One reason? Location. Vintage homes can offer great neighborhoods and excellent "walkability" to schools, public transportation and local amenities.
Vintage homes also offer a sense of history and architectural charm not found in newly-built homes. Some would argue that vintage homes were built with hardier materials and a better eye for craftsmanship than the newer homes today. This, however, is a debate based on personal preference only. Each Millburn-Short Hills home is unique and can have its' own host of issues. And because vintage homes can have issues, I have helpful tips from Money Magazine to share with you, with some thoughts of my own added:
1. Don't try to make your vintage home something it isn't. Remodeling too much could destroy the very charm and features home buyers are hoping to find. In your zeal to freshen up the walls, don't paint over the original wood trim, baseboards, ect.
2. If you are putting repair money into your vintage home, focus on the major areas that concern home buyers. Things like the roof, the foundation, the electrical system and the furnace should be in good condition.
3. If there is an area of concern, don't spend money you don't have, on the blind expectation you'll recover it from the sale. Talk to me first to find out the current market value of your vintage home. It may be more feasible to place it on the market as-is, with disclosures, and let the right buyer find a diamond in the rough.
4. If you have some cracks and chips in your plaster walls, a home restoration contractor can usually repair these using special washers and a plaster-like trim coat. Pre-fab wallboard is another option, but it is more expensive and can mean the loss of the original wood trim.
5. Wood floors can be less charming when they're squeaky! Fortunately, an experienced woodworker can usually fix this by installing micro-head screws to stop the boards from rubbing together.
6. If your vintage home has old, drafty windows, have a restoration carpenter examine them before you replace them. It's sometimes possible to clean and seal old windows and install new hardware, to give them good-as-new performance at a fraction of the replacement cost.
Preserving the character and charm of your vintage Millburn-Short Hills home can help you find the right buyer! If you need help finding reputable contractors, let me know. I have a wide network of home service professionals in the area and I may know just the person!
Before you begin repairs, start with a comparative market analysis to find out your home's price range in today's market. My 18 years of experience will give you the professional guidance you can trust!
Contact me today!
Elaine Pruzon
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
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We should always remember that Real Estate Investing Australia has been. A better business because of what we have done and that is why we should be proud of. We have to keep on developing the right strategy for us to ensure our business will succeed in the most effective way.
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