Holy Crap!

RDubya · Poncho Master!

Holy Crap!

mike667 · Poncho Master!

Ya, I know they would need some work on them. I wouldn't mind it though, unless its something major.
Todd, do you live in one of those big victorian homes? or the smaller ones?
There's a couple for sale in Woodstock area, but they are all modernized and now expensive. There's one in Norwich for sale, 125 000. He keeps reducing the price. Which I am sure it needs work. Right here.

I ain't worried about ghosts either. Its not the dead you should be worried about, its the living you should be worried about. biggrin

Our apartment/condo is 2 years old and it needs work.

Ghost Post · Poncho Master!

My place is 1800's as well...finally at the painting and trim stage after an 18 month plus reno..
It all started w/ repairs necessary after the house fire (caused by the electric dryer vent pipe) and went on from there..
The house is now completely insulated and rewired, floors/stairs torn down to the original wood and repaired/refinished, one two story brick wall opened w/ heavy duty lintel so the waterfront is visible from the kitchen, new drywall, paint, trim w/ big baseboards and crown moldings, new windows, kitchen cupboards and all appliances..and more!.

A couple hints for other older home guys;

1) With older homes, one job = 20 jobs (or more) when you open things up!.

2) If you haven't already and it's not too late, get in on the 'Green up' grants from the government.. The Federal and Provincal grants are both on at the same time so I'm getting back about 95% of the $4000 Insulation bill, $60 per new Window and a few more things..
This old place feels like a completely different house w/ the new insulation and windows!.

3) Don't ever use flexible dryer vent, the white plastic or the silver insulation wrap style!.
It's baaaaad stuff that the firemen told me turns flammable w/ age!.

4) Have State Farm Insurance and no other!. After hearing the horror stories from other people who have had similar situations but other Insurance Co's, I understand how seriously magic people State Farm are and what they've done for me is amazing, especially in today's day and age!.

Stephenzone · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

69Laurentian wrote:

Older homes are nice with all the character they possess but also remember they require a fair bit of upkeep. My house is 120+

My Dad was a carpenter, which means we always lived in old pos's that were under renovations. Once we were finished it would get sold and we would move into another pos. I could tell horror stories for days on end about slats and plaster or even old knob and tube wiring. The biggest old victorian we lived in had 7 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 3 floors plus a full basement. I like the old houses they have character. needless to say i live in something considerably newer and the only reno i've had to do is a new roof.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

Our house is smaller-about 1800sq feet. If you buy an old house you are better to spend a little more and get one that has had most of the major updates- hydro, heat, plumbing. Get a competent home inspector-one that specializes in older homes. Oh yes, the haunted aspect just adds character. We haven't had anything go on here for about 5-6 months. That is unless you count the fact we have a robin that keeps hurling itself at our windows. He'll start at the side window and land on the screen looking in. He'll then fly to the front window and fly into it and flap his wings. Later you'll hear "thump........thump......thump........thump" from the basement only to find the robin hurling himself at the window down there! I think he sees his reflection and thinks it's another robin. I dunno-he just does this to my house and has been doing this for 2 weeks! I'll have to try to film him.
Back to topic, if I had the $$ I'd buy a big old restored Victorian home before I'd buy new!
Todd

mike667 · Poncho Master!

haha

I wouldn't mind working on the house. I like to do things on my own(if I had the money). I took construction class, and just like the satisfaction of completing something on my own.

Where I seen some older homes, they are all borded up and I guess are about to be demolished. They are on builder sites. Heck, I even seen houses not even that old borded up on builder sites. I hear sometimes they will sell them for dirt cheap if you move them. I wonder how much it is to move a house.
Then like what was said. Even if they give the house to you for free. Then You have to pay for the move, the land, and all the work that has to be done. Probably not saving anything then.

Canadian Poncho · A Poncho Legend!

My former father in law bought a century home for a dollar. This was about 1990. He moved it about 35kms and it cost 10 grand. Likely a fair bit more now-depending on where you are moving it. You need to hire off duty cops for traffic control as well as worry about clearing overhead wires etc. I believe there are companies that specialize in moving homes.

mike667 · Poncho Master!

I should check it out. 10 Grand seemed very reasonable too.
I saw in the news 5 years ago, a house for a dollar as well. The owner said aslong as you can move it, its yours for dollar. It was in the newspaper.