Selling A Historical Home: The Rules Of Renovation And Repairs Before The Sale
Historical homes are more of a challenge to sell. These houses can have certain attributes that have to be maintained due to their historical significance. However, this does not mean that the house cannot be renovated and updated. There are just a select group of rules that should be followed in the process. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you get ready to sell your historic home.
Forego the extensive renovations just to sell.
With any other house, it may be fine to renovate the bulk of the house in an effort to make the home more valuable before you sell. However, if you have a historic home, this is not the best plan of action. Some buyers will actually see drastic renovations as a downfall instead of something they desire. The key is to retain all that glorious historical charm and to only update pertinent things that don't have a lot to do with aesthetics. For example, if there is an old toilet in the house, it would be logical to get rid of it. However, if there is an old claw-foot tub, this is something that should be kept even if it has minor flaws.
Only improve key spaces with modern updates.
Some points in the home are safe and desirable to update. For example, a fully functional and more modern kitchen is usually a desirable attribute in a historic home, and most buyers are going to be looking for an updated laundry room. It is fine to update some of the most functional parts of the house, and you can do so while still maintaining some of that antiquated charm that buyers will love.
Keep the things that make the home most unique.
The beauty of older houses, especially those that hold historical value, is the fact that they are all built with so many unique attributes. These were not cookie-cutter homes with layouts just like every other house on the street; they were built to suit the owner, often involved many years of ongoing construction, and are highly individual in form. The things in your historic home that make it unique should stay. If there is a hand-carved baluster on the stairway, keep it. If there is a mural painted on a dining room wall, leave it. If there is an original built-in china cabinet in the kitchen, don't get rid of it.
Contact a real estate agent for help with selling a historic home.