History can be a powerful draw to home buyers. A turn of the
century home with unique rooms, window sizes, dormers, front porches, attics, stone
fireplaces and hand crafted woodwork are sought after by many. Finding an
affordable vintage home that has been properly maintained can be challenge. Sometimes
the search can take a home buyer across the Twin Cities metro area from Summit Avenue in St Paul to homes along the St Croix in Stillwater to quaint neighborhoods in North St. Paul and Chisago.
There are vintage homes in every style and price point in
the north and east Twin Cities Metro. Whether you seek a lovely old duplex,
traditional two story or highly sought after mansion (the original executive
home), there are some key considerations in purchasing a vintage home.
Updated with Style—Not current style but did the updates
reflect the style of the era when the vintage home was originally constructed. If
the updates to the home do not blend well with original home, the value of the
home can be compromised.
Upgraded Plumbing and Electrical—If the furnace resembles
and octopus and you need fuses for the electrical panel, there will be major
updates required to the home at some time in the future.
Charming Windows—Decorative leaded glass and stained glass
windows are beautiful. Many vintage homes will not only have beautiful window
details but often there will be odd sized windows too. While this adds to the
charm, it costs to have custom windows replaced.
Odd Sized Doors—Just like with the windows, often doors are
not a standard size. This can lead to additional expense when repairing and/or
replacing a door as it will have to be cut to measure.
A Good Foundation—When homes were constructed a century ago,
there wasn’t a building code or city inspector. Often a corner of a home would
be a “root” cellar without a foundation wall or floor. Sometimes the builder
would just skim a thin layer of cement over the wall to make it look nice
rather than use cement blocks. Though they have stood for decades, walls can deteriorate
over time.
Garages and Sheds—Very few families owned cars or the lawn
equipment we require today so when vintage houses were constructed there often
weren’t garages. Look closely at any older detached garage as many can be
unstable. Finding a vintage home with an attached garage means it was probably
added on as a remodel. If this is the case, make certain it fits well with the
existing structure of the home.
Closets—Homes in the early 1900’s were insured by the number
of doors so bedrooms were often constructed without closets. Some closets or
dressers were added later under the eaves in the upstairs of a home. Because
people did not have the extensive wardrobes that we have today, closets were
much smaller than what is expected today.
Original Hardwood—Properly refinished and maintained,
vintage hardwood can be a one of the most beautiful features of the home. How do you check to see if the flooring is hardwood ? If
the home has carpeting, look at the floor inside a closet or at the edge of the floor under
a vent for clues as to what the flooring is like below.
Fireplaces and Chimneys—While beautiful and a focal point,
be certain to have any original brick or stone fireplace inspected by a
professional chimney expert prior to purchase. Over time bricks can loosen and
linings crack which can be costly to repair.
This list is not all inclusive but a starting point of things to consider when searching for a vintage house to call home. The charm of a historical home is that it was handcrafted to be full of charm and not necessarily perfectly constructed.
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