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Buying an older home - how much 'vintage' do you keep?

By
Real Estate Agent with The DiGiorgio Group

I recently had the pleasure of showing an older home (1961) in one of Arvada's charming neighborhoods. The seller was the original owner.

arvada home for sale vintage oven Consequently, there were a lot of original features. The oven, for one. This oven was so cool - pretty good sized, and the oven door swung up instead of out. That's because the burners were in a drawer that pulled out from under the oven. 

Crazy cool!

But is that oven a keeper?  It was super clean, and it worked. But it probably used a lot more energy than a newer model. I don't know if anything like it can be found, so it may get replaced. I think it would depend on how much cooking people do. Me? I'd keep it!

The kitchen counters had the 'boomerang' style decoration. Unfortunately, they were pretty banged up, and there was room for more cupboards and counters, so they'll almost certainly get replaced.

But I do know you can get vintage-style countertop laminates. It would be great if the kitchen were remodeled to style.

The house also had some original light fixtures, wood floors, kitchen cabinets, and slant-front metal bathroom vanity.

The thing is, the owner had put in new electrical, roof, furnace, hot water heater, insulation, and some plumbing. So the expensive, 'boring' stuff was nearly done. 

Arvada Homes Between Denver and BoulderI had a good time enjoying the feel of this house, obviously loved for a long time.

Then today, I received the August/September 2010 issue of The Arvada Report, which is mailed to all Arvada residents and businesses bi-monthly.  The first article was, "Preservation for Living Project Kicks Off in Four Arvada Neighborhoods".

It said the project, "includes a series of free informational workshops on topics such as historic tax credits, window and masonry repairs, and energy efficiency measures in older homes. A "pattern book" of suggestions on how to sensitively remodel or make additions to older pre-war homes ...and for early post-war ... will also be developed... to educate homeowners about character defining features ... while helping them visualize designs to enhance livability and modern lifestyles." 

And then, I saw a comment on a real estate website called Trulia, complaining about fix and flippers who remove all the vintage style. (Here's my post about his comment and the responses Remodeling a Vintage Home? Leave it Alone!

Do we have a trend in the making?

Has anyone listed, sold or bought a 'Retro Cool Mad Men' style home? How did that go?

 

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Read more about life in Arvada, Colorado.

And here’s a little intro to Olde Town Arvada.

Find all the homes available in Arvada, Westminster, Broomfield, North Denver, Thornton, Lafayette, Louisville, Wheat Ridge and Golden.

Gardeners might enjoy my posts about gardening in Denver to Boulder’s front range.

I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.

I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly suburbs northwest of Denver.

 

 Copyright © 2011 Joetta Fort, The DiGiorgio Group 

Posted by

Joetta Fort, Realtor       720-353-8031       joetta.fort@gmail.com


Comments (7)

Dee Bundy
Fort Collins Realtor @ C3 Real Estate Solutions - Fort Collins, CO
Helping You Make Colorado "Home"

We have this struggle quite a bit here in Old Town Fort Collins.  Many of the homes are from the very early 1900's and have a ton of historic features so it is definitely a 'niche' market for those construction companies that are well versed in maintaining the cool 'vintage' features while updating for a modern family.

(and I'd keep the oven too - it's just so cool! :)

Aug 04, 2010 06:16 AM
Linda Metallo DiBenardo
RE/MAX Impact, Lockport, Illinois - Lockport, IL

Joetta, I've seen ovens like that.  Wow, that stove is immaculate!  I'd keep it too, but I can just see my kids rolling their eyes.

Aug 04, 2010 07:33 AM
Joetta Fort
The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO
Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

So far we all agree. I still don't know what my client will decide though!

Aug 04, 2010 07:37 AM
Donna Galinsky
Allen Tate Company - Cornelius, NC
Make Lake Norman Your Home!

Sorry but I have to laugh when I see a home built in 1961 called older.

Around here the newer homes were built in the 1960s and Old means early 1900s.

The area I am in is called Old Woodmere and the homes are late 1800s to early 1900s. Mine was built in 1918. That's old!

Guess it's all in the neighborhood!

Aug 04, 2010 07:44 AM
Joetta Fort
The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO
Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

Wow - 1960s being newer seems strange to me! Arvada does have some Victorian-era homes too. I know people love restoring those homes too, it's just the 1950s and 1960s are so trendy right now.

 

Aug 04, 2010 08:12 AM
Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi
NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL
708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Joetta:  One of my older brothers has lovingly restored a pre-modern era home.  What we used to think of as "funky" is now what you call "trendy".  I think it's great to preserve the integrity and original style of a home.  That CAN be accomplished with new appliances and such that are "green", but totally retro in style.  Something to consider, if tackling these projects.  Really enjoyed the article ... and suggested it as a feature.

Gene

Aug 04, 2010 10:19 AM
Joetta Fort
The DiGiorgio Group - Arvada, CO
Independent Broker, Homes Denver to Boulder

Thanks for the suggestion, Gene!  And I do prefer the word 'funky' - I actually heard it a LOT at the blues concert last night.

Aug 05, 2010 05:10 AM