Georgetown, Texas was founded in 1848. The early settlers consisted of Swedish immigrants and those already in the southern United States. They were drawn to Georgetown’s fertile, inexpensive land and abundance of clean water. Following the introduction of the railroad system, the city took off, its population and wealth increasing through the years. Today, from the Victorian-era storefronts to the antique streetlights, Georgetown is known to be a gorgeous city with so much history. In fact, its award-winning Main Street has made itself known as The Most Beautiful Town Square in Texas. With over 180 National Registered Historic homes, Georgetown brings together the past and present. If you have a historic home that you have been meaning to revitalize, it’s time to get started with Georgetown home renovations.
What makes a home historic?
In order to be considered a historic home, you must go through the National Register of Historic Places. As per the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, this will put your house on an official list of places worthy of preservation. The National Register reviews nominations of American houses and helps to qualify properties for benefits. Your home must meet the requirements for age, significance, and integrity. That is to say, does your house still look like it did over 50 years ago, and was it associated with any historical achievements? If someone famous previously owned your home, you could also get on the list. Currently, the number of historic properties in the U.S. exceeds 96,000.
How can you cover the cost of a Georgetown home renovation?
Historic homes are the surviving pieces of original architecture and vintage building materials. Contemporary properties are being developed every single day, whether they are manufactured or custom homes. With this in mind, historic homes carry a considerable amount of prestige. Renovating them can be more expensive than it would be for a modern home. This is why there are loans, grants, and tax credits put into place to help with the restoration cost. The Texas Historic Preservation Tax Credit, for instance, offers to cover 25% of the total qualified rehabilitation expenditures. Keep in mind that you must have an experienced home inspector evaluate your home before taking on a project.
What are the restrictions for altering historic homes?
If your house has a historical designation, you most likely will not be able to perform a full remodeling. Don’t go into purchasing a historic home if you want to completely flip it. That being said, it depends entirely on local guidelines. Some cities or states need to have approval over your changes. For instance, if you wanted to replace your roof, even if materials are hard to find, you could face restrictions. According to Georgetown’s home renovation guidelines, you must respect the historic design character of your property. This means maintaining significant stylistic elements and features by repairing deteriorated ones. These slight improvements can increase the value of your home, which is especially helpful in Georgetown’s competitive housing market.
Which home renovations should you consider?
Georgetown home renovations aim to return the exterior and interior appearances of a property to its former state, while bringing it up to code. Strict restorations are uncommon for properties that are being lived in because they could reject the conveniences of electricity and plumbing. For this reason, you may choose to go the rehabilitation route. This makes your house functional for your present-day household while still retaining the historic features. It could also mean using alternative materials, as opposed to duplicating the original. Consider your lifestyle before determining what improvements you should get done. Make notes of issues with the flooring and walls, as well as what materials you can salvage. Then, find a contractor who has experience with historic home renovations.
Georgetown home renovations will make your house livable for many more years to come. Don’t let the necessary improvements slip through the cracks. And definitely don’t tear it down to make room for something modern. Whether you are in the Olive Street or Belford Historic District, you should be proudly showing off the longevity of your home. With the help of Bat City Builders, we can restore your property so that another round of generations can appreciate it. Let us know what services you are looking for so that we can get your Georgetown home looking picture perfect.
Photos, in order of appearance, by:
- glynn424 on Pixabay
- Reshma Mallecha on Unsplash
- Ksenia Chernaya on Pexels