Went to look at the grand old Victorian home my husband wants to buy

this time we went with a friend who fixes them for a living.

Oh...where do I begin...

1. the roof needs replaced
2. all the plaster has to come off
3. the foundation needs to be jacked and fixed in two places
4. needs all new electric
5. needs all new windows
6. needs all new furnace, water heater and might as well throw in a/c stuff too..
7. needs repointed
8. someone got into the house and stole all the copper piping...so sweet of them.
9. all new baths and a new kitchen...and some of the floors need to be replaced.


otherwise...it is quite charming...

I can't even begin to guess what it is going to cost my husband and I if we are crazy enough to proceed...but we are going to have dinner with the construction guy tonight and his wife...(they are friends of ours)...probably get drunk and cry...

But there are charming parts...

12 foot ceilings
gorgeous woodwork...and decorative copper hinges and it sits on a little over an acre of land..
and it is huge inside...absolutely huge...

:shrug:

but some people like projects

HUGE project on for "beaucoup" dollars and good luck to them! The series was fun to watch, 'though.

We built a new house in 1998 and have had eight relatively trouble-free years. Just the thought of restoration of some old Victorian gives me the willies... Maybe because I'm 67 and Grandpa is 72 -- but he does so much stuff, I know he could handle it: electrician, plumber, architect, gardener -- you name it, he can do it.

In any event, good luck, whatever you do. The construction guy will consider you his best friend -- and his banker, too!



In peace,

Radio_Lady in Oregon

n/t

Frankly, that would cure me from even THINKING about restoring an old house.

That's about 100K worth of work...

the house needs more than $100k of work...according to our contractor

The home is priced at $130k and it isn't because of the house...it is because of the acreage.

This is our fear....the guy selling it wants money more than he wants the house to go to someone ..so he is hoping one of the developers around our area will buy his acreage and tear the old lady down...

So...negotiating a price for that home will be tricky....go too low and he will end up just courting developers...go too high...and we end up paying too much.

Looks like a similar project...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=287&topic_id=4125&mesg_id=4125

:hi:

I luuuuuuuuuuuuuvee old houses.
Picture?

that`s over 100,000 in repairs and several months in construction time....

it sits on over an acre of land.....in a town that has an unprecedented building boom...

Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House...

If so, check out "Mouse Hunt."

Could be a great investment. :hi:

able to recoup your money? Be practical, please. Charming is lovely, but in real estate, its LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

:)

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Excellent schools, the home is in a mixed area of commercial/residential.

now i'm jealous.

Offer that per the total amount of acreage and an additional $25K....negotiate using cited repairs needed. If anything, you should have a certain number of days allowed from having offer accepted to being able to withdraw offer with no fallout back on you, and getting problems cited by not only a home inspector (they can only inspect, not recommend..at least they shouldn't...), and pay a licensed buliding contractor to cite problems and make reasonable recommendations.

Being practical is going to be very challenging when you are looking at such a wonderful curb appeal!!! :) Good luck! :) Best, Ida

http://www.oldhouseweb.com/newBB/ Their forums are an excellent resource, and people are always posting progress photos. Renovating/restoring and older home is a true labor of love. And always keep in mind that, to build the same house with the same level of craftsmanship and detail today would cost a LOT more than you would think.

I LOVE old homes!! I currently live in the 1st floor of an over/under duplex built about 100 years ago, and my parents live in a 100 year old 3 story ictorian that they've slowly but surely been working on for the past 18 years (taking on small, managable projects rather than doing a total gut and reno all at once).

Learn more here regarding your state:

http://www.phmc.state.pa.us/bhp/

If you can afford to invest 110-200k, buy it, you won't regret it. If you can't, don't buy it... you will regret it.

my husband is currently talking to the bank about it...we will see.

they are great -- I have two family members who did that. The old ones are built like tanks -- and are so well crafted.

MIchael Ruhkman's "House"

Seriously.

I'm sure it's oozing charm but you will be pouring money into it by the truckload.