How A lot Would It Value to Renovate This 18th-Century Colonial Home in New England?

It’s not every day that an authentic Colonial house is up for grabs. But if you did get the chance to purchase one—like this 1786 home in Longmeadow, Massachusetts—what would it take to make it livable?

Builder Nick Schiffer is here to answer your renovation questions in the latest episode of his YouTube series for AD. He tours the 18th-century property, which is on the market for $235,000, to determine the core restoration work that the structure would require before new owners could move in. He also explores more major, non-essential upgrades that would truly bring the residence to the next level.

Luckily, Schiffer believes the house has held up pretty well over the years, and the original molding and millwork is mostly intact. Unfortunately, though, there are several signs of mold and mildew, so making the building airtight would be necessary. If further investigations prove that the house is structurally sound, the original, charmingly uneven floors could be left in place. However, Schiffer warns that there is a potential that they would need to be replaced throughout the dwelling, which would be a very costly undertaking overall.

As for the floor plan of the original four-bedroom structure and its 1850 addition, new owners could choose to keep things mostly as they are in order to save money. But for those seeking a more ambitious renovation, the addition’s ground floor could be transformed into a thoroughly modern kitchen, dining area, and living room, with the upper level made into a striking primary suite. Schiffer predicts that the crème de la crème of upgrades to this house could cost about $1 million, but just making the house habitable and skipping the more luxurious options is likely going to cost closer to $300,000–$400,000.

Watch the full episode to glean more of Schiffer’s interesting insights about transforming a Colonial house into a contemporary living space.