Home Style Series with Nolan: Historic Homes

Over the next couple of weeks, I'm going to explore different home styles, their pros, cons, and what makes them attractive in this real estate market.

There are many different types of home styles. Contemporary, Victorian, Urban, Georgian, Classic. Really, if it’s a trend, it can be related to homes!

One of the popular trends today is having a historic home. We are seeing that people want the charm of an old home, from the crown molding, to the flooring, and everything in between. But there is a certain sector of the home market that wants to have an actual old home. One built in the early 20th century or even earlier.

The pro of these homes is their character. You can't beat the charm, quality, wood workings, etc. of a historic home. They are truly one of a kind, no cookie-cutter looks here. In Northeast Ohio there are several historic homes.

With all of the aesthetic pros of a historic home, there are some cons associated with it as well.

The thick hardwood floors with the rich patina of age are an amazing feature. The crown molding and detail work of older homes are extremely well done. But they are extremely hard to be replicated or replaced. Even if you can find a woodworker to replicate some of these features, it will never be exactly the same, and it doesn't come cheap.

Over time, the insulation, seals, and other components of the home that keep it air-tight start to deteriorate. These are issues that could be costly to fix. Depending on how well the home has been maintained these issues could be minor.

When a home is registered historic with a state, there are certain guidelines those homeowners must follow. For example, let's say that you wanted to paint the exterior of your home. You would have to have the color approved by the state in some cases.

Do you own a vintage, century or registered historic home? Share your experiences with these gems!