As a prospective owner of a historic residential property, here are ten things to know that can help you in your decision-making process.
Historic homes are homes that are considered architecturally significant or representative of a local region’s history in some way. This includes homes that are in neighbourhoods designate as historic districts. Many historic homes have charm and are attractive visually but may have structural problems and unexpected expenditures that come with maintenance, repairs or taxes. Before you sign on the dotted line, here are some tips to help you be prepared in buying your desired historical property.
1. Get a home inspection with a qualified inspector who ideally specializes in historic homes. You may also want the assistance of a structural engineer who can point out areas that need to be fixed. Be willing to walk away if your house has too many structural problems.
2. For all necessary repairs, get several price estimates from contractors.
3. Ensure that the house meets safety standards for lead paint, asbestos, cast iron pipes, knob and tube wiring, smoke detection and carbon monoxide.
4. Find out what tax incentives may be available to you through provincial and local government. This could be in the form of tax credits or rebates for increasing the overall efficiency of the homes including new heating, ventilation and air conditioning, windows, doors and roofing.
5. While the resale value may be higher in historic districts, be aware that tax levies in historic districts may be higher.
6. Historic homes may have restrictions on rehabilitation and renovation. You may need to acquire special permits to make changes to the house or property as the local region may have laws in place to preserve the neighbourhood’s character and style. Check on-line to see what restrictions apply. Find out if you have local zoning by-laws or ordinances about design standards or remodelling rules. For example, you may not be allowed to add more square footage to a historic home such as a new level or story. You may also be restricted in the design changes that you make to ornamental features, windows, shutters and roofs.
7. Find out if your home is registered officially as a historic property or is deemed to be a historically significant property. You may need to check with the city or town clerk for this information if you do not know this already.
8. Utility bills may run high if the home is not properly insulated and energy efficient. Check with the last year’s energy bill to get an estimate. See where you might improve the energy efficiency of the home.
9. Your modern-day goals may not work with the historic home’s architecture. Can you make the changes that you want without altering the home’s architectural value and character? Will the changes that you want to make alter the home’s resale value?
10. Depending upon the home’s historical classification, you may be eligible for limited financial aid ranging from tax incentives to grants and loans from the government through preservation resources that are intended to keep properties intact. A preservation easement essentially is an agreement between you, the owner of a historic property and either the government or a private historic preservation agency to preserve the property in exchange for a tax break.
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Business For Sale!
Cannabis Cannabis, located at 90 Wellington Street in Stratford!
Listed for: $799,000
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This business is directly across the street from the LCBO and a 10-min. walk to the Theatre and it is the most foot trafficked location of any Cannabis store in the City. The Cannabis Cannabis brand and store is one of the best in Canada and offers a great opportunity for the new owner to expand, franchise or buy and operate other locations. Government is in process of lowering their markup in the fall which will produce additional profit of 3%.
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Business For Sale!
Cannabis Cannabis, located at 90 Wellington Street in Stratford!
Listed for: $799,000
https://www.cityhousecountryhome.com/homes-for-sale-details/90-WELLINGTON-STREET-STRATFORD-ON-N5A-2L2/40387645/273/
The owners have created a business operation that requires up to 2 people to operate successfully, thereby significantly lowering overheads. They`ve used education, along with in-store and online experiences to make cannabis more approachable. Their menu is very simple through quality curation and their in-store experience activates all senses through smell, atmosphere, sound and lighting. The location was strategically chosen in the downtown core of Stratford. Stratford brings in over $65 million a year in sales from visitors to the city and the Stratford Festival.
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