Do you have the skills and knowledge it takes to turn your dream home into a reality?

You’ve always wanted to purchase an old, historic home and bring it back to life. But restoring a vintage home is no small undertaking. Historic homeownership can involve lots of decisions, uncover some surprises, and require flexibility when it comes to your time and money. Therefore, you need to make sure you understand what to expect and consider as you undergo the process of restoring an old home.

With that said, here are some things to keep in mind as you consider a home restoration:

  1. Know your strengths and limitations.

If this is your first experience with buying and restoring a home from a bygone era, you really need to ask yourself if you have the time to take on a project of this scope. Home restoration projects inevitably take more time to complete than originally anticipated. If you’re attempting to do some or all the renovations yourself, you need to ask yourself if you really have the time to tackle a home restoration project. After all, restoring a property in your spare time during evenings or vacations or over weekends and holidays can be a long, arduous process.

Additionally, you need to be realistic about your skills and experience when it comes to home restoration work. If you’ve done carpentry projects in the past, you may be qualified to restore the home’s wood floors and woodwork. However, if you need to Google how to do construction, electrical or plumbing work, or spend a lot of time asking questions at the home improvement store, you probably should hire a professional construction company, like BGW Construction, LLC, to do the work properly.

  1. Set a realistic budget.

With an old-house restoration, you need to develop a professional, accurate, and doable budget first. Otherwise, project costs can easily get out of control. Budget for the infrastructure changes, such as the roof, windows, masonry and structural work, first. You need a strong, watertight structure before you can start doing cosmetic changes. Then consider any system changes like electrical, plumbing, and HVAC. Last, budget for cosmetic renovations. A good budget should anticipate any surprises.

  1. Understand historic home restrictions.

Since you’re buying a historic home, you likely want to preserve the home’s original architecture and historic character. Therefore, you need to make sure you understand any restrictions that apply to the home’s restoration work, such as the construction of additions or the types of building materials that can be used, or any restrictions that may apply to the neighborhood.

  1. Be prepared to live in an old home.

Homes from earlier ages come with quirks like drafty rooms, wavy glass windows, and uneven floor boards. Also, old homes feature closed kitchens, small bedrooms, and little closet space. If you plan to keep your historic home true to its original character, you need to understand you’re not going to have some of the creature comforts that come with today’s homes.

  1. Hire a professional construction company that works with historic homes.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when restoring an old home is, they hire a contractor that’s not skilled in historic home restorations. You need to hire an experienced, reputable, and licensed company that understands the process of restoring an old home.

As a top-notch home renovation company, located on the Westside of Indianapolis, BGW Construction specializes in historic renovations that bring new life to vintage homes. Our master craftsmen focus on preserving the unique elements that make your historic home special while updating it, so it’s functional for your 21st Century family. Contact us today to discuss your historic home renovation project. At BGW Construction, we’re committed to restoring your home to its full glory – “Building It like It Grew There.”

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