Have you ever dreamed of building your own house from the ground up? For some, the thought of finding land, designing the home, and constructing it from scratch can seem like an unattainable fantasy—even if they’re already living in their dream home. If you’re one of these people and would love to move into a fixer-upper instead, you’ll want to check out this property listing by Farmhouse Finds Realty in the Hudson Valley area of New York State, specifically in the Catskills region.
Farmhouse Finds: A Fixer-Upper in the Hudson Valley – Presented by ALLUVION Real Estate
Let Go of Perfection
While many people love the idea of transforming an old home into a beautiful dream house, it’s important to recognize that things might not go according to plan. Keep your project manageable and remember that sometimes it’s better to live with a few imperfections than let a fixer-upper overwhelm you. You don’t want to regret letting yourself get dragged down by all of your renovations; take care of what is necessary while keeping things minimalistic where possible.
How to Choose Your Next Home
After scouring thousands of homes, we’ve found that there are four critical factors to look for in a home before making an offer. First, a safe neighborhood with good schools. Second, nearby amenities like gyms and grocery stores. Third, a kitchen that you’ll love cooking in and hosting dinner parties in—and fourth, proximity to nature so you can spend more time outside during your leisure hours. Our list is obviously subjective and personal; if you need more details on how to evaluate these factors yourself, get started by searching real estate listings on Zillow!
When it Comes to Fixers, Look for Character Above All Else
As any real estate professional will tell you, an ugly house is not a bad investment. For starters, it’s unlikely that an ugly house was overpriced, to begin with. Of course, there are outliers on both ends of that spectrum (you just need to know what they are), but generally speaking, ugly houses tend to be a great deal. However, not all fixers are created equal, and not all ugly houses end up as pretty ones; when it comes to buying fixers, you want only homes with plenty of character and very little that needs to be changed or taken away from them. When determining how much character a fixer has, ask yourself: Is there old woodwork? Old windows? Old fixtures? Old doors?
Consider Working with an Architectural Designer
The right design professional can turn your dream home into a reality. But good architects aren’t cheap, so working with one on a fixer-upper will typically cost you anywhere from $20,000 to $100,000 depending on its size and scope. If that price tag doesn’t make you wince—and if you know that hiring an architect is the key to nailing your vision—start shopping around for one immediately.
Ask Lots of Questions about Age, Construction Type, Materials and Trim
With great real estate comes great responsibility, especially when you’re making a large investment in a home. Asking questions of your realtor, such as how old it is and what sort of materials were used during construction will be helpful to know whether or not there are likely any major issues that may affect property value down the road.
Choose Your Kitchen Wisely Based on Use
Before you even consider paint colors and flooring, you should make sure you have everything else you need. Choose your kitchen wisely based on how much time you’ll spend there and how often it will be used. For example, if your business is more formal or requires more client interaction, a small home office may be sufficient—but if your work involves cooking or entertaining clients, make sure that room meets all of your needs before moving on to anything else.
Don’t Rush the Renovation Process
There are many best practices to follow when buying a home, and renovations are no exception. When you’re looking for an old fixer-upper, it’s crucial to do your research. Start by checking out local historical societies or town halls—they might have records of previous owners and any work that was done on the house over time. It’s also important to hire professionals with experience renovating homes like yours; these people will be able to give you advice on how to tackle specific issues that come up during renovation projects, such as structural damage or mold issues. Don’t forget about permits!
Start With What You Know; Then Narrow It Down (And Save Money!)
If you’re searching for a fixer-upper, but don’t know where to start, start with what you know. Do you like Victorian homes? Beaches? Mountains? By narrowing down your list to a few basic categories, you can find homes that fit your preferred lifestyle—and save money on driving around and looking at every property under the sun. If a property doesn’t work out, keep moving on until you find one that does! The perfect home is out there, waiting for you. You just have to be patient enough to find it.
Get Ready To Work Hard—and Maybe Work Alone!
While it’s a great dream to buy a beautiful, historical farmhouse and fix it up all by yourself, what’s likely is that you won’t be able to do it all yourself—and should probably get used to working with contractors. To really make your home stand out from others on the market, you may need more than elbow grease and an idea; you might need a little help from some professionals. Whether you hire them or find them through networking, it’s important to know who they are before you start planning your renovations. You don’t want to end up with a contractor who doesn’t pay their bills or one who doesn’t share your vision for how things should look. Finding a good contractor can take time, but it’s worth it when you have someone reliable helping you bring your house back to life. In addition to finding a good contractor, knowing about local laws and regulations will also help ensure that your renovation stays within code.
