For the Love of Old Houses

I am in the process of writing a book on historic interiors. Part of this endeavor includes interviewing the owners of old houses and taking pictures of the interior of their home. As a result I am getting the opportunity to see some wonderful homes where the interior has not been mutilated or if it was, it has been lovingly restored.
One of the questions I ask when I am interviewing is "Why this house? What was there about this house that made you choose it?". Last week I was in Calgary doing two of these interviews. I'd like to share their responses with you.

One said he saw his house for the first time when dropping off his date at her home. He saw this house (located across the street from hers) and he was in awe. It was a bricked Frank Lloyd Wright styled Prairie house with a wrap around veranda. The next day he drove back to the house and boldly knocked on the door to speak to the owner. He was graciously invited in for a ten minute tour and left with an arrangement that he could return for a better tour which he did. Over the years he kept in touch with the owner and when the owner decided to sell she called him first. He bought it on the spot.

The second person I interviewed explained to me that, at the age of fourteen he had a brain tumor that required weekly visits to his doctor. His mother would drive him to his appointments and each time they would pass by this very large English Tudor / Arts and Crafts house. From the very beginning he loved this house and each time he told his mother "Some day I am going to own that house". As he grew older he followed the trials and tribulations of the house. Twice it came on the market but due to lack of funds and bad timing was unable to buy it. One day he was asked to help a colleague do an appraisal on a home. (He was a real estate agent by this time). When he was told the address he realized it was "his" house and without any thought he said "I'll buy it".

Both owners found the home of their dreams by focusing on what they wanted. The book and movie "The Secret" would say that their thoughts created their eventual physical reality.

In another interview, the owners' last words were "We didn't find our house - it found us".

Think before You Renovate an Old House

I am sitting here in my office on the second floor of our 1912 heritage home. The fan is going but there's little relief because the weather is more than 30 degrees centigrade and many old houses just don't have air conditioning. Houses built in the "Great White North" were built for cold temperatures so every time we get one of these heat spells there's some discomfort.

I met with a new client this week. She and her husband wanted advice on restoring and decorating their recently purchased 1914 historically designated house. They picked this house because it was the only one that they viewed that retained some of the original interior. It's a wonderful English Arts and Crafts inspired home with large rooms and wonderful 12 pane casement windows.

I shared my own experience with her. I mentioned that it took my husband and I a whole year to find our home - for the same reason. Many homeowners renovate their homes with the misguided idea that if they modernize it will always be saleable when the time comes to move. If you own a heritage home it may be a huge mistake.

Think about it. Buyers who prefer new homes may like the way the house looks but be unwilling to deal with foundation problems, outdated mechanical systems and squeaky floors so they won't buy. On the other hand, buyers who love old houses and are prepared to accept its shortcomings will be very disappointed that you removed the charm and character by renovating so they won't buy.

So the lesson here is to stop and think about who your final buyer might be before you even pick up a hammer.