Have you gone in with a home inspector yet? I think that would be my first next step. Good luck and I hope it all works for you. Please let us know what the decision is.

We just bought a 1918 house too. I grew up in a similar one nearby from 1926, that appears to have been possibly from the same builder. So much character. I am in love!

There is going to be a lot of work involved, though they really knew how to build good solid houses back then. Everyone I've known who has bought a "cookie cutter" house has had just as much go wrong. With an old house you can at least expect it. I would be with the inspector when he/she goes thought the house, and ask a LOT of questions. I was luckily enough to find one that's used to older homes.

Yes, I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, but mainly because it's our first house, and we're clueless!

If the major systems in the house (plumbing, electric,heating, roof, foundation) are all in good shape, and have been updated, you should be fine. Cosmetic work can be done at your own pace, and it's certainly something a DIY person can handle.

If you find that the house has a 60 amp fuse box, knob and tube wiring, and galvanized plumbing, I'd probably walk away, fast.

Make sure you have a good home inspector, and make sure that you ALSO get a professional termite inspection as well.

ALSO, keep in mind that houses of that era have a lot of hazards for young children, such as lead paint, and asbestos and lead in the plaster walls. If you buy the house, and you start do do some of your own renovations, such as pulling down wallpaper, sanding off paint, etc, be VERY careful.

Unless you're in a sellers' market where homes are snapped up almost immediately, you might even want to have an inspection first. Usually it's done when the prop is under contract (giving buyer an out if unforeseen problems turn up) However, there is nothing to say you can't have it done before making an offer to set your mind at ease.

An old house can be a headache, or not. Even big problems like say, sill repairs or roof replacement sound worse than they are. But you do have to be more flexible, sometimes about how soon everything can be fixed up, both for economic reasons and for handling unexpected issues.

One thing though, that I've found that working on an old house is a real confidence booster for women. Much old house work really takes more patience and meticulousness than difficult-to-learn skills to do very well. It really is a boost to discover "I can do that, and I have!"

W/R/T the above-mentioned lead paint and asbestos issues. These are really only a problem when demolition or damage occurs to the materials. But they can be serious, so it helps to know what you're looking at.

Older houses do take some work (And so does modern construction), howver, in my opinion, you're starting farther ahead with many old houses as they were originally constructed with what are today's high-end upgrades (plaster walls and hard-wood floors) and were intended to be repaired, not ripped out and replaced as so much modern materials and work apparently is. Plus older structures are often much less expensive to buy and with care and some fix-ups a better return on your housing dollar investment.

In the end (barring major structural issues) the answer is whether the house "speaks" to you. If it does, it can offer you both simple shelter and that invaluable sense of being at home which is so important. PLus you'll never run short of things to do!

Good luck with your search for your new place.

Molly~
PS: As you may have gathered this is a place to bring your questions about old-house care. There's tons of good advice and support, many of the frequent posters are single women owners who do much of their own work. The other associated forums are also well-populated with people who are know how to get repairs and remodeling done, often by doing it themselves. Bookmark this site!

The house is adorable, and it certainly looks like it's in excellent shape. I'd definitely get an inspection, and if it passes then I'd go for it. It looks small enough that you wouldn't have a huge amount of upkeep. We lived in Portland and are now in Seattle, so I can appreciate a cute Craftsman. Also, my husband has traveled for work for years -- sometimes for weeks at a time. I've learned that I can take on just about anything (except climbing on roofs -- I'm petrified of heights). He pretty much mows the lawn and hangs Christmas lights. I do everything else: minor plumbing, painting, leaky windows & doors. I just pull out my handy-dandy copy of "The Woman's Hands-On Home Repair Guide" by Lyn Herrick and figure out what to do. Good luck!

Thank you everyone for your tips. I think I'm definitely going for it. I absolutely love the house. Everything else I look at is all the same on small lots and nothing special. Hopefully the inspector won't encounter any major issues, so I can go ahead with it. If there's any major work to be done (ie. foundation, electrical, plumbing) I'll have to back out. I'll keep you updated.

Thanks again! I'm glad I found the website, lots of great people and info...Thanks.

Here is a link that might be useful: Property listing

Don't get an older house unless you have lots of spare cash for repairs. I just bought a 1954 house and had to shell out $2000 because the drain pipes clogged, then their bottoms rusted out. People don't think of inspecting drain pipes, how would you inspect them?

I guess dump lots of water down a drain, and if it's slow, you have a partially plugged drain. My pipes weren't slow, because they drained to a pit under my kitchen sink! Which started smelling after 3 months, which is how I found the pool of black water under my sink. Ick.

Also, if your outlets are not grounded your surge protectors for your computer will not work. I mean they won't protect you from surges. I found this out the hard way, after I bought the house. None of the living room (where I put the computer) was grounded.