Seldom does a week go by when I’m not reading an MLS description of a historic home and smacking my hand to my head. This is because there is a general lack of education about them.
Whether you are a Realtor, buyer, or seller, it’s crucial to understand what you are marketing or purchasing. The information is available, and I will endeavor to consolidate some of it for you today because understanding a historic home adds value to it and to the sales price!
First and foremost, do not depend on AI for anything, especially accurate historical information. Remember how AI learns. It learns from us, and not all of us take the time to correct it. And please do not use it to write your historic home MLS descriptions, because they always sound the same and are often wildly inaccurate.
When it comes to describing a home for sale, there are several excellent resources available.
The essential book for every Realtor and homeowner is “A Field Guide to American Houses: The Definitive Guide to Identifying and Understanding America’s Domestic Architecture,” by Virginia Savage McAlester. This book is an invaluable resource, providing a comprehensive understanding of architectural styles and home anatomy. It’s not just for historic homes. There are pictorial glossaries to help you understand not only the architectural styles of homes but also their anatomy. You’ll be able to discern a front gabled roof from a centered gable roof, and know the difference between Syrian, Gothic, and Tudor arches. You can get this essential resource on Amazon for $23.
Of course, every Realtor should take the Historic House Specialist class offered by Preservation Dallas. One is coming up in September, so check their website for updates. It’s a two-day seminar featuring some of the most knowledgeable speakers on historic preservation in the Dallas area. They even tour you around on a luxury bus to see some of our historic neighborhoods. Yes, you get MCE credits for it, and yes, even though it’s designed for Realtors, anyone can take it.
The City of Dallas Office of Historic Preservation has an excellent website that features all the historic and conservation districts, landmarked buildings and homes, as well as information on appropriate repairs for historic homes. You’ll also find tax exemption information, as you can receive tax credits for rehabilitating historic homes. It is chock-full of great information.
Over the past few years, I’m absolutely thrilled to report that two websites dedicated to three of our most important architects have been launched. Mark Weeks diligently researched the Midcentury Modern homes designed by Lyle Rowley and Jack Wilson, better known as Ju-Nel, and created a website, naturally named Ju-Nel. You will find existing homes, some of which are newly discovered, as well as excellent information on the architects, and also homes for sale.
Is That Historic Home a Dilbeck?
This is one of the questions I’m most frequently asked. The problem is that Dilbeck had a lot of people working under him, and they often built homes in a Dilbeck-style. That does not make them a Dilbeck, however.
The Charles Stevens Dilbeck Architectural Conservancy was established in 2022. Having this resource, as well as an upcoming book by Willis Winters, America’s leading authority on Dilbeck, means Dallas will have one of the few websites devoted to a single architect, and one that has had such a profound impact on our built heritage. You can also list your authentic Dilbeck home for sale on the site!
I hope this helps everyone. Remember, we have a wealth of resources on the site that can help you research your home and even discover who lived there before you.
