I love going through old houses even before they are renovated. I don't want to live in one. I actually prefer new construction. I just like walking through them and wondering what memories they hold. Today I had the opportunity to go on a listing appointment to a very large house that is over 100 years old.
I believe that it was a very grand house when it was built. This house had been in the seller's family for over eighty years. It had not been kept up for quite a few years yet when I walked inside, I got the feeling I was walking back in time. The sellers relayed many stories as we walked from room to room.
The high ceilings and the ornate doors and 8" woodwork were in near perfect condition. It had hard wood floors, sliding glass doors and walls with built in cabinets with shelves. Some of the light fixtures, while probably not original, looked very elegant. Everything seemed so solid.
Almost every house from that era had a parlor, a formal dining room with a huge chandelier and at least five or six bedrooms as did this one. It also had to have a large front porch to sit on in the summer time with a glass of lemonade and watch the world go by.
This one was unique in that it had a walk out basement. In the basement was a very old octopus furnace that could easily pass as a space ship from another planet. It had a cistern and a coal bin. Right next to this ancient furnace was a coaxial cable for the TV. I thought that was quite amusing - new meets old.
When I list this home, it will be as a commercial property. I hope who ever buys it restores it as much as possible. I warned the sellers that someone may buy it just for the land. They could easily tear down the house and build a new office building. It would be a shame to lose this old structure but I guess that's progress. It sure was nice while it lasted.
Take care.
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