Old Houses

One of the things that we are known for here at Small and Associates is dealing with old houses. My background and over 40 years of experience, and one of the things that I've loved since I was a little kid, is older homes. By the time I was probably 10 years old, my parents dragged me to every significant historic house in Virginia. I've seen both public and private houses that are significant and I developed an appreciation for architecture. And I love living in an old house. I've always lived in an old house. I probably live in the newest house that I've ever lived in now and it was built in 1925. 

But a lot of people that have never lived in older homes are intimated by the idea and they want to know how it is different from living in a newer house. The answer is - it's not really that different. You have to be a little more thoughtful about who you let do work because you have to make sure they understand your house. They need to use the proper materials and methods when conducting repairs. And you also have to decide where you are - is your house a significant historic house (ie. is it an 18th century house) where you should be reverent of it. Or is it an early 20th century house that you can say "okay, we are going to rip that wall out and make it better"? And something to remember is to make an old house continue to function, it needs to function in the world we live in today. Simply put, it needs to be modified to make it work for life in 2024 and beyond. There are great examples of that in Richmond's Fan District, Museum District, Near West End, North Side, etc.

Additionally, it's important to remember that if you live in an older house that doesn't work for today, it stops having value. So keeping it current and making it a house that people want to live in can only help in the long run. And truth be told, if you don't have a deeper understanding of what changes will give you the best return and make the house function the way it needs to, it is important to hire a professional who can help answer those questions. For example, hiring an architect with a track record of sensitive historic renovations of properties, contractors that have an understanding of the right thing to do, etc.

You're the gatekeeper as the owner. If you don't have a solid understanding of the property from the historic perspective, it's important to learn and find the right people who do know enough so your home is not only comfortable to live in, but will have value moving forward.

If you have questions about your current home or if you are looking to start a new search for an old house, please reach out - I am happy to provide the right guidance.

804-350-0879 | chris@smallre.net | chrissmallgroup.com

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It is my responsibility as your REALTOR® to ensure that when others around you are lowering their expectations, that this becomes the time for us to switch gears and discover how to leverage the market effectively to achieve your goals.

If you would like to know more about the current market, or if you have any general real estate questions, call or text me on my cell phone at 804-350-0879 or you can email me at chris@smallre.net.

If you are looking to begin a home search, visit my website to get started!