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Dear City Hearts,
Tell them that our neighborhood enjoyed a higher rate of appreciation
than any suburb over the past five years. Tell them that you will only
make an offer on a house is it’s contingent on a full home inspection
by a qualified housing inspector. But mainly, tell them you’ll find a
Realtor who can help you pick good bones.
There is no substitute for good bones in a house. By “good bones” we
mean solid construction, appropriate elements and standard designs. Of
course construction standards have improved over the years: we can see
vast changes over the decades from 1910 to 1960 as floor joists
widened from 8 to 10 and even 12 inches, wiring went from
knob-and-tube to metal sheathing and Romex; as windows, insulation,
roofing, boilers, furnaces and a wide array of materials conformed to
higher building standard. That’s great, but it doesn’t mean that a
1960 house is necessarily a better buy than a home built in 1925, or
that it has better bones.
Tell your folks that most homes in our neighborhoods came from
standard designs used again and again, which include identifiable
floor plans and elements for a specific period. For instance, a 1920’s
bungalow was typically trimmed using 4” oak window and door casing
with back band, a cased archway between the living and ding rooms,
hardwood of oak or maple, a ceramic tile bath nestled between two
bedrooms, and a kitchen at the rear with a sink window overlooking the
back or side yard. We’ve all seen this house--savvy buyers expect a
1920’s bungalow to conform this standard. |
These are the design bones we’re
looking for. As to elements, let’s pick a little
deeper. Light fixture from the period are a plus,
as are original built-ins, ceiling coving, and
plate rails. Of course most buyers would prefer a
“grandma’s” house in perfectly preserved
condition, along with a tastefully remodeled
kitchen and bath. But every generation for 80
years has taken a shot at “improving” our housing
stock, so buyers often have to do mental surgery
to determine the quality of a house’s bones. For
example, sprayed ceilings are unfortunate, but
fairly simple to undo: what you’re looking for
here is whether the ceiling is sagging, and why.
Remember, City Hearts, bones are not roof
covering, furnaces, or water heaters. These items
we expect to replace over time. Think classic
design, appropriate elements, and solid basic
construction: the bones that frame the soul of a
house. Rattle them right, and you’ll make your
parents happy when it’s your turn to sell.
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Pat
Rosaves is a full-time real estate
professional living in the Seward -
Longfellow area. She has more than 27
years experience in helping people with
their real estate needs. Questions may be
sent to her at River Realty, 2543 38th
Avenue South, Mpls, MN 55406. Or call her
at 612-724-1314 or email her at
pat@riverrealty.net
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