BLUE GRASS, VIRGINIA — Many city-bound Americans see themselves eventually owning an older house in the country. As they dream of a second home or a retirement spot, they see large shade trees, a big front porch, lots of room inside and out, and peaceful surroundings.
The wood-frame farmhouses we associate with Norman Rockwell’s America were built from the 1850s through the 1930s. Millions of white, clapboard-sided farmhouses were built across the country in the 75 years before World War II.
The best please the eye; they’re well-sited with balanced proportions. Many have porches designed for swing-sitting, but are often used for the year-round “temporary” storage of grills.
Within this group, country buyers will find everything from a barely standing wreck to a newly painted pageant hopeful. In between, you might find: The Project, with the next task not even close to last on the list; The DIY Fixer-Upper, in which a hostile break-up may occur depending on how much work you schedule for the two of you to do together; and, finally, the Goldilocks, which gives you just enough excuse to buy $20,000 worth of tools and only enough projects to hammer your thumb once.
The good news is that if you throw enough money at an old country house, you’ll eventually get something you like. Remodeling budgets on such places tend to be exceeded, however.
Many believe that country houses express the personalities of their owners, particularly newcomers. Keep this in mind when choosing exterior colors.
Here are things to look for and look out for.
Floodplain. Old farmhouses were usually built on flat ground, often next to creeks or rivers. Waterfront locations brought many advantages until they flooded. If you buy a house in a floodplain, you will get wet.
Scale. With the exception of the Taras and Monticellos, most old farmhouses were built for shorter and thinner occupants than the likes of me. They have low ceilings and small doors, as well as stairways that lead to many banged modern heads. Scale problems cannot be fixed readily or cheaply.
Layout. Original farmhouses lacked closets and indoor bathrooms, both of which have usually been patched in over the years. Farm kitchens are big, but often lack counters and room for cabinets and appliances. Ours has seven doors, which occupy most of the wall space.
Water in. Springs and wells are typical on-site sources. Buyers need to test these waters for contaminants, and then check the systems for integrity and safety. Old plumbing may have lead solder. If the tap water contains grit or color, the cause may be a deteriorated pipe between source and house.
Water out. Farmhouses are usually served by septic systems. The older the system, the less likely it is to meet current local percolation and design standards. Old systems may or may not be grandfathered for new owners. If you add a room, you may be required to add a new septic system.
Structure. Farmhouses may or may not be anchored to a foundation; often they’re set on hewn log sills or stones. Redoing foundations is hard and costly. Check the roof and gutters. Floors are likely to bounce.
Original fireplaces. Safety requires that a chimney flue be lined with heat-resistant tile or an equivalent. Some older flues can be retrofitted; the rest need to be torn out and built from scratch.
Electric and HVAC. Old wiring should be replaced, along with anything less than a 200-amp box. If you’re planning on a duct-based heating and AC system, determine the feasibility of installing ducts before you make an offer. Old plaster walls are expensive to retrofit with concealed ducts and electrical wiring.
Energy efficiency. Wood-frame farmhouses were built without insulation. They are not air-tight; caulking was not available. Attic insulation has usually been added, but walls and floors are less likely to have been upgraded. Old windows and doors are energy-inefficient. Heating poorly insulated space is expensive. Woodstoves are commonly used to provide cheap heat. The expense of a pick-up truck, chainsaw and back problems are generally not factored into the cost-benefit analysis used to justify wood heat.
On the other hand, lack of tightness improves indoor air quality.
Exterior paint. Assume that you will be painting wood clapboards every seven years. The same for standing-seam metal roofs.
Home inspection. Have one done, before making an offer or as a contingency. The inspector needs to get up on the roof and into the crawlspace. Use an experienced professional; several trade organizations can recommend inspectors in your area. Remember that a home inspection does not routinely include evaluating farm buildings or the farm’s land and infrastructure.
Bugs and critters. Look for evidence of bad wood and hostile insects. Expect to find mice. Farms are in the country: Be prepared for nocturnal visitors who live here too.
Old farmhouses are quirky, cranky and comfy. Understand what you’re getting into before you make an offer.
One of their virtues above others is this: They’ve been homes for a long time and will readily become yours.
–Curtis Seltzer, land consultant, is the author of How To Be A DIRT-SMART Buyer of Country Property, available at www.Curtis-Seltzer.com. He holds a Class A residential contractor’s license in Virginia and has lived in a now 90-year-old farmhouse for 25 years.
