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Aug 11, 2015
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5 Reasons Why Owning a Historic Home Isn’t For the Faint of Heart

A few years back, Twix had television commercials with the tagline “Chew it over with a Twix.”  The commercials always showcased guys getting backed into a corner by a female asking them a question that would get them in trouble if they responded truthfully to it. The Twix bar came to the rescue because the guy could wolf it down to buy himself extra time to answer the question.  While there are plenty of scenarios when politely lying is the correct thing to do, there’s also a number of times when honesty really is the best policy.  One of these is when considering whether you are a good candidate for owning a historical home.  While the thought of sipping hot cocoa in front of one the home’s fireplaces or catching up on your favorite novel while soaking in a claw foot tub can sound endearing, there are plenty of other things worth considering before taking the plunge.

Building Codes: Oftentimes, historic homes are subject to additional building codes that regulate the ability to add onto the home, acceptable window replacements, etc.  It’ important to understand the types of restrictions you might be facing to evaluate whether or not you can live with them.

The Storage Struggle:  Remember the closet space you had in your first college apartment?  That might be generous compared to what you’ll find in an older home.  That’s because when you’re sewing your own clothing, you tend to own only the basics.  If you purchase a historic home, be prepared to get creative with storage solutions.

Your Homeowners Insurance: Insurance companies offer policies that are specifically targeted for historic homes, but expect to pay extra for this type of coverage.  That’s because rates are calculated based on risk and with historic homes, the odds of an insurance claim are higher than a newer home.  Be sure to understand what your policy covers, as some provide guaranteed coverage with restoration, while others may not be as robust.

Outdated Technology: Whether it’s the plumbing, electrical, HVAC, insulation or chimney, there are an abundance of outdated areas in a home that can present problems.  For example, if the current circuit breaker box is the original, it highly likely that it cannot provide the amount of power necessary to keep all of your home’s electronics running.  Dated homes often have galvanized pipes.  These pipes can be hazardous because eventually, they corrode and impede the flow of water.  All of these items come with a hefty price tag.

Utility Bills: A significant recurring cost of owning a historic home is monthly energy bills, as they are higher in a historic home than a new construction one.  That’s because older homes were designed to breathe.  Restricting air circulation can promote moisture, which can lead to mold growth.  Retrofitting an older home to be energy efficient can be a costly endeavor.  Before signing on the dotted line for a new home, review its previous years of utility bills to have a better understanding of what you are getting into.

Check Out This Exterior House Remodel Before And After Photos Of This 1800s Stillwater, MN home.

Reviews

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Delivering exceptional service is our No. 1 priority. Read these happy reviews from homeowners who were blown away by their home improvement experience with Lindus Construction.

"I was very impressed that Lindus sent a safety inspector on day one and a quality inspector at the end. I did not expect this but sincerely appreciate this attention to detail. All of this demonstrates how Lindus stands by its work and differentiates Lindus from other firms. I would definitely consider Lindus for any future exterior needs."

Debbie E.
Plymouth, MN
February 27, 2024

"Over the past 18 years and 4 separate major home improvement projects, Lindus Construction has exceeded every one of our family’s expectations on each of these projects. Whenever anyone invests in home improvement, the homeowner’s concerns ultimately center on several critical factors: the ultimate quality of the final product, ease of working with the firm, honest communication and relationships, craftsmanship of the employees, timeliness, service after the sale, and of course, a manageable investment cost. We are proud to say that the Lindus team has been an outstanding partner in improving our house’s function, appearance, and market value."

Jim G.
Chanhassen, MN
February 8, 2024

"I did two big projects in 2023 with Lindus. First was removing and replacing attic insulation plus creating proper ventilation. Second was replacing roof and adding LeafGuard®. Did everything go perfectly? No but that is where a company shows its merits. All issues were resolved! I even received a check for unused supplies. I highly recommend Lindus. They are not the cheapest. You get what you pay for."

Jill D.
St. Paul, MN
December 14, 2023

"Lindus Construction is a company that provides the best possible workmanship, professionalism and customer service for each and every project. Lindus Construction is a great choice for roofing, siding, windows, doors, decking and LeafGuard® Gutter projects or any combination of those projects. Small jobs such as garden sheds to large homeowner associations with multiple buildings they are able to handle it."

Kelly P.
River Falls, WI
December 4, 2023

"We are quite pleased with the way our project went. The Lindus folks have successfully managed to instill a culture of quality and customer service in throughout the entire business, which is rare these days.  Everyone we worked with carried that same attitude of wanting to do it right and make us happy. The installation went well and we are very satisfied."

Tim M.
Minneapolis, MN
June 20, 2023

"Thorough, timely, efficient, good communicators. Excellent work, cleaned up well and took care of a few extra details without any hassle."

Carla U.
Minneapolis, MN
May 17, 2023

"Your services and products are wonderful!  (And we have used Lindus three times now). The crews were gracious and hard-working."

Alan W.
St. Paul, MN
May 11, 2023

"I would just like to compliment Randahl for excellent work and customer service skills.  Every time he was at our home, he was professional, thorough, extremely pleasant, and explained things well.  You are very lucky to have such an outstanding employee!"

Vicki F.
Blaine, MN
March 25, 2023

"Great job. Workers were friendly and cleaned up everything when they were done. They stopped to tell me they were ready to work and checked in when they were done."

Carolyn I.
Andover, MN
March 16, 2023

"This company has all ways been honest with us, took care of us and their workmanship is second to none."

Michael N.
Rosemount, MN
March 13, 2023

"Very professional, super quality work, everyone was very pleasant, would highly recommend, will continue to use Lindus for all future projects."

Chuck V.
Chaska, MN
February 18, 2023

"Service and work were excellent; thank you!"

Ron B.
Burnsville, MN
January 19, 2023

"The technician worked very efficiently and put in long hours to get the job done. Excellent work and we were very grateful."

Pam L.
Oakdale, MN
January 12, 2023

"I have used Lindus in the past and they once again, gave me excellent service. They stand behind their products and service. I have referred them to many friends."

Susan B.
St. Paul, MN
January 6, 2023

"We have had them do work at our home before and at my parents' house. They did great work!"

Sue R.
St. Croix Falls, WI
January 3, 2023

"The two young men that did the install were great.  They were personal and appeared very conscientious."

Jim H.
St. Anthony, MN
December 30, 2022

"Always polite and considerate. Last inspection was a quality control and I was impressed with him and his thorough inspection. Great job!"

Irene S.
Bloomington, MN
December 20, 2022

"We had a great experience with Lindus. The communication has been great. When I had a question I received a return email or phone call quickly. When Lindus employees were at our home, they explained what they were doing in great detail, my questions were always satisfactory answered. I will gladly continue to refer Lindus to friends and neighbors."

Roger D.
Shoreview, MN
November 29, 2022

"I highly recommend Lindus Construction. I have used them for three projects over the last few years and they are easy to contact, the people are friendly and they do very high quality work. Don’t hesitate to use Lindus for your next project."

Darrell M.
Lino Lakes, MN
June 9, 2022
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