The Charm and the Reality of Buying a Character Home
If you've followed along with our home renovations over the years, you'll know I have a pretty big soft spot for character homes. Richard and I own a beautiful old home built in 1912, and we've spent years renovating it. We've poured an incredible amount of time, money and love into this house, and while I wouldn't change a thing, I can tell you that owning a century-old home isn't always as romantic as it looks!
Victoria has some absolutely gorgeous older homes, particularly in neighbourhoods like Fairfield, Rockland and Oak Bay. But if you're thinking about buying one, there are a few things I'd encourage you to consider before you fall in love.
There's More to a Character Home Than Meets the Eye
It's easy to walk into an old home and fall in love with the stained glass windows, original woodwork, beautiful floors and all those charming details. As much as I love those things, I'm also really interested in what's going on behind the walls and underneath the house.
When buying an older home, I think it's especially important to investigate the condition of the electrical, plumbing, foundation, heating system and perimeter drains. A perimeter drain scope, for example, can help identify drainage issues around the home that might not be obvious during a regular showing. It's also worth finding out whether the property has a heritage designation or other restrictions that could affect future renovations.
Some character homes have been beautifully updated over the years, while others may have quite a few expensive projects waiting for their next owners. That's not necessarily a reason to walk away. It's simply information I'd want to have before making such a significant purchase.
Don't Just Investigate. Get Quotes!
This is something I think is really important. If an inspection identifies an issue, or you're planning to make changes to a property, I'd encourage you to get actual quotes from qualified professionals rather than guessing what something might cost.
Personally, I wouldn't automatically go with the cheapest quote, or assume the most expensive contractor is necessarily the best. I'd be looking for someone highly reputable, experienced with older homes, and ideally somewhere in that sensible middle ground when comparing similar scopes of work. References, experience, communication and quality of work matter enormously, particularly with older homes, where projects can become more complicated once work begins.
Having realistic numbers before removing your purchase conditions can make a huge difference to your confidence in the property.
Adding Modern Comforts Isn't Always Straightforward
Air conditioning is a perfect example. If you're anything like me, you might not love the look of a wall-mounted mini-split unit in your beautiful old character home! You might assume that if a home already has ductwork, adding a central heat pump and air conditioning would be fairly simple. But that's not always the case.
Older ductwork was often designed for different heating equipment and may be too small to provide the airflow some modern heat pump systems need. That can mean additional work, unexpected costs, or having to explore alternative options. It's certainly possible to add modern heating and cooling to many older homes, but I'd want a qualified contractor to assess the existing system before assuming it would be a simple upgrade.
And that's just one example of how the things we take for granted in newer homes can be a little more complicated in older ones.
Beautiful Doesn't Always Mean Functional
Another thing I often discuss with buyers is how an older home's layout will work for their everyday life. You can spend several million dollars on a gorgeous character home and still end up with low basement ceilings, smaller bedrooms, limited storage, no garage, or a floor plan that doesn't quite suit a modern family.
If you're looking for three or four bedrooms upstairs, air conditioning, a proper garage and a beautifully updated layout, you may have more luck with newer construction or an older home that's already been substantially renovated. Even then, particularly in some of Victoria's most desirable neighbourhoods, finding everything on your wishlist can be challenging. That's why I think it's important to be realistic about your priorities and what you're comfortable compromising on.
Renovating an Older Home Is a Labour of Love
Richard is incredibly handy, and even with his skills, our home has been a huge undertaking. We've spent years working on projects, making improvements and carefully bringing our home back to life. If you have high standards like we do, there can be an awful lot of time and money involved! It's easy to underestimate just how much work goes into looking after an older house.
It's also worth remembering that renovating a character home doesn't always mean replacing everything with something new. Sometimes it's about preserving what makes the home special while finding thoughtful ways to make it more comfortable and functional for modern living.
But Oh, the Charm!
For all the practical considerations, there's a reason I absolutely love owning a character home. These houses have soul. The stained glass windows, the beautiful old woodwork, those original floors that feel like they could tell a million stories: there's something so special about living in a home that has been part of Victoria for more than a century. The craftsmanship, the little imperfections, the history. It's a kind of charm that's incredibly difficult to recreate, and honestly, that's what makes all the work worthwhile for me.
Would I buy another character home? Absolutely. In a heartbeat.
But I'd want to go into it with my eyes wide open, a realistic budget, and a good understanding of what I was taking on. Because when you find the right one, there's something pretty wonderful about calling a beautiful old house home.
