What to Expect When Moving into a Historic Home

You don’t have to be a history buff or a fan of great architecture to fall in love with the idea of living in a historic home. Unlike today’s cookie-cutter homes, historic homes have personality. Some may even have storied pasts.

But historic homes come with several challenges worth considering, beyond the almost-always-necessary renovations. Take these 10 issues into account before you sign the lease on or deed to a historic home.

Your furniture might not fit

Historic homes can be a lot smaller than homes today. Even if they have a decent amount of square footage, the rooms inside can be much smaller and the doorways and hallways narrower.

Mattress manufacturers didn’t offer king-size options until the mid-1950s, and sectionals with recliners and sofa beds are even more recent. Homes built 100 or more years ago were not designed with these pieces in mind.

Before you buy a historic home, measure the doorways, hallways and rooms. If you anticipate moving your furniture into the historic home will be a problem, you have options. You can simply sell your larger pieces and replace them with smaller versions. Or, if the problem is getting your furniture through narrow halls and doorways, you may be able to disassemble them.

Another option is to hire a professional moving company. Professional movers know how to move difficult and oversized pieces. Plus, they may be able to take measures you couldn’t, like using a crane, to get your furniture through a window and into the house.

You’ll need to take extra care moving in

Ornate doors, wainscoting, decorative sconces and stained glass are just a few artistic details that can make a historic home standout. However, these features can also be easily damaged during a move. To avoid this, wrap your furniture, appliances and anything that could scratch, dent or otherwise destroy your historic home in moving blankets before bringing them inside.

You can rent or purchase moving blankets yourself or hire a professional moving company instead. Professional movers will bring enough blankets to safely move your belongings inside, and they have the experience to avoid damages to the home itself. Additionally, they’re prepared for uneven floors, renovations in progress and other issues that can come up when moving items into a historic home.

Homeowners insurance for a historic home can be pricey

Since the cost of homeowners insurance is based on the home’s replacement cost, not its market value, historic homes typically cost more to insure. That’s because historic homes are typically constructed from rarer, more expensive materials than those used in modern homes today. It can also be more difficult to find replacements for some components.

Additionally, your rates will be higher if your home is built using materials now considered dangerous, like aluminum wiring, according to Policygenius. You may have to replace the risky materials with safer ones to even get insured. This can be a costly venture in its own right.

If you can’t find affordable options through traditional insurance companies, the National Trust Insurance Services can connect you to companies specializing in historic and older homes. You can also save money by taking advantage of discounts for paying a full year in advance, not smoking in the home or having a high credit score.

You may get a hodgepodge

Chances are, your historic home isn’t entirely historic. Over the years, owners may have added rooms, modern features like air-conditioning and upgraded appliances. While these additions may not bother you, they can be an eyesore in a home that reflects different eras. Think a pink, 50s-era bathroom and a state-of-the-art kitchen in an 1880s era farmhouse.

Before you purchase, find a contractor who can give you an estimate on any changes you want to make. This could include updating that bathroom or restoring the kitchen to something reflective of the era. Or, you may need to address an addition that just doesn’t seem to fit the rest of the home. Whatever renovations you plan, you’ll want to know how much to budget for them.

You may have costly surprises

No matter how thorough your home inspector was, you’ll uncover issues later with an older home that neither one of you noticed during the inspection period. These can be “good” surprises or costly ones. For example, you might be pleasantly surprised to find oak floors under the linoleum in the living room. However, you could also learn the house has significant structural issues, shoddy repairs that need to be addressed or mold.

There’s no real way to avoid these issues. Because you own a historic home, something will come up at some point. When it does, you’ll want to have funds set aside to make the necessary repairs. You may also want to walk the home with a contractor before you purchase the home. This can give you an idea of how much certain repairs will cost should you need to make them in the future.

Historic homes need endless repairs

As writer Angela Colley found out when she moved into a Queen Anne Victorian home, something always needs to be repaired when you live in a historic home. She notes in her article for Realtor.com that “tree roots busted through the old concrete driveway, the porch needed a paint job, the front doorknob broke six times, a windowpane fell out, another window got stuck, the fuses blew in the kitchen, the wiring in a light fixture was deemed hazardous, the bedroom door stopped closing and the heat stopped working” in the house she rented all within six months.

Routine maintenance is the best way to avoid repairs. If you notice an issue, tackle it head-on, especially if it concerns water. Allowing the problem to linger sets you up for a larger, costlier repair later on.

Contractors for a historic home can be hard to find

Not every contractor is qualified to work on a historic home. It takes a special skill set and some experience to renovate a historic home. A good contractor will be able to repair or work with what is already. They won’t automatically rip it out and replace it with something newer.

You can find a contractor who specializes in this type of work on historic home forums and websites. Or, you could ask your local historical society or neighborhood association for recommendations.

Components can be hard to find

Home Depot and Lowe’s probably don’t carry the door hinges you need or light fixtures that match the rest of your house. In her Realtor.com article, Colley notes she went for months without working doorknobs. That’s because she, along with her landlord and a repairman, had to scour architectural salvage stores for historically accurate replacements.

Even when you do find the right part, you’ll probably pay more for it. Just as it will cost more for a rare part for your classic car, it will cost more for that hard-to-find architectural element or component for a historic home.

You may be restricted when it comes to renovations

Before purchasing your home, check the National Register of Historic Places for information on what you can and can’t do to a historic home. Your state may also have laws regarding preservations. And, if your home is in a historic district, you could face even more restrictions.

These restrictions can significantly impact the renovations you can make to your historic home. For example, you may not be able to repaint the exterior the color you love or add extra space for a home office. If you intend to renovate your historic home, contact your city’s development office. They can tell you if you can make the changes you want later.

Historic homes aren’t always energy efficient

Your historic home may employ some energy-saving strategies such as windows specifically placed to heat your home in the winter and high ceilings that keep rooms cooler during the summer. However, your home might be drafty, use single-pane windows and have antiquated wiring and plumbing. Plus, the appliances and fixtures that come with it may not be energy-efficient.

Over time, you can replace the appliances and fixtures and update the home to make it more efficient. In the meantime, though, you may have to contend with a higher-than-expected energy bill.

Ready to move?

If you’ve purchased a historic home, don’t take any chances. Hire a professional moving company that has experience navigating tight corners and protecting your home from damage. Moving.com’s extensive network of reputable and reliable movers makes it easy to find and book the best moving company. All relocation companies in our network are licensed and insured, so you can rest assured that your move will be in good hands.