We all grew up with fairy tales in which a frog was transformed into something beautiful with just a kiss. Old houses are much the same. If the “bones” of the home are good it can be restored to its former beauty and even enhanced with modern conveniences.
Historic Springfield is filled with examples of homes that at first glance look a breath away from a tear down. Yet someone had the vision to see beyond that “frog” to what was possible.
Some folks have the expertise to do the work themselves. Others choose to hire professionals. The cost of the work can even be built into the mortgage to pay for the renovations. In some cases the home was bought for a very small price and the restoration is the bigger part of the mortgage but the end result is a home that is restored to YOUR specifications and generally speaking worth more than you have invested in it.
Take a look at some of these examples, and for even more, check out this video.
Obviously, before buying a fixer-upper a buyer needs to do some due diligence. Having a good inspection, an evaluation by a contractor, a consultation with a lender, are all steps that need to be taken BEFORE writing a contract.
And if the home is in a designated historic district there may be additional considerations to consider, but they are usually in the interest of restoring the home properly so that’s a good thing.
Quality and workmanship in older homes is hard to come by in newer built homes. Much of the woodwork cannot be duplicated these days.
Just imagine being able to live in a piece of history. Knowing that a hundred years ago someone else raised a family or planted a garden or celebrated birthdays in your home.
Maybe it’s time to consider finding a “frog” of your own and get ready for a big kiss.
Tags: buyers, for sale, home, real estate, renovations
