An Older Home

In my poorly lighted bathroom, foundation and blush in hand, I can sometimes fool myself into believing that I still look pretty good for 46, but when I catch a glimpse of my face in the rear view mirror as the sunlight hits the lines around my eyes, I'm forced to admit that I've aged. Even with good diet and exercise, time takes its toll.

House are a bit like aging people, they have a tendency to show their years (unless they've gone under the knife). Even with the benefit of a little updating here and there, there's no denying the aging process.

Styles and trends change and so do the needs of the buyers. Homes built in 1925 were never meant to accommodate the technology of today with all of our computers, screens, and the multitude of electrical appliances we each own. Double-paned windows were still years away, sheer wall and bolting wasn't even a blip on the screen, (what screens?) and the concept of a family/great room wouldn't appear for several decades - nor would recessed lighting, steam showers, granite counter tops, or radiant floors . . . to name just a few.

Still, some of us can't resist the pull of an older home with its attention to detail, gracious sized rooms, traditional floor plan, hardwood floors, and generous moldings. With all that intrinsic charm, it's easy to overlook the boltless foundation, the dry rot under the stucco, or the heating and electrical bills that are sure to shock due to a lack of insulation.

Since most homes are now coming to the market with a mini face lift, it's easy to fall in love with the staging and the paint job. That's the idea. Staging is meant to distract from the shortcomings of the property. In reality, most of us live with unanswered mail stacked on the counters, laundry that's piled up waiting to be folded and children that don't pick up their toys. Enjoy the show and feel inspired, but remember, you're not buying the pictures and the furniture. Don't ignore the big ticket fixes when considering the purchase of an older home. Foundation and pest are expensive to correct and they often don't translate to resale dollars the way a new kitchen or bathroom does. (Let's face it, foundations aren't sexy.)

Still, if you don't mind a wrinkle here or there, an older home can be well worth the investment, especially if you plan on staying in the home for at least five years. As long as you've looked beyond the superficial and investigated the main systems, I encourage you to consider these wonderful classics! Older homes have a way of remaining timeless. Consider the "mid-century" (translation - "track home") that was once the vision of modern living. It's clearly dated by today's standards. In my opinion, the remodeled traditional is head and shoulders ahead of its newer, younger model. The same is true for people as well (of course, I'm quickly becoming a "classic" myself so I'm a bit biased.) And while I haven't quite hit the lines in my face with "putty" just yet, I'm not ruling it out either. While I can't deny the aging process within myself or in a home, a little updating never hurt!