If you’re rehabbing properties in areas like Connecticut or San Diego, you’ll often come across historic homes that could be quick sells with a little remodeling. While these old houses aren’t exactly known for their creature comforts, spending some money here and there to bring their technology into the 21st century can net you big returns on signing day. Here are some things you should definitely consider upgrading when rehabbing historic properties:
- Bring the power. The 18th century was a great time for powdered wigs – and a terrible one for domestic electrical systems. Many historic houses have crudely-tacked-on wiring and suspect fuses that are decades old, so if you’re remodeling your walls, why not take the time to install a modern, high-wattage system in your real estate investment? Not only will you be able to use three appliances at once, you’ll also make your home’s property value skyrocket.
- No more old panes of glass. Some parts of historic homes are better left as they are. Your windows aren’t one of them. Old single-pane windows are fragile and will add hundreds of dollars to your heating bill each winter, so why not replace them with antique-styled argon-filled windows? They stay cleaner, are sturdier and offer exponentially better insulation than their predecessors.
- Bring it to a boil. Most water boilers in historic homes are woefully underpowered as a result of outdated technology or space constraints. Luckily, new water heaters are getting more compact and powerful every day. If you can’t get your shower to stay hot for more than a few minutes, a new heating system might be just what the doctor ordered. You won’t even have to replace the plumbing.
Don’t worry about building in some creature comforts when rehabbing historic properties. No home can stay in its original state forever, but luckily there are new products on the market that have the vintage styling and the specifications you need to keep your house looking authentic for another hundred years.
