Betsy Sweeney, a 30-year-old resident of Wheeling, West Virginia, shares her journey of buying and renovating a historic house. She fell in love with the house at first sight, despite its degraded condition. The house, built in 1892, had been vacant from the 1970s to 2010s. Despite the initial budget for eight months of construction, the project took 18 months to complete, with Betsy moving in around the holidays in 2021.
The house is approximately 3,200 square feet and has three bedrooms, one and a half bathrooms, and a separate living, dining, and kitchen area. Betsy shares her favorite features of the house, including the staircase, pocket doors, and large windows. She also mentions the kitchen, which was one of the worst-off rooms when she purchased the property.
Betsy emphasizes the importance of preserving old buildings, stating that they are not only beautiful and cost-effective but also provide a unique aesthetic that can't be found in new construction. She believes that these historic properties are crucial for communities and for helping people achieve access to real estate. She argues that renovating these properties has a ripple effect on the neighborhood, unlike new construction, and encourages thinking more collectively rather than individually.
1. The speaker, Betsy Sweeney, has always wanted to live in a big old house.
2. She appreciates older homes that have retained their historic character over the years.
3. Her house is made of recognizable materials like wood for the floors, stone for the fireplace, and glass for the windows.
4. She values the fact that these materials are repairable and not plastic.
5. She moved to Wheeling, West Virginia, to work in historic preservation.
6. She bought a historic house that was built in 1892 and had many different owners over the years.
7. The house was vacant from the 1970s to the 2010s.
8. The house was not livable when she first saw it, with a lot of brick degradation.
9. She initially budgeted for about eight months of construction, but it turned into about 18 months.
10. She was able to move in around the holidays in 2021.
11. The house is about 3,200 square feet and has three bedrooms, one and a half baths, and separate living, dining, and kitchen spaces.
12. The house has a staircase and pocket doors that are in great condition.
13. The kitchen was one of the worst-off rooms when she purchased the property.
14. She has a large space that historically may have been used as a sewing room, a nursery, or a sitting area.
15. The house has a full bathroom that was originally built for a bathroom.
16. There is a guest suite on the third floor that is currently being used as a storage space.
17. She has no intention of selling the house to turn a profit.
18. She sees herself living in the house for the foreseeable future.
19. She appreciates the romantic and exciting aspect of preserving old buildings.
20. She believes that historic properties are important for communities and for helping people achieve access to acquiring real estate.
21. She believes that purchasing and renovating these properties has a ripple effect on the neighborhood and city.
22. She thinks it's important to think more as a collective and less as individuals in the future.