Well, I grew up in this house. I ended up living here with my dad until he passed 2 years ago. It feels depressing here, but my husband and dog and so forth keep me feeling better. The inside is nice, but the bathroom and kitchen and porch needs some work. It has 14 rooms, including only one bathroom. It needs to be rewired for safety reasons and the outside needs a lot of work to look really nice. I live on a farm, back a lane and no one really sees it except for the farmers we lease the land to and a few friends and family. I just want something more, since I have a good job now and land to work with. I could rent it out and build a home. We have one rental house on our farm already--getting 300 a month for that one. This is a small, rural town and I could not rent this one for more than 450 most likely--although it is in much better condition. Should I save more money by not fixing it up so that I can later build a new one or should I fix this up? What do you suggest? :)
2006-12-16 11:06:34 · 8 answers · asked by just julie 6 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
Some sections of the home were built at different times, so some of the floors--you have to step down and so forth in one part of the home. I would love to make them even.
2006-12-16 11:25:00 · update #1
Sorry for the loss of your dad. If it's 200 years old it is probably listed on the historical sites. You might want to fix it up, doing as much work yourself as possible. We are in the process ourselves. The house Bonnie inherited is only a hundred years old. We have added a half bath & reroofed it. putting wood shingles on the side. Next step is the rewiring. We are planning on doing that in sections. Good luck.
2006-12-16 11:19:21 · answer #1 · answered by Jerry & Bonnie Daytona 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to look into how it was built and what kind of architecture it has in it. Some of the older houses had amazing detail work around doorways and windows. If it was built as a farm house and nothing more it will likely be kind of plain, bu t it doesn't have to stay that way. Look at some of the old plantation houses and find a style you like it could get expensive but if you do it one room at a time it should be doable. Get references from all of the contractors you talk to and make the most informed decision you can you will have to deal with them in your house for the next few years doing the remodel.
2006-12-16 11:55:48 · answer #2 · answered by panicbutton4562003 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It would more than likely be cheaper to build a new house.
Is there nice wood work & are the rooms of nice size?
Is the house sound, dose it sits on a nice site & are there lots of good memories? You can do a lot of remodeling to make it more like you want. & you don't have to do every thing all at once.
Electrical, plumbing, heating with good planing can be done with out braking the bank.
The biggest thing is the planing. You have to put things in areas
that work out best for doing the work, not arranging the rooms to some personal pattern. Thats where the cost go up.
If you were to build a new house it would take a lot of planing too.
2006-12-16 11:37:16 · answer #3 · answered by Floyd B 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check with the Historical comity in your town to see if they offer help in bringing it up to par again. I would rebuild it myself. Doing one job at a time, it might take a few years to finish, but what else do you have besides time ? Start with the Electric first, that's most important, as my family lost a house that was 78 yrs old due to old wiring. Paint makes everything look brand new.. Go for bold colors in different rooms.. One wall in my Kitchen is a Bold Cranberry Red , with the other three in a soft daffodil !! It really makes a difference.
2006-12-16 12:52:08 · answer #4 · answered by Jean W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should fix it up if the house means a lot to you, like you said, you've lived there your whole life(or grew up there). A 200 yr old house could be renovated and have a lot of charm. It all comes down to your own feelings... if it were me, and I could afford it, I would fix it up.
I only wish I had the opportunity to live in the house I grew up in, but my parents sold it when I was still a child... I went to see it not long ago and the new owners changed everything. Makes me sad!
2006-12-16 11:22:48 · answer #5 · answered by Matt 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on the sentimental value- this sounds like a good place to sink a lot of money, so if you're not really attached to the house, go for a new one... I love old houses, though... and 14 rooms- wow... What does the historical society say in your area? Maybe they'd help you (check with the state).
2006-12-16 11:15:59 · answer #6 · answered by boots&hank 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like it needs plenty of work.
In the area you describe, it appears it would take a very long time, if ever, to recover any money pumped into the house.
This is a purely personal choice but I would rent it, doing the least amount of work I needed to do to get it into rental shape.
Loss of father, new job, want of change . . .
Renting will let you step back a bit giving time for you to evaluate your situation.
2006-12-20 11:07:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a house that old,,, if i was nt selling it, i d bring it up to par, keeping it looking as original as possible, stuff like that skyrockets the value and resale. if you remodel, remember, one room at a time. get a pro to do the technical stuff, but get some good how-to booksand have at it. i used to live in a house built in 1876. it was amazing the before and after. the present owners bought it for a song and really did it up nice.
2006-12-16 11:16:39 · answer #8 · answered by Harry W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋