John Fields

It was not that this charming cottage was not well kept. From the second that you walked in the door you knew the house had been well maintained. It was clean and freshly painted. The kitchen was cute and functional kitchen. The appliances that were included were newer. The large living room had two closets and there was a formal dining room. The only bedroom was big and had a large walk in closet. The laundry room was a big as any bedroom could be in a approximately 950 square foot house. The carpet and the drapes were freshly cleaned and most of the seller's furniture was gone. The elderly seller, in her 80's had chosen by her own decision to move into an assisted care facility

The buyer just loved the house. The formal dining room could be used as a second bedroom. The laundry room was big enough still have half the room left over for laundry and a kitchen table after installing a second bath. Although the one car garage was original and had seen better days, it was still usable as a garage and there was room beside the garage off the alley for a second parking space to make up for the lack of parking on the street. The house was also ten minutes from the buyer's place of employment. The house was also the only one in the buyer's price range and the buyer just loved the vintage character homes in the older sections of the South Bay. This home also had a street to alley lot that was hard to find if you are spending under $400,000.00 in Torrance.

The inspection went well. In 22 years of selling property I had seen worse inspections on homes only ten years old and this home was 85. The wiring was original but still in good shape. The plumbing and heating systems were about 30 years old but in very good shape. The foundation was still in very good shape. The house had not had any earthquake upgrades but then most homes have not if they were built before the 1934 FHA standard codes had required homes be bolted to the foundation. Other than a few minor electrical repairs, some termite and dry rot damage and the water heater needing to be brought up to code there were only two other problems. One was a missing smoke detector that could easily be taken care of. The other was a:

Stay tuned for how much the seller could have saved if the problem had been discovered when they decided to put her house on the market

This blog is specificallywho are seriously considering purchasing a home built between 1870 and 1940 in the South Bay section of Los Angeles County or Los Angeles County. It is also a forum for those who own these homes to discuss remodeling ideas, talk about their remodeling odysseys and generally give experience, strength and hope to those who are just getting their feet and wallets wet. Considering the cost and expense that often corresponds with the ownership of a Vintage home, the opinions of all that own one will be greatly appreciated. Because I am new at blogging and are unsure of the process if you want to express an opinion or tell your story of obtaining or renovating one these properties you can always contact me at fields.john@att.net so that your voice will be heard.

My qualifications to write this blog start with nearly 22 years as a licensed Real Estate sales practitioner during which time I have sold over 300 older or Vintage properties in these designated areas. In addition I grew up in a 1928 Spanish home, had grandparents that lived in an 1919 Craftsman bungalow, have owned and restored a 1892 Craftsman home in San Pedro and a 1905 Craftsman four unit building in Old Torrance. Currently the second round of renovations will start soon on a 1930 Spanish Castle in Long Beach. This house was built by a bootlegger for his mistress with no expense spared. For pictures please visit my Facebook page.

By definition the Vintage or old homes that will be discussed in this blog will be those built between the last few decades of the nineteenth century and 1940. Included in this will also be the early ranch homes that were built just prior to World War ll. Have you ever noticed the difference between the ranch homes built in the late 1930's with composition shingle roofs and many of the Spanish homes built in the second half of 1930's are the roofing materials? Inside of many of these homes there is very little if any difference.

These homes are not for the faint of heart. Rarely does one come available that has been completely renovated. Most old home buffs will keep them forever and wait until they go out the front door feet first or are forced out by health problems. At that time these homes will need to be renovated from top to bottom in a fashion that makes them livable in this modern age but does not undermine the integrity of the original structure and its charm. During these renovations you will at least a few times want to burn the place down with your significant other and those you have hired in it including the Realtor who sold it to you and the loan officer or broker who obtained the financing.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with your ideas or stories. At least once a week this blog will be updated with either your input or failing that with topics I pick. Please also