Home design enthusiasts often look at older houses with a great deal of lust. The idea of buying an old property and adding a modern twist is irresistible, and the end results can be incredibly rewarding. But before you go and blow you life savings and start your next design project, there is some things you should consider first. Read on to find out what they are.
Planning Laws
Most old homes have planning laws to protect their current state. That means that you can buy a property but still not have the right to change things around. That could mean no central heating, no double glazed windows, or no knocking through doors to make that open plan living space you imagined. Make sure you check all laws and regulations that come with the house before you buy it, and certainly before you start any work. Without
planning permission, fines can be very costly for damaging old homes.
Structure
Make no bones about it, older homes were built to last. They were created with better quality materials and could outlast any modern home built in the last twenty years or so. But there is a problem. Not only are they old, but these old homes were built when there were very few regulations. This means that you will need to make sure the structure of the building is intact, from the foundations up. It is especially important to
hire a surveyor if you are going to make major changes to the house.
Power & Wiring
Although a lot of old homes that are still standing today were built to perfection, the same cannot be said for a lot of the wiring and power. Looking behind the walls of an old house is like traveling back in time to when there were no real electrician qualifications. Botched jobs are common and dodgy wiring is even more so. This can cause a problem if planning laws say you can't knock through a wall.
Heating
Heating is another problem. The home could run on an older method of household heating, such as using an oil tank or a furnace. If, when viewing the property, you hear a lot of strange groaning noises, it is likely that you will need to call in a
furnace repair company. You may not be allowed to install central heating, so these extra costs are going to have to be accounted for.
Conclusion
Still interested in moving to an old home and making your design ideas a reality? The truth is that it can be a wonderful experience. As long as you are aware of the problems you will face, then you can budget for them. Perhaps it will mean that your design plans will have to be shelved for a little while, but that's the great thing about decorating your home. Nothing has to be instant, and the longer the project, the greater rewards. Besides, There are
plenty of things you can try without doing major work, all of which will improve your living space.