What I Didn't Know When I Moved Into a Historic Home

In real estate, things often don't turn out the way you'd expect. In this series, we take a look at how people's real-life experiences differed from their expectations.

This year, my house will celebrate its 125th birthday.

And I must say -- after more than a century, my Queen Anne Victorian house looks good for her age. My friends covet the charm of my kitchen. And the clich is true -- older houses simply are better made than newer models. Built in the days before drywall and nail guns, my house has walls of solid cypress. The windows are old-fashioned New Orleans bubble glass, the floors are pine heartwood, and the porch railings are actual cast iron.

I'm living the dream, right?

Well, take it from me: If you're considering buying a quaint historic home, you should know what you're in for. I may be a renter, but after living in this house for two years, I have a pretty good idea of what I'd be getting into if I were the one actually footing the maintenance bills.

A historic home can be wonderfully charming. But it can also be a nightmare. From strange noises to way-unexpected repairs, to finding surprises behind the walls, buying old is different from building new.

Here's what I've learned from the inside.

Not everything will be historic

The scenario: If you're set on having a completely original restoration, I've got some bad news: Odds are, your house will come with some upgrades or additions that don't match the original time period.

In the 1950s, someone decided the downstairs in my home wasn't large enough and added a room on the back. Except at that time, ranch style houses were all the rage. So now, my first floor is sort of like the mullet of real estate: Queen Anne Victorian in the front, suburban '50s in the back.

Experts say: Removing those add-ons won't be easy.

"The biggest problem [in our renovation] was removing additions (both interior and exterior) by previous owners to return it to the original," says Reine Hauser, executive director of Graycliff Conservancy, Inc., a restored Frank Lloyd Wright home that's open to the public in Derby, NY.

If you're considering a historic home, be on the lookout for areas that don't seem to match up with the rest of the house. It might be best to call in a contractor for an estimate before you buy.

The scenario: Older homes might have been built better, but you can't stop time. And when stuff is old, it's going to break -- usually sooner rather than later.