Expert Breaks Down An Abandoned $20K Home Ready For Renovation | Hidden Gems

Expert Breaks Down An Abandoned $20K Home Ready For Renovation | Hidden Gems | Architectural Digest

Рет қаралды 313,746

Жыл бұрын

Today on Architectural Digest contractor Nick Schiffer from NS Builders takes us through an abandoned 1930’s-era house in Pittsburgh, PA that’s asking only $20,000 for the keys. There’s no mistaking how much work needs to be done to make it livable again, but at just about $12 a square foot with 3-bedrooms and an extra lot on the property, the upside is crystal clear for a contractor like Nick. Watch as he takes us around the exterior and stripped-down interior, offering his renovation estimates and advice, revealing the potential of this hidden gem each step of the way.
This property is offered for sale by Tri-COG Land Bank (TCLB) in Allegheny County, PA. TCLB revitalizes neighborhoods by transitioning abandoned properties to beneficial reuse.
Check them out at: www.tricoglandbank.org
Facebook: / tricoglandbank
Director: Mike Mytnick
Director of Photography: Jeff Smee
Editor: Alex Mechanik
Talent: Nick Schiffer
Producer: Vara Reese
Line Producer: Joseph Buscemi
Associate Producer: Brandon Fuhr
Production Manager: Melissa Heber
Production Coordinator: Fernando Davila, Julie Suronen
Camera Operator / Drone Operator: Mike DiGuglielmo
Audio: Kyle Hupman
Production Assistant: Maria Bosetti
Covid Compliance Officer: Tammy Calvert
Post Production Supervisor: Nick Ascanio
Post Production Coordinator: Ian Bryant
Supervising Editor: Doug Larsen
Assistant Editor: Diego Rentsch
Graphics Supervisor: Ross Rackin
Graphics, Animation, VFX: Samuel Fuller
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Пікірлер: 463

@gabym3904 Жыл бұрын

I love this series because it focuses on renovating places than most developers would just tear down. While they do seem hard and costly, I appreciate those who try to keep the history of a home and don’t just discard and move onto the next best thing. I’m so tired of the new suburban home look, boring and mediocre.

@cgourin Жыл бұрын

I get the idea of preserving history but the suggested renovations modify the house so much inside and out it's hard to see what is preserved aside a general shape, a few artifacts, and features. Not even mentioning that the hidden core structure might not be in better shape than the rest. In the end that renovation would not preserve history, cost a fortune and struggle to meet any modern standards of living.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

@@cgourin You can always pay for an inspector before buying it. Saw zero issues that indicate the degree of problems you hint at. As far as renovating the plumbing do a three story addition with bathrooms and laundry in the addition to simplify modifying it...

@ken90017 Жыл бұрын

Restoring low income housing is just plain old dumb.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

@@ken90017 Assuming that was 'low income housing' is dumb...

@ken90017 Жыл бұрын

@@b_uppy Look at the flooring material, building material, lack of any detail, home size, home location and time. This was at best working class (read: poor). My point is just because something is 100 years old doesn’t mean it’s worth saving. Save the land, dump the house.

@g0d5m15t4k3 Жыл бұрын

It's interesting to see how he'd renovate this place. While I disagree with about half of it, it's still enjoyable to see someone else's thought process. Thanks to the editors for the blueprints on-screen! Those really help to visualize the current layout plus proposed changes.

@cissymcgregor2110 Жыл бұрын

I'm not an architect, but I own an 1885 Victorian house in the general area. Based on the style of the fireplace and the staircase, this looks like a 1890's house to me rather than a 1930's built house. Likely there was an outhouse when the house was originally built. They built a bathroom in the basement when they added plumbing (easiest placement) and the other floors didn't need one in such a small house as 1 bathroom per house was the norm. I wonder if the arches he likes were built in the 1930's. I doubt they are original. Yes, of course you can fix up this house and bring it back to life. Adding a garage and decks and mudrooms and such extras will add to the cost, but aren't absolutely necessary. Leave this house for someone who appreciates and wants to preserve the architectural history. Our younger generations get it. These cheap old houses are works of art and they aren't making any more. Go East, young man!

@maryhart141 Жыл бұрын

My house is a 1921 craftsman bungalow. Looks at least 75 years newer than this house. I did live in an 1890s in Concord NH and that looked younger than this house as well. The wide floors and the staircase seem so 1875 to me.

@lamoinette23 Жыл бұрын

Thank YOU! Please stop tearing down these houses or renovating them into modern boringness. Build something new on an empty lot someplace else and let someone who wants an historic property restore this one.

@anonymousonlineuser6543 Жыл бұрын

This house would be deemed a health hazard in civilized countries. ''Nice to know'' that over 100+ years, owners have added a bathroom in a basement...

@AnastasiaBeaverhousn Жыл бұрын

The bathroom in the basement is for coal workers..

@ken90017 Жыл бұрын

Yes! We need to restore cheap craphole housing so that new families can live in crap like poor people generations ago did🤪🤪🤪

@royhampton3 Жыл бұрын

Based on style and construction, this house clearly dates to ca. 1890-1910 rather than to the 1930s. Several other commenters have mentioned that. The fireplace/mantle that he thought was definitely "added later" is original and is one of the main character-defining features of the interior; it would be a very sad mistake to tear it out. A lot of interesting cost estimating stuff in this video but the presenter is very poorly informed about architectural history.

@aliciaa.8059 11 ай бұрын

I literally came to the comments just to say this about that fireplace 😂

@Xtalllll 5 ай бұрын

I found it interesting to see the house but the video is a bit painful to listen to due to the presenter's obvious cluelessness. No archway belongs to the design vocabulary of this house!

@maryellen4576 3 ай бұрын

Also came to say that. I love these comment sections. Haha

@iamauntmeem Жыл бұрын

My house is near Pittsburgh, PA. It has the exact same molding around the doors and windows as well as in the stairway. The Fireplace is identical to the one in my living room, the tile, the woodwork, mirror, etc. It has an upstairs fireplace but with a less ornate mantel. My house was built in 1905. It has no Pittsburgh toilet and has an upstairs bathroom with a clawfoot tub. It has a full-length open wrap a round porch with columns, wooden railings, and a wooden stairway. And, BTW, Pittsburgh toilets were also, in the basement for the coal miners who became black working in the mines. I, too, would like to see what is done with this house. Thank you for this video!

@elainew2230 Жыл бұрын

This house looks to me to be older than the 1930s

@Jujubes666 Жыл бұрын

You’re making me jealous, your house sounds to be beautiful from the way you describe it! To me there is nothing like original character and charm found in an old home!

@iamauntmeem Жыл бұрын

@@Jujubes666 Thank you.

@juliaprudhoe6118 Жыл бұрын

All these comments about tearing it down, but think some people actually like old houses and the craftsmanship that went into them (like me!!)

@entropymusic6571 Жыл бұрын

its one thing to like old homes, i do love them as well, but in this case its a literal gamble. could as well be that you end up with tens of thousands of dollars in yearly renovations and patching because of structural damage. i personally wouldnt take the gamble, this house IMO is in too bad of a shape to be just drywalled and renovated

@dawnguinto Жыл бұрын

@@entropymusic6571 Realistically you would spend the same ammount of money as tearing this house down and building a new house and rebuilding and renovating the original house. Both would probably cost an upwards of a few hundred thousand dollars. And I would much rather spend my money on something that has character rather than replacing it with a cookie cutter house.

@entropymusic6571 Жыл бұрын

@@dawnguinto the thing is, as I said it's still a gamble. Might as well have to put in 5 figures a year because stuff keeps breaking.

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

@@entropymusic6571 good, you should not gamble it really is a greater cost to repair it correctly not everyone can/should & that's ok

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

@@dawnguinto don't tell them that! That's not the type that bothers to know better. They're passing on it-let 'em go! It takes effort to find out how things were constructed and when and why...a great deal of effort. The host of the show contractor hasn't even bothered to educate himself--why would some random person? Leave it to those of us who know--and are willing to do things well. Drywall...! Eesh!

@JordanFreshour Жыл бұрын

This is like watching an interior decorator do a home inspection.

@jpatt85 Жыл бұрын

Exactly what it is

@Imbatmn57 Жыл бұрын

Basically the entire series

@bren7067 Жыл бұрын

😩

@JordanFreshour Жыл бұрын

@Bzake 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@notshylo Жыл бұрын

Lol it's not that extreme at all since Nick is a (high end custom) builder. kzfaq.info/love/Io1gaS5cLsCtgaCLhi08cg

@kayelyward8714 Жыл бұрын

I'd love to see it renovated . . . Nick has great ideas!

@annetterico4787 Жыл бұрын

There are a plethora of lovely old homes and multifamily buildings in the Pittsburgh Metro area that will not get renovated because the specific area they are located in is either too dangerous, horrible school district or too economically depressed to invest into their renovations. The supply of turn key older homes far outweighs current demand. When gas drilling expanded near Pittsburgh, the rental market did expand for a couple of years but it has dropped a bit. There is always a large rental market due to large number of colleges/universities in town. If it was economically viable to flip for sale or for rent, it would have been flipped long ago. There are many parts of Pittsburgh that are basically dying - many of them are near old steel mills or other large employers. The people moving into the area that are not furthering their education, are coming for better paying jobs - these people move into Northern or Southern suburbs are some of the pricey solid areas of the City of Pittsburgh itself. I am a transplant to this area - and the number of abandoned, derelict homes really surprised me. So many gorgeous old mansions and homes have gone to rot.

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

@@annetterico4787 yes, thanks nafta!

@RWMoortgat Жыл бұрын

I love these kinds of videos too! But a few things to note about this home - it's early 1900's, not 1930's. At the very latest it may be from just after WWI, but no later. The fireplace and the green tile surround are of the style that was mass-manufactured and placed in many inexpensive homes from 1900-1914, but certainly not in the 1930's. The porch has been enclosed with those hideous arches, likely between the late 40s-60s. It would originally have been fully open, with woodwork resembling what we see on the staircase. It could be a lovely home again. Though the 1910's version of a pre-fab (there are hundreds of thousands of like models around the country, and it was assembled with "kit" parts mass milled), it attests to the quality and good taste of such construction back then.

@lamoinette23 Жыл бұрын

Nice!

@tinakam8557 Жыл бұрын

Agreed! I live in a 1930's house and the doors, mouldings and stairway is definitely much much older.

@lauraflores5777 Жыл бұрын

I agree. This looks like my grandmother's house and it was built in 1920, in a similar neighborhood

@jasony9950 Жыл бұрын

Ah nice! Not trying to knock this guy but he doesn’t know his architectural history and based on what he would do to the house, his expertise is new homes, not turn of the century. Glad I wasn’t the only one who knew the era.

@SkkyJuse Жыл бұрын

So glad you said that about the fire place, as I too thought that was much older than his assessment.

@dylanhager9431 Жыл бұрын

This is why you hire an architect, hopefully one with experience in historical preservation, to do something like this. This contractor means well but he seems a little clueless about the age of the building and which elements are original and which elements could be kept and restored. For example, why trash all of the windows? There's a good chance that many of them could be saved.

@nickie9332 Жыл бұрын

Yeah exactly. I bought a house in similar condition to the one here and this video is a good example of why I can't work with normal general contractors. They just have no education on historical building methods, can't date elements in the home (and don't respect them), and their first instinct is to gut + rebuild for EVERYTHING. I had two contractors try to convince me to demolish and rebuild two coffered ceilings because of some loose plaster, a hole in one corner, and some gaps in the trim from settling over time for an estimated cost of 15k per ceiling. I got my own wet plasterer and carpenter and did the whole thing for 5k and kept the original ceilings. I think they just need to quote a certain amount for the job to be worth it for them and that starts at 10k and up.

@sherriianiro747 Жыл бұрын

@@nickie9332 As I mentioned above, hiring a structural engineer is a good idea too. I had the same experience with contractors also who knew absolutely nothing about structure and I was at wits end - they blamed settling on the sewer (which was no where near area) and structural engineer said at the time house was built no clean landfills were used & created air pockets which creates settling over time. The best $200 I ever spent.

@BillLaBrie Жыл бұрын

The old windows are cute but will bleed heat even if restored. The contractor is offering the practical, reasonable solution.

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

Well said. Agreed, that the contractor probably means well but clearly-has no knowledge of which he speaks.

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

@@BillLaBrie you can actually add a second pane to the original windows, if properly restored...you just need access to quality craftsmen/women(!)

@melaniegreen5823 Жыл бұрын

This house is still available and is now listed at $15k. County records show it was built in 1930 and is 1,176 sqft.

@mk17173n Жыл бұрын

Is this a bad neighborhood in Pittsburgh?

@amandaseward-chavis1267 Жыл бұрын

I agree that the house is probably earlier than 1930s. a lot of the Pittsburgh townships didn't really keep accurate build dates and so they guess and enter something for the built date on the property tax/gis records. I would be more worried about asbestos shingle on the exterior of the home. That would greatly increase the exterior remodel costs.

@taylork8857 Жыл бұрын

Love this series, please do more! I can watch them forever and I learn so much

@kalilawatson5094 Жыл бұрын

I love when they feature the abandon homes. These have more beauty and personally than those LA museum monuments, with their cold spaces and sharp edges.

@heatherw.2751 Жыл бұрын

I grew up in Pittsburgh (Lawrenceville) before it was cool or hip to live there. This home brought back tons of memories of my childhood home that was built in 1890, simple row housing for blue-collar workers. This is an incredible deal for 20 grand! Hopefully somebody snatches it up and does it justice! I’m curious to know which part of Pittsburgh this is located?

@AIBot929 Жыл бұрын

It's in East Pittsburgh

@cinemaocd1752 Жыл бұрын

That faux brick siding was very popular 100 years ago. You see it all over in MN on the Iron Range, in Michigan in mining towns. It was part of the company town building kit, which in some cases was dictated down to the colors of paint allowed. This house looks like those company built houses that I've been in on the Iron Range. I recently stayed in an Air B&B that was an old mining house and there was one bathroom on the second floor that was clearly not originally designed as a bathroom. There was a "Pittsburg Potty" in the basement and a weird rear exterior entrance similar to the garage in this video. I had no idea this was an intentional feature and it makes sense if you are building homes specifically for workers, you want to have an entrance that functions like a mud room, that keeps the rest of the place free of whatever dirt was dragged home from the factory/mine.

@MrHorse-by3mp Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the interesting input. In Pittsburgh I don't think that horrid fake brick asphalt is original to many of the houses, many of which were constructed as bare clapboards. The worst are the upright brick-shaped steelworkers' tenements. Three and even four story buildings with not one hint of ornamentation. The asphalt was a cheap way to weatherproof these squalid structures before aluminum became common and affordable. It's interesting seeing these places being demolished because you can see layer on layer of putrefying siding slapped one on top of the other over the last century or so.

@barbarahenn-pander5872 Жыл бұрын

The beauty and proportion of this gem are so obvious to me. The way that the graphics are slid over the photo really help to visualize the well-considered ideas. And this gentleman is articulate, has a quiet fire in his eyes when talking about the space that I can completely relate to. God, 120 K seems like pocket change from my vantage point in Vancouver, BC, as noted in a previous comment. What about the landscape architecture? Did anyone buy this house and make it happen? What would the final cladding be on such a house? Where would one hide the heat pump? AND, I see a gable on the front that suggests a very cool attic might be lurking up there. I feel like I need to go visit this house. Love this content; thank you. 😊

@andychris7647 Жыл бұрын

That sounds nice. Hi Barbara how are you doing with your family i do hope you’re safe from the Covid?

@Kristenwynnphotography Жыл бұрын

Still for sale as of this morning. :) It's in East Pittsburgh which is not a wealthy area - putting 120k into this house wouldn't be the best investment. Unless you are in a family of DIY or have contractor connections.

@03greedo29 Жыл бұрын

Wow youre totally right. You can completely come in here and make a GEM out of this house. Thanks for this post!!!

@JamesPalylyk Жыл бұрын

I wasn’t expecting NS Builders here. Pleasant surprise!

@arlichar11 Жыл бұрын

not even inside yet and we already about 150k , i love old houses and hate when they get torn down. but sometimes its just not worth the effort and money...

@RedMapleCanada Жыл бұрын

We have lots of renovated houses just like that going for millions in Vancouver. Great video, I enjoyed listening to the renovation ideas.👍

@SkkyJuse Жыл бұрын

Same in Portland, OR.

@SAMSON12321 Жыл бұрын

MILLIONS??? For a shack, renovated or not, like this?? If that house was in move in condition, I would not spend more than 50,000 on it. People have lost their minds on home buying, most of which is a scam

@cperkin6880 Жыл бұрын

I think that fireplace is older than what you think. The tile around it are valuable. Don’t get rid of them

@rneustel388 Жыл бұрын

This was very informative, and I hope someone really does buy and restore/renovate the house. I lived 10 years in Pennsylvania, and I would definitely vote for having a garage for the winter and bad weather.

@flippingflorida4463 Жыл бұрын

that one is in pretty rough shape! Can't wait to see how it's going to turn out!

@wickedkarma7569 Жыл бұрын

I would like to see a 'before and after', once it is finished.

@kebvr25 Жыл бұрын

This is an awesome series!! Please make more!!

@RentheMage Жыл бұрын

I actually considered purchasing this home back in 2020. Thank you for going over the estimates and what it would take to make it livable.

@mirabella2154 Жыл бұрын

Really? Why didn't you do it? It's lovely.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

Realize too, some of the work you could do to bring down costs of reno.

@entropymusic6571 Жыл бұрын

@@mirabella2154 my thoughts on this home: its a literal gamble whether the fundamental structure of the home is strong enough or not. to me, all the cracks in the facade and all the damage on the outside are sings of fundamental damage. its a beautiful home and you could do a lot with it, but i personally wouldnt take the gamble whether you have to put in 50k as a DIY renovation or find out that there are structural issues and end up having to pay 200k+ and build an entire new house

@mirabella2154 Жыл бұрын

@@entropymusic6571 Yes. I find old homes very beautiful and charming unlike all the new homes. Personally I would love to find such a home and renovate it (given that the core structure of the home is of good quality) and preserve some of the classical elements.

@samanthab1923 Жыл бұрын

Really? Were you going to do all the work yourself? Hard to believe a house in Pittsburgh had no installation in the walls.

@hoperules8874 Жыл бұрын

stressing over my "new" house needing SO many repairs to be liveable--this makes me feel better! It could have been far worse!

@fransirahome Жыл бұрын

Great video, can't wait to see the result,

@jomama5186 Жыл бұрын

Love this ! But don't agree with replacing or removing ANY of the time period features. Meaning fireplaces, molding, and trim, etc.

@SpanishEclectic Жыл бұрын

Interesting, but I disagree that this house is from the 1930s. That is clearly an original late Victorian fireplace, which would have had those period tiles set into cement on the hearth when the house was built. Weird that the only bathroom is in the basement, but this also supports the idea that it was built for people who grew up with chamber pots and outhouses. My guess would be between 1895 and 1918, with a remodel in the 20s or 30s. I'm not a fan of removing walls, unless doing so returns it to an original floor plan. The windows and mouldings could clearly be restored, if that was the agenda.

@KatieeeBug03 Жыл бұрын

The basement bathroom isn’t usually the only one. Most were updated at some point in the 20th century and one was added. It’s kinda neat to see one where that hasn’t happened yet

@LisaElevateDJ Жыл бұрын

I’d definitely build out, the left side would be great for a large porch or conservatory. I’d love to see th grounds beautifully planted and landscaped too.

@andychris7647 Жыл бұрын

Same here. Hi Lisa hope you’re safe from the Covid?

@christophermorin9036 Жыл бұрын

Perhaps move the Pittsburg Pottie and tub upstairs to the second floor and rework the basement bathroom into a laundry room?

@claudiamann7111 Жыл бұрын

How can you say at the end the renovation cost is $100K when at the beginning BEFORE you even went inside the outside cost was $120K????? The inside with new kitchen and two bathrooms AND everything else would be at least $75K and that is conservative. Seriously!!!

@anonymousonlineuser6543 Жыл бұрын

This dump will be torn down. He mentioned that the dump comes with two more land lots...

@karenryder6317 Жыл бұрын

I noticed that too. I started adding up the costs and was easily over $250 K.

@martiriggs2003 Жыл бұрын

Most Pittsburgh potties are just the toilet, some may have added a shower but an enclosed potty room is rare. My sister had a house in Etna with a toilet and a shower head in the basement, no enclosure and that was the main bathroom because at the time it was built toilets were outside, as in outhouse. Please keep as much character as possible, too many flippers in our area are stripping out all the character and they all look like Chip and Joanna did the remodel.

@jamalrana8504 Жыл бұрын

Love this series

@jvin248 Жыл бұрын

That's a typical mining town home design of the period. I had one I gutted and remodeled, a two day drive from there, I even recognize that same trim used in yours! I used the attic to add a staircase to two bedrooms with closets, made the second floor two larger bedrooms with a good sized modern tub-shower bath and added a powder room on the first floor and with a large beam removed all the first floor walls and left the kitchen as a doorway. Mine did not have the added carriage house yours has (would have access to an alley behind all the houses). That building will need all new modern electric as what's in there is likely knob and tube. Wide plank floors are cool when refinished. I'd suggest a steel roof on there too.

@kathysyphrit5713 Жыл бұрын

I never understand why everyone wants to design kitchen and counter in a larger area. I spend very few hours of each day in that area. I cook the meal and eat would only be 1 hour a day in that room. That is not where I spend the most of my time. In the 50's they had small kitchens and cooked more and that was more user friendly than a large kitchen. Just how I feel about my space.

@nefariousni1 Жыл бұрын

This house was not built in the 1930s. It was built at least 20 years before. You can tell from the fireplace and details of the house.

@autumn291085 Жыл бұрын

Cant wait to see the final renovation.

@ewetoobblowzdogg8410 Жыл бұрын

Love those old heart pine floors!

@blessings4381 Жыл бұрын

Considering that we live on the West Coast, getting the house and land at $20,000 seems too good to be true. But you weren't specific enough for me about the renovation costs. What about likely asbestos, lead or mold abatement? Electrical upgrades? It still would be a bargain comparatively, but materials have gotten higher too.

@homednbinc7353 4 ай бұрын

Great video, I enjoyed listening to the renovation ideas.👍

@nancywysemen7196 Жыл бұрын

wow hope you can get the work done. very positive.

@nancymcclain2533 6 ай бұрын

We grew up in a row house in Massachusetts in the cellar too and there was only one bathroom in the cellar also with a lower entrance. This was early 50's. Fiberglass curtain ,lion claw tub, metal kitchen cabinets, coal room and furnace. problem was it would flood and we would have camber pots. Over time it changed . Dad and friends fixed this and that and we moved to suburbs. Saw that same house on Zillow again redone So beautiful now going for 1.3 mill. Just one of 5 in rowhouse.

@llechatton Жыл бұрын

Where we differ: leave the Pittsburg Potty in the basement but set it up to wash dogs and children. Garage/under the deck and connecting to side entrance or garage on off side but connected to rear under the back deck near basement potty. Use space under deck as tool and bike storage/work shop. Upstairs- the bedroom off hall should be office/nursery and closet for bedroom with no entrance. Make bathroom bigger using hall/landing or change windows & wall in the bedroom next to it to ensure it has 2 sinks. For the front-to-side wrap around porch use polycarbonate glass at least on the roof so you have good daylight on the ground floor. Now that you have the full wrap deck move entrance to living room with fireplace.

@leeboriack8054 Жыл бұрын

The front porch’s brick arches are not original, perhaps something more open and lighter?

@austinallemand1882 Жыл бұрын

Would love to see someone actually rebuilt this the way you described it.

@dannikaundomiel6244 Жыл бұрын

I LOVE this house. It could be so beautiful with some love!

@juliemccall8366 Жыл бұрын

Not going to lie, I adore the floral linoleum that was in the upstairs bedrooms. Nobody creates such beautiful utilitarian products anymore. I would take a piece of that flooring, clean it up, and frame it properly to pay homage to the life that home lived prior to its renovation. What a beauty this home is.

@camuscat123 Жыл бұрын

I would love to see how this turns out! No bathroom except in the basement?! Wow

@jalifritz8033 Жыл бұрын

It’s a former coal miner home in the past coal miners first went into the basement to clean themselves up before going up,so dirt stayed outside the living area.

@mbww8572 Жыл бұрын

That’s how you know the narrator is completely wrong about it having been built in the 30s

@hbhb7900 Жыл бұрын

Such a gorgeous house. It makes me wonder what happened to the owners through the years, that caused them to let the house run down so badly.

@adamliberman6767 Жыл бұрын

That arched porch may be original (not covered with the fake brick of course). It is not common, but sometimes seen on shingle-style houses from around 1895 - 1906 or so. Usually the arches are broader. Of course it will be clear by looking at the construction materials underneath when the fake brick is removed. We have some houses of this style here in Portland, OR.

@mbww8572 Жыл бұрын

Looks like a tear down to me.

@goldenviolet Жыл бұрын

The doors to the parlor could be made into pocket doors. Just love the flooring in the upstairs bedrooms. Neat house.

@andychris7647 Жыл бұрын

It’s absolutely beautiful. Hi Kathy how are you doing with your family i do hope you’re safe from the Covid?

@goldenviolet Жыл бұрын

Andy, thank you for caring. My family is doing ok. I haven't got my Covid shot yet. I hope you and yours are having a good time. Thank you for highlighting my comment. I like that house.

@andychris7647 Жыл бұрын

@@goldenviolet hi you’re always welcome. Me and my family are safe too am happy to hear that. Do you like we talk on somewhere better so we can get to know each other’s as friends?

@LaLadybug2011 Жыл бұрын

This is my first video with this presenter...he is wrong about the fireplace and the tile. That tile and the fireplace surround is original, including the opening cover which is probably cast iron. It actually looks much older than 1930. I would say late 1890's-1915.

@juliemccall8366 Жыл бұрын

Also, this is exactly the kind of home that Nicole Curtis takes on. Nobody gets to see the grit it takes to pull these homes off the demo list. Say what you want, but Nicole has not only shown everyone the possibilities that lie within these homes, but she made a living for herself. It certainly is not easy, but well worth it.

@elmerkilred159 Жыл бұрын

Not even 4 minutes in, and I'm convinced that this house is a money pit.

@bsirvine Жыл бұрын

Big time.

@zia_kat Жыл бұрын

imo the arched porch looks like something scabbed on in the 60s or 70s. i really question taking that and using it as an interior theme.

@laurelh7536 Жыл бұрын

The layout of this house is very similar to a 1910s rowhouse I rented in DC!

@andrewhoey Жыл бұрын

This guy identifies the original features and advocates ripping them all out! 🤯

@lilitharam44 Жыл бұрын

What's on the 3rd floor or attic? Is it usable space? So happy to see the focus on restoring old homes!

@lamoinette23 Жыл бұрын

It's not restoration. Which is keeping more than just a few details.

@ryanjimj Жыл бұрын

Some of the things I thought of when watching the video: #1 Due to the age, unless work had been done relatively recently. The likelihood of potentially containing asbestos is still pretty high. As a result, if that is the case, you would have to pay even more to have it properly removed and disposed of. #2 I see quite a few comments from people who think it's best to keep the house's shell and refurbish it. Considering the view of the surrounding area, it could have termite and/ or water damage which would result in additional expense. Also, I do not know what condition the plumbing is in or if there are possibly even tree roots growing in the sewage line. #3 After considering all the additional costs, I think it'd be cheaper to demolish the house -only after salvaging some items from it (such as the tub). Then you can design it how you want it. #4 As mentioned in the video, the lot would need a retaining wall installed. What is the total size of all three lots? What is it for each - individually vs. all three lots combined?

@slab6046 Жыл бұрын

I’m not understanding the fascination with the archway. You can see it was an add-on. If not it would have been covered in the insal brick.

@secretpal6039 Жыл бұрын

Not sure why this guy doesn’t incorporate original elements into the renovation. I hate seeing removal of old stuff just for the sake of something new. I would certainly keep that fireplace with its beautiful tile surround and hearth. I would also keep that wonderful original kitchen sink and bring the claw foot bathtub inside and use it in the new bathroom. The front porch is hideous. It needs to be opened up to accommodate a couple of rocking chairs. Love the idea of extending to a wraparound porch.

@edwardwood6127 Жыл бұрын

Next we will renovate medival castles 🏰

@jessiejoseph1093 Жыл бұрын

What a great video!

@sstephens2175 8 ай бұрын

It looks like it house has an attic with a window. It would have been great to see that. Was there a closet under the stairs? Will there be space in the basement to add a laundry room? Or any other usable space?

@memepapi Жыл бұрын

NS Builders I love their channel

@laurareutter6928 Жыл бұрын

That fireplace appears to be Victorian / turn of the century. This dates the home to an earlier era.

@pakistanimominqatarcutebaby Жыл бұрын

Nice sharing

@Nordic_Sky Жыл бұрын

Why is this house only $20K? They never talk about this, but it is almost certainly in a high-crime neighborhood. Therefore, it will never be renovated because no one with money will want to live there and have their personal safety at risk.

@ThreeRunHomer Жыл бұрын

Neighborhoods can change very quickly if a few people begin renovating homes. That’s why “gentrification” is in the news so often. If the neighborhood is close to better neighborhoods that are in high demand, it has the potential to improve fast.

@Nordic_Sky Жыл бұрын

@@ThreeRunHomer Gentrification is a rare phenomenon. It only happens in a small number of places near hot areas where real estate prices are shooting up. Mostly once crime sets in, businesses flee, people flee, and the only people left are those who can't afford to move. Then the terminal rot sets in. Remember: crime causes poverty (not the other way around).

@ThreeRunHomer Жыл бұрын

@@Nordic_Sky ha, no. Gentrification happens everywhere except towns and cities that completely dead economically. If you live where no neighborhoods have been seriously upgraded over the 10 to 20 years, then you might want to move to a place with a pulse.

@Nordic_Sky Жыл бұрын

@@ThreeRunHomer If you travel around the US, you'll find out that most of the bad neighborhoods are staying bad. They are not being gentrified. Gentrification is the exception. There is a lot of gentrification in So Calif where I live, but it is the exception.

@AIBot929 Жыл бұрын

It's not a high crime area, this is like the only abandoned house in the neighborhood, there is always a cop doing rounds here all the time, if it was truly a high crime area the house would be a trap house or have squatters but it doesn't.

@JacobWinkle Ай бұрын

Just want to add that for doing a driveway next to a house with a basement can cause issues. If you have a lets say F250 or something like that weighs in at about 7k pounds literally parked up against your basement wall. That is a surcharge on the side of you basement wall and will lead to cracking and water coming into the basement.

@annetterico4787 Жыл бұрын

There are a plethora of lovely old homes and multifamily buildings in the Pittsburgh Metro area that will not get renovated because the specific area they are located in is either too dangerous, horrible school district or too economically depressed to invest into their renovations. The supply of turn key older homes far outweighs current demand. When gas drilling expanded near Pittsburgh, the rental market did expand for a couple of years and some of these abandoned properties were saved but nearby drilling has slowed down thus demand has dropped. There is always a large rental market due to large number of colleges/universities in town. If it was economically viable to flip for sale or for rent, it would have been flipped long ago. There are many parts of Pittsburgh Metro area (many of them in Pittsburgh itself) that are basically dying - many of them are near old steel mills or other large employers.

@bren7067 Жыл бұрын

It looks like the house is on a slope. Could that contribute to the foundation cracks? I would not be touching anything in that home without gloves.

@ln7989 Жыл бұрын

What does gloves have to do with foundation cracks?

@bren7067 Жыл бұрын

@@ln7989 Are foundation cracks inside or outside the home? Did he not touch random things inside the home?

@ln7989 Жыл бұрын

@@bren7067 I genuinely don’t know that’s why I’m asking lol. So touching stuff in the home will make the foundation crack more?

@goldentreefrog18 Жыл бұрын

@@ln7989 Gloves comment is unrelated to the cracks in the foundation, which are most noticeable outside and possibly in the basement room he didn't show us. The house has probably just settled a bit from being built on a hill. All that peeling plaster is covered in lead paint, which is toxic at very low levels but not obviously so, and the dust from it is going to be everywhere, if he has kids he needs to strip in the garage/basement when he gets home because he'll track it in on his clothes. Which is one of the many reasons to keep the basement bathroom and just add a new one to the second floor, it doesn't hurt to have an extra bathroom. Nothing's been really scrubbed in 10+ years either. Old houses like that, where someone grew up in a house and died in it, tend to have lots of old grime like the light switch he showed. It accumulates so slowly you don't notice unless you've been gone a while and come back, but I dare you to tell grandma her light switches are dirty.

@heatherthompson8878 Жыл бұрын

And i love old homes with all the unique architecture even all the old fixtures etc. Id love to live in a home like that.

@prawnstar9213 16 күн бұрын

There are many historically large cities that have these abandoned homes.. down south below and in Arkansas.. lots of neighborhoods looking almost blighted

@tamarasself-sufficientlife7539 4 ай бұрын

Would love to see how this renovation turned out.

@julieready2783 Жыл бұрын

It looks from the front of the house like there is an attic room, do you know if there is one?

@rainesbobo Жыл бұрын

I would wrap the driveway around the back. Knock down the existing garage and build the garage back there with a deck on top. 2 birds one stone. Less grading on the side lot.

@CGF101 Жыл бұрын

The soothing sounds of gunshots at night 😂

@erinenk Жыл бұрын

Are they coming back with Victorians houses updates ? 😊

@peachezprogramming Жыл бұрын

Grew up in Erie and the design of this home is very nostalgic compared to my grandmothers home. But in all seriousness, I would bulldoze that thing and start over.

@doloresmcclain2555 Жыл бұрын

I like your idea so far

@mgjmiller1995 Жыл бұрын

I love these videos; the fact is >95% of our housing already exists, lived-in or vacant. Whether or not the appraisal and ideas are accurate, I appreciate seeing something that needs love, versus some stars' modern homes that are just disgusting excess

@katrinanemchik9300 Жыл бұрын

I’d love to know what neighborhood this is in, I love the yellow brick homes of Pittsburgh

@noizeemama3697 Жыл бұрын

Is that linoleum asbestos? I started removing mine and my brother yelled at me to stop. He does floors and told me linoleum from certain years were asbestos. I think it was 50s?

@reddwarf4278 Жыл бұрын

You could have a bathroom in the basement or an outhouse..in the winter, in PA. I'll take the Pittsburgh Potty any day.

@DanielleGross Жыл бұрын

AYEEEE Pittsburgh represent!

@ken90017 Жыл бұрын

I can just imagine this guys great great grandchild the architect talking about restoring the charm of tract housing in a planned development. Trying to restore the beige carpet and bringing back the charm of plastic vertical blinds. And saving the $1 sq ft Home Depot Chinese tiles.

@tadhgmcgrath1409 Жыл бұрын

I think the fireplace is almost original and the front arches are new. I think the connected bedroom on the top floor is a washroom. This hous looks like someone tried to modernize it.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

Downstairs could use a little opening up, but differently than what he suggests. That is really old linoleum in the upstairs, be tempted to keep it where it is still nice. Would o bump-outs to scootch in more room for the bathrooms/laundry. Would put a laundry in the mudroom, rather than the basement. Easier to redo plumbing if it is done all in a three story bumpout. Could put the carport/garage behind, with a large deck above. The porch definitely needs a redo.

@zia_kat Жыл бұрын

that lino is almost certainly about to crumble and turn to dust. that stuff just doesn't survive well.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

@@zia_kat Stuff that's older may well survive. Nowadays it's down to planned obsolescence. I've seen the really old stuff be in pretty good shape.

@zia_kat Жыл бұрын

@@b_uppy wrong. i'm talking about actual vintage linoleum made from linseed oil. i've tried to salvage some exquisite examples from various parts of the country. even well protected lino of that age is extremely fragile and just crumbles.

@b_uppy Жыл бұрын

@@zia_kat It may depend on particular circumstances, then.

@zia_kat Жыл бұрын

@@b_uppy no. you don't know what you're talking about.

@suzzane.notsusan.1078 Жыл бұрын

That fireplace is original to the house its beautiful and intact it should not be replaced. Keeping some of original features is a must not a super modern reno