What to Know When Buying a Historic Home

Brit in RVA Blog

Subscription

Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.

RSS Feed Archives

2026 | 4 Posts
- February | 2 Posts
- January | 2 Posts
2025 | 30 Posts
- December | 2 Posts
- November | 2 Posts
- October | 2 Posts
- September | 2 Posts
- August | 2 Posts
- July | 2 Posts
- June | 2 Posts
- May | 2 Posts
- April | 2 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2024 | 48 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2023 | 47 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 3 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2022 | 48 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 4 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2021 | 46 Posts
- December | 4 Posts
- November | 4 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 4 Posts
- August | 4 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 4 Posts
- March | 4 Posts
- February | 2 Posts
- January | 4 Posts
2020 | 37 Posts
- December | 3 Posts
- November | 3 Posts
- October | 4 Posts
- September | 5 Posts
- August | 5 Posts
- July | 4 Posts
- June | 4 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
- April | 2 Posts
- March | 2 Posts
- February | 1 Posts
2019 | 6 Posts
- November | 1 Posts
- July | 1 Posts
- May | 4 Posts
2018 | 1 Posts
- December | 1 Posts

What to Know When Buying a Historic Home

June 17th, 2024 by Joyner Fine Properties

The Richmond area is full of gorgeous, historic homes. Many have been preserved in their original style, and others have seen various updates over the years. If you have an appreciation for vintage architecture, we encourage you to look at historic Richmond homes for sale. Just keep the following tips in mind as you do.

Look Into Renovation Grants
If you purchase a historic home that needs updating, you may qualify for some grants or loans to help cover the renovation costs. The State Historic Preservation Office can give you the most updated information as to what grants are currently available and how to qualify.

Keep in mind that a home usually has to be 50 years old or older in order to be considered historic. Some grants may have more stringent age requirements. Also, when you remodel with grant money, you are usually required to preserve certain aspects of the home's original style.
Pay Close Attention to the Roof
A home with a bad roof will soon develop other issues. Water leaking through the roof can cause mold to grow in the attic and on ceilings. Roof leaks can also sacrifice the integrity of various support beams.

For this reason, the roof should be one of the first things you examine in a historic home. If the roof is sagging, missing shingles, or has a leaning chimney, you should definitely have a roofer take a closer look before you make an offer.
Try the Doors and Windows
Try opening and closing all of the doors and windows in the home. Older windows can become hard to open, at which point they need to be replaced.

If you notice that multiple doors and windows don't open, that could point to an issue with the home's foundation. If the foundation shifts, the doors and windows can shift out of balance. Some foundation problems are fairly easy to repair, but you shouldn't make an offer on a historic home with a questionable foundation until you know exactly what you're dealing with.
Listen to the Floors
When you walk through the home, pay close attention to any sounds the floor makes. A squeaky floor may just mean a few boards need to be replaced, but it could also point to a more serious structural issue.

Also, check the floors around tubs, sinks, and toilets. Are there any signs of water damage? Water damage not only leads to mold but also structural problems.
Check the HVAC System
Many historic homes have boiler heating systems. It's difficult to run ducts through these homes, so many people choose to stick with boiler heating. Make sure this is something you're comfortable with. Boiler heating can be quite energy-efficient, but some people find the radiators to be cumbersome.

Similarly, many historic homes lack central AC and instead have ductless mini-spit systems or even window units. Make sure these systems are well-maintained and in good condition.
Ask About the Plumbing
Has the home been re-plumbed? If not, then it may need to be re-plumbed soon. This is a major expense and definitely something to account for when you decide how much to offer for the home.

Also, try all of the faucets, showers, and toilets. You may need to replace some of these fixtures upon move-in.

If you follow the tips above, you'll have an easier time finding a gorgeous, historic home that meets your family's needs. Don't hesitate to contact us if you need some assistance with your search. Our real estate agents know the Richmond area well and would be happy to help.

Categories: Buying a House

Tags: Richmond, Richmond neighborhoods, For buyers, First-time buyers, Home-buying tips, Buy a Home, moving to Richmond, historic, real estate, real estate tips

Related Markets: Richmond

©Joyner Fine Properties - Seller will consider paying buyer agent compensation based upon the terms and conditions of any offer made. Said compensation to be negotiated in the purchase agreement. Disclaimer: All information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All properties are subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. Neither listing broker(s) or information provider(s) shall be responsible for any typographical errors, misinformation, misprints and shall be held totally harmless. Listing(s) information is provided for consumers personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information on this site was last updated 03/02/2026. The listing information on this page last changed on 03/02/2026. The data relating to real estate for sale on this website comes in part from the Internet Data Exchange program of Delta Media Group MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:23:40 PM EST) or CAAR MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:10:48 PM EST) or CVRMLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:19:06 PM EST) or Bright MLS (last updated Mon 03/02/2026 4:18:22 PM EST). Real estate listings held by brokerage firms other than Joyner Fine Properties may be marked with the Internet Data Exchange logo and detailed information about those properties will include the name of the listing broker(s) when required by the MLS. All rights reserved.

©Joyner Fine Properties - Seller will consider paying buyer agent compensation based upon the terms and conditions of any offer made. Said compensation to be negotiated in the purchase agreement.
Privacy Policy / DMCA Notice / ADA Accessibility

Agency License Information: Joyner Fine Properties and its agents are licensed in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

What to Know When Buying a Historic Home

ContactMe

Login to My Homefinder

We have detected that you have cookies disabled.