Restored holiday homes

This text is part of an extended series of articles on Holiday homes - why and what to build your holiday home from and analyzes the advantages and disadvantages of the construction systems commonly used in the construction of such buildings.

Unlike the other titles of the Holiday Homes mini-series, this article looks at the possibility of restoring a house already built.

When you think about vacation homes, the question naturally arises: why bother with building a new house when I might as well get a house already built? A very legitimate question, especially given that good places are already taken. In this way, buying an existing home ends up being a better and better idea.

How to know which house to buy

Every area of Romania has a local specificity when it comes to rural housing. If you liked the Village Museum, then this type of house is for you. There is the possibility of buying an old house and renovating it to adapt it to current needs. Of course, this can be more expensive than building a house from scratch, but the rental potential increases considerably.

In this respect, there are many types of houses you can rebuild, from very old wooden houses with porches to more recent brick houses built in the 50s and 60s. Each comes with its pros and cons.

Plus, buying and restoring an old house has a greater impact on the village community. To this end, we propose examples from Maramureș where a number of old wooden houses from the Maramures region have been restored to modern standards. These actions are very important for the life and preservation of village traditions in the context of a massive demolition of old houses and the building of new, large ones that do not fit into the landscape.

However, not just anyone can take on such a project. Restoring an old wooden house is a laborious and costly process and the decision to do so needs to be carefully weighed beforehand.

Tips for choosing a suitable home

1. Ask the experts

While this is the first piece of advice for any purchase you want to make, with old houses it is very important to get more opinions from knowledgeable people. This can save you unexpected extra costs. Among the main specialists you should consult are the architect and structural engineer - they can tell you whether it's a worthwhile investment.

2. Strength structure and finishes

This point ties in very well with the first - the specialists are best placed to tell you whether your property is in good condition or not, and what work should be done to restore it. Among the most serious problems with old houses, especially brick ones, is the lack of concrete studs in the masonry. The house is not a problem in itself, but a possible extension could involve pouring a concrete slab, underpinning and other costly operations.

3. Access to utilities and house equipment

Old houses usually do not have bathrooms inside. Looking at the example of the houses in Maramureș, even the place for a bathroom is almost non-existent. And yet, with a little imagination you can create all the necessary spaces for a holiday home. More recently built houses have bathrooms inside, but access to utilities may be non-existent. For example, in 2018 about 10% of rural households had access to sanitation.

4. Attention to accessibility

For these houses, road access is also important, both for materials and for the team of workers. It is easiest to find the workers in the village. They won't need accommodation and you cut costs.

5. Local artisans

Seek out local craftsmen - who knows, you might even be lucky enough to meet the person who built the house in the first place. They're bound to be in the best position to give you help and advice.

Remodeling an old house may seem complicated and laborious, but the end result is extremely satisfying and the investment will pay for itself over time.

If you have any other ideas, feel free to leave them in the comments.