You’re the proud owner of a new old home. Congratulations! Sooo … now what?
As you’ll find out, historic homeownership brings with it a unique set of questions, decisions, and goals. Let’s address one of the most basic questions first: Should you restore or rehabilitate your house?
Your decision will influence the house’s finished character, the project cost, and the amount of time it takes. It will also impact how much of the work you take on yourself and how much you’ll hand off to professionals.
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to determining whether you should restore or rehabilitate your historic home.
Let your property, capabilities, and needs help guide your decision, and chances are you’ll arrive at an accurate, appropriate solution.
With that said, here are 10 things to keep in mind when determining which approach will work best for you.
NOTE: For a more detailed list of recommendations, check out the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. This jam-packed resource from the National Park Service includes guidelines on preserving, rehabilitating, restoring, and reconstructing historic buildings.