Don?t be afraid Welcome back to Period Dramas, a weekly column that alternates between rounding up historic homes on the market and answering questions we?ve always had about older structures.
Whether it sat vacant for decades or hasn?t seen an update in generations, a historic house usually requires a renovation.
And while renovations offer the opportunity to customize a home, they can also be daunting, overwhelming projects that can scare potential buyers away.
So, if you?re looking for an older house but are also apprehensive about starting a revamp, what to do" How do you know when to take that leap of faith and buy" And are there ways to work through renovation anxieties to realize your dream home"
First off, if you irrationally fall in love with a particular home, know that you are not alone. ?I stalked my house for three years online before I even went to see it,? says photographer Susan Brinson of the website House of Brinson, who bought Stony Ford, a Greek revival house in upstate New York, a few years ago with her husband William.
?When my husband and I walked through the doors of the house for the first time, we looked at each other and just knew it was the house for us. It felt like home. It was completely emotional.?

when I asked the weather-gods for a mild fall while I wrap up restoring the side of my house, this snow is not what I meant. A photo posted by Daniel Kanter (@danielkanter) on Oct 27, 2016 at 4:22pm PDT

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