There are lots of reasons to buy an old or historic home. It’s generally less expensive, it’s better for the environment to live in an old home instead of going through all the waste and trouble of constructing a new one and you get the opportunity to preserve a piece of history for the next generation. Very old homes are unique. They have character, class and style, but they also come with unique challenges.

Materials

One of the first and foremost challenges you will face as a historic homeowner is that the materials are old. For example, if you have an old brick house that needs repairs, then you may need to find an antique thin brick supplier. They don’t build them like they used to, and that may seem like an obvious thing it presents complex challenges. 

Design

Another side effect of an older home is that it was designed with different priorities in mind. They certainly weren’t designed with air conditioning, wi-fi and big screen televisions in mind. As a result, it’s pretty common for the modern family to have to build or adapt spaces for new or at least different purposes. 

Preservation

All that living and adaptation must be balanced with the responsibility to preserve a historic home for the future. Of course, you want your home to be safe and comfortable for your family, but you also want to make sure that the history of it is kept safe for the future. 

Owning an old home is a joy and a challenge. There’s something very special about becoming a part of history like that, walking and living in a place where so many have walked and lived before. To own a historic home is to own a piece of history, to become a part of that history and a steward to that history. Even when it is challenging, it is worth it.