Making certain changes to historic homes could cause you to miss out on so much characterand money.
Historical Registries
Before changing anything in your home, you should take into account historical registries.
Historic properties are generally over 50 years old and are associated with important moments, locations, or people.
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Historic properties usually have to maintain the look of their original construction to qualify for theU.S.
National Park Services National Register of Historic Places.
Some are open to the public, while otherslike theSlowe-Burrill house in Washington, DCare privately owned.
(Though, be warned, the paperwork can be a bit cumbersome.)
There arefederal tax incentivesfor those who preserve their property, even ifrehabilitationis required to do so.
You’ll just need to comply with thetechnical standardsthat apply to everything from window treatments to masonry.
But that doesnt mean that you have to stick to the original materials or look.
Some of these changes can be done thoughtfully, without impacting the historic character of these elements.
In places likeBaltimoreand New York City, certain interior landmarks are highly coveted and appreciated.
The same is true for homes that are important because of significant events that took place inside them.
Fireplaces, even if not usable, have great appeal, for example.
Original staircases, light features, woodwork, and even the floor plan are worth keeping.
More importantly, they know applicable regional requirements and play an outsized role in documenting the changes made.
Documenting anything that requires a city license or permits is especially important.
