How to Update and Preserve an Old House

There’s something special about an old house. The slope of the floor, the intricacies of the molding, the quirkiness of the floor plan. Every old house has its own charm. That’s what makes us fall in love with them, right? The question is: How do you maintain an old home’s original character while updating it to meet modern needs? Here are 5 tips to get you started!

#1 Set a clear goal.

Everyone has their own preference when fixing up an old house. You have to decide on the balance of old and new you’re going for. The National Trust for Historic Preservation   site says, “To rehabilitate a house means to make it useful and functional for contemporary living while preserving important historic and architectural features.” You may decide you want to customize certain aspects of the home while keeping others original. The point is, decide what you want to keep authentic and what you want to update before you get started. Then you’ll want to clearly communicate your goal with your contractors.

#2 Calculate your budget. 

You never want your budget to exceed the value of the home, even if you don’t intend to sell. Research what fully renovated houses sell for in your area to get a ballpark number for your budget. The quality of materials you decide to use can drastically change your budget. Be prepared to pay more for materials that match the original quality and style.

For more tips on budgeting, read How to Make a Renovation Budget.

#3 Only bite off what you can chew. 

Whether you’re trying to remodel the place you’re living in or fixing up a vacant house, take it one project at a time. It’s best to start with the practical and leave the aesthetic for later. Manage the crises (leaks, water damage, repairs) first in order to stop any further damage from taking place. It’s also easiest to update the heating, cooling and electrical in the beginning, before you spend time on the nitty, gritty design details. 

#4 Be prepared to hunt for materials. 

Matching materials in an old house can be a challenge if the original materials are no longer in use. You can utilize architectural salvage companies, antique stores, and estate sales in an effort to track down older materials and furniture pieces. Be aware that those older materials often have a steep cost attached. 

#5 Don’t be in a hurry.

In the wake of COVID 19, home improvement and any related services have slowed way down. Supply chains have been interrupted, ordering materials is taking longer, and the demand has shot sky high. Your average remodel is going to take more time than usual right now. With the challenges of finding vintage materials and qualified labor, you can expect updating an older home to take even longer. But, be patient! It’s not worth compromising on quality by racing to the finish line.

But if there’s one thing we’ve learned, its that a renovation done right can turn a nightmare into a dream home.

Robert Khederian, Curbed