These timeless centenarians | The Press

True gems, the old buildings forge the cachet and reputation of historic neighborhoods and villages. The architecture of century-old homes appeals to some buyers, but if these residences can become comfortable and unique homes adapted to our current lifestyle, several points should be considered before signing a promise to purchase.

Emmanuelle Mozayan-Verschaeve
special cooperation

An active member for many years of the Friends and Owners of Old Houses of Quebec (APMAQ), Clément Locat considers ancestral homes to be witnesses of Quebec’s collective identity. “Well-maintained, these residences stand the test of time without going out of fashion and shape exceptional sites, such as Île d’Orléans or Kamouraska. It is an attractive cultural wealth, since the villages that have taken care of their heritage attract tourists by representing the visited part of the history of the province. Safeguarding these properties also has an environmental impact, because demolishing houses to rebuild others is quite contrary to sustainable development,” he notes.

Particularly sensitive to this notion of sustainability, young people are more and more interested in buying a heritage residence to be renovated or not, according to Renée Genest, general manager of Action patrimoine. “These houses are often located in village cores close to shops, locations that are highly sought after for their dynamism, but people are hesitant to buy them because they hear a lot of negative comments about the renovation requirements of these houses” , she says, adding that the first step is to contact the right people, including a real estate broker used to selling this type of property.

This is the case of Dan Coutu, real estate broker for Royal LePage au Sommet, who insists on the importance of verifying that the broker is registered with the Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec (OACIQ).

“That said, they have been standing for 100 years and are very solid, but they generally require work to comply with building standards, informs Mr. Coutu, referring to plumbing and electricity. This point is a priority, especially since insurance sometimes refuses to cover properties equipped with old electrical installations because of the risk of fire or offers higher premiums. »

Inspection and regulation

The intervention of a building inspector also accustomed to the market of old houses is fundamental and it is even an obligation for the real estate broker. “Not calling on an inspector means going straight into the abyss, for all types of houses, by the way,” believes Mr. Coutu. His intervention will make it possible to know if the purchase is relevant and, if so, what are the works to be planned and the costs they entail, to be validated with experts (plumber, electrician, contractor, etc.). “You should never use all of your mortgage when you buy a century-old house, because you have to keep a good cushion for the unexpected,” he recommends.

The charm and identical preservation of ancestral homes depends on the choice of materials, which can be imposed by the government and the municipality. “It’s very important to be aware of the specific elements that can be requested, because you can’t always modify the house as you would like. For example, double wooden windows or a tin roof. These noble materials are more expensive, but they have the advantage of being much more durable than other more recent ones, such as asphalt shingles or windows that must be changed every 15 years,” notes Renée Genest.

That said, the properties listed are eligible for grants.

“Cities also play a very important role because they are the ones who issue demolition permits and who develop municipal regulations to protect buildings, and it is possible to apply to cite a heritage house, she adds. . We can get up to 100% subsidies for the work to be done if the house is classified at the provincial and federal level,” explains the director of Action patrimoine, citing the example of the City of Joliette, which has set up a financial assistance program for heritage restoration and renovation.

Craftsmen wanted

Mr. Locat is well aware of the issues involved in the acquisition of a century-old home, and both APMAQ and Action Patrimoine are valuable resources to support new owners. Also, patience is required, especially to find the right craftsmen. “There is a shortage of skilled workers and people are sometimes advised to turn to the Conseil des métiers d’art du Québec. Many buyers are enthusiasts of old buildings and will do DIY work themselves,” emphasizes Clément Locat.

“The advantage in homes that date back to before 1940 is that beneath the layers of carpets and other shoddy coverings often hide beautiful wooden floors or ceilings with beams that can often be restored. “, specifies Clément Locat. Exposing the original materials sometimes gives the opportunity to discover extraordinary cabinetmaking or plaster details.

Unlike the exteriors, the interiors of the houses cited can generally be modified to the taste of the owner, taking into account the structural elements as with any building. “You have to maintain consistency between the inside and the outside; we’ve been used to open areas for a few years, whereas in these houses, it’s the opposite, we have lots of small rooms, says broker Dan Coutu. We can update, but it has to be done respecting the original style for a matter of aesthetics, but also because, if it’s done well, the house will increase in value. These are not houses for doing flips. »

Two jewels for sale