3 Things to Remember When Renovating a Historic Home

If you’re renovating a historic home you probably won’t approach the process in the same way you would a newer property, especially if you want to appeal to buyers who are looking for homes that are true to their era.

So remember these three things when renovating a historic home.

Do Your Research

In order to stay true to the spirit of your historic home it’s best to get an understanding of the era, style, and characteristics that define it. So take inventory of your property’s history, features, and details so you can make decisions about how to best maintain them.

Preserve Important Details

Although you may not be able to keep every significant design detail of the home, you should make an effort to maintain its essence. So be sure to preserve features like original crown molding, wainscoting, ceiling medallions, window and door trim, baseboards, and solid wood interior doors with original hardware. Original hardwood floors can be refinished and stained. If your home has updates that aren’t consistent with its original style, you may opt to remove and replace them.

Perform the Necessary Updates

• Necessary updates like central heating, A/C, updated plumbing and electrical, new insulation, and new windows mean comfort and energy efficiency for potential buyers. It’s important to remember that none of these critical changes have to affect the historic look of the home.

  Although your goal is to maintain the authenticity of your historic home you may see opportunities to adapt it to today’s modern ways of living, like removing a wall to open up a cramped space and enhance functionality, or widening a doorway to improve traffic flow and line of sight. Throughout your renovation you’ll have to strike a balance between the home’s historic past, and today’s modern comforts.