Why Buy a Fixer-Upper and How to Fix Her Up

Fixer-uppers today are the stars of today’s many reality shows on house flipping. We’ve all seen an afternoon show where a Guy Fieri impersonator that’s good at building stuff gets his hands on a rundown townhouse in the inner cities and transforms it into a luxury abode. However, you don’t have to be a Flavortown enthusiast with amazing handyman skills to get a fixer-upper. Fixer-upper homes can also be a great choice for those of us looking for a cheap place to live that has a soul.

There’s just something unique about old homes with their pretty brick facades, rustic trim, and their charming colonnades that simply can’t be found in new homes. And even if you aren’t planning to flip your old home in the future, fixer-upper projects can be very fun and rewarding.  

Why Buy? 

Fixer-upper homes can be an attractive option for those of us looking for our next place to live, and there are many reasons for this.

Why Buy a Fixer-Upper Home?

Charm 

There’s no way to overstate just how unique and charming old homes can be, especially when compared to a lot of the cookie-cutter homes that have come up in recent years. These homes are simply one of a kind, and the fact that they are run down only adds to their unique character. Plus, fixer-uppers can be nearly a century old, and as such can contain many elegant details and designs which have been long forgotten in modern homes. You’d be hard-pressed to find the 1980s home with french doors, window seats, or built-in bookcases with ornate wood trim.

Placing such pretty details in a modern home would likely involve costly retrofits, but in a fixer-upper, they come as standard. If you dream of injecting some whimsy and magic into everyday life, a fixer-upper might just be the ticket.

Old Homes Have Quite a Unique Charm

Infinite Potential 

The beauty of having a house that needs work is that there’s a lot to be done, and that means you have a lot of options. A fixer-upper has an almost infinite number of possibilities when it comes to the various improvements and retrofits you can do to it. An old house can be your canvas for an ambitious modernization remodel that transforms your house into a beautiful synthesis of old and new. Or, it can be the site of many small projects that test your handyman skills and make your home a little better one step at a time.

Whatever you choose to do to improve your fixer-upper home, you’ll be sure that your place won’t just be another split-level on the block. Any change you make will add practicality to your home and emphasize its inner appeal all while making it stand out from modern houses.

What You Can Do With an Old Fixer-Upper Home

Affordability

A fixer-upper is going to be a lot more affordable than the average home. Fixer-upper homes are often just a fraction of the cost of a ready-to-move-in home. This leaves a lot of money that doesn’t have to go to a mortgage and can go instead to improving your house. DIY remodeling will help you save even more money.

Financial Advantages of Choosing a Fixer-Upper

Profit 

If you end up choosing to sell or rent your house, you will have a better chance of turning a profit thanks to the lower cost of entry into the fixer-upper market. An old house can be very popular as an Airbnb rental thanks to its rustic charm. If you’re lucky, you might even get one of those Guy Fieri types to buy your home for the next episode of their fix and flip show.

What to Fix-Up

Home improvement doesn’t have to be difficult when you’re working on an old mansion. Most small projects in a fixer-upper house can make a world of difference.  

A Fresh Coat of Paint

The rooms in your old-school house might seem a bit drab when you first lay eyes on them. However, this isn’t because the past was dark and unhappy, but rather because the march of time has stripped your walls of the vibrancy they once had. The best way to remedy this is to do some repainting. Some fresh paint can go a long way towards transforming a dingy room into an airy one as old rooms buried in the cobwebs of time come to life once more.

Repainting makes your home a clean slate again, a blank canvas for all the projects you can dream of doing. To preserve that classic look you can repaint a wall with darker blues, greys, and greens. Alternatively, you can opt for something new and fresh with light yellows, whites, and cyan. A repainting project can cost as low as $50, so it’s possible.

A Fresh Coat of Paint Can Revive an Old Home

New Flooring 

Some new flooring can also go a long way towards breathing new life into a stale old home. A grand hallway decked out with hardwood floors can be a truly majestic sight, but alas even the toughest wood planks are going to rot, warp, and bend with time. You could of course go the extra mile and strip out those planks and go for genuine oak hardwood flooring, but there are other options too if you want to save a few bucks.

Vinyl plank flooring, for instance, can give you the look and feel of wood but with added durability in one affordable package at just $5 per square foot. Vinyl plank is often plated with wood, giving that natural wood feel underfoot. At the same time, the vinyl core means your vinyl “wood” planks aren’t going to warp from humidity or temperature changes.

Genuine Hardwood Is an Ideal Option for New Flooring

Facelift 

The cure to your fixer-upper home’s tired facade is to give it a fresh facelift. How big a project this becomes depends on how much you want to do. A facelift can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint. You can even go the extra mile with some new siding, and a new front door. If your Victorian house has some elegant wooden railings on its front porch along with unique wood ornamentation, you can flex your wood-crafting skills by fashioning new pieces modeled after the old ones.

Revamping Your Fixer-Upper’s Facade Can Boost Its Curb Appeal

Kitchen Renovation

Your kitchen is a focal point of life in the home. It’s used every day and is where many great memories are made. A beautiful kitchen that works well is a good thing to walk into every morning before starting your day, whereas a dilapidated kitchen that works poorly can dampen your mood. Of course, you don’t have to get a luxury fixer-upper kitchen full of wonder gizmos if you want a kitchen that’s beautiful and practical.

Fixer-upper kitchens can be quite affordably renovated if you just focus on the essentials of what makes a good kitchen — ergo, a nice worktop, sturdy dining furniture, practical kitchenware, and reliable appliances. When it comes to expensive kitchen appliances, only replace the things that are broken or malfunctioning.

To save even more money, consider buying energy-efficient appliances such as those that are energy-star approved.

The Importance of Having a Beautiful Kitchen

New Windows 

Windows on old homes are often not that good at keeping warm air in the house during the winter and likewise struggle to hold in cool air during the summer months. Installing new windows isn’t the cheapest project, but it can pay off big in the long term. Better insulated windows mean less energy waste and lower energy bills. If you pine for a more sustainable lifestyle this is one way to make it a reality.

The Benefits of Installing New Windows

Abatement 

One important home improvement detail to pay attention to with older houses is harmful building materials such as lead and asbestos. Unfortunately, older buildings are more likely to contain these toxic materials, as they were once prized for their durability and versatility. If your fixer-upper has peeling paint and you suspect it of containing lead, have your home inspected right away. Likewise, if your home contains brown vermiculite insulation, decaying roof panels, or popcorn ceilings, it’s a good idea to have your house checked for asbestos.

Hazardous Materials to Look Out for in an Old Home