that's causing all that minantence. Well, most of the time at least.
The Hidden Systems are Usually the Worst
Like, if you’re really lucky, you can find an old house that's been renovated. Well, not modernized as in the character was stripped, but modernized to the point that it’s probably safe to live there now. Like theres no asbestos, theres no old pipes, theres no old outdated electrical wiring or old outlets, things like that. But houses that get updated like that tend to be fairly expensive.
But if you do decide to buy an old house that's not modernized, ideally, before you move in, just try and hire Bluefrog Plumbing, a skilled electrician, maybe someone to check for mold and asbestos, and anything else that’s probably going to be relevant. Sometimes, you can hire an inspector to see what needs to be fixed prior, but again, before bringing your things in and setting up, it can’t be stressed enough bere.
Some Details Need Specialists, Not Quick Fixes
Okay, and then there’s the decorative side of old homes, which people can seriously underestimate. But what’s the big deal here? Well, if theres murals, frescos, ornate plasterwork, carved wood, original fireplaces, old staircases, or historic ceiling details, regular touchups may not cut it. Well, chances are, they’re not going to cut it at all.
Good luck finding tutorials online about it, too. So, depending on what it is, you might need to hire a professional. Sometimes, professionals in other cities, states, or countries. So you can probably imagine how expensive that will be.