Once upon a farmhouse renovation

It’s been three weeks since we’ve moved onto the property we purchased and started this farmhouse renovation, and during that time we’ve uncovered a lot of things we had never seen and never heard of. I like to think of myself as a city girl who spent a lot of time on a farm in the summer, but I never really knew the ins and outs of how these old houses work.

Well now I know, and it’s been a revelation, let me tell you. The house that’s on the property was built in the 20’s, and they added onto it in 1947 and later in the 50’s. The house itself is sloping, so in order to get it straight again, we have to jack it up.

I’ve had contractor after contractor out here and tell me to push it down and start over or avoid jacking the floor because we’ll cause more problems. We’ve gone back and forth on living in the house the way it is, and keep coming back to jacking it up.

Why? I want to save the house. It’s the cutest little farmhouse ever, it has a lot of history, and thanks to Pinterest, there’s literally no limit to what I can do with it. Plus, I have a huge love for all things vintage, and this is about as vintage as it gets.

What I’ve learned through this whole process is that having the right team makes all the difference when it comes to breathing new life into an old home. It isn’t just about fixing what’s broken but about respecting the original character while making it strong and livable for the future. That’s why I’ve been looking at design-build firms that specialize in custom remodeling and renovations, because they understand the balance between preservation and transformation.

A firm such as https://vincentabellcontracting.com/ shows how experience and craftsmanship can take something with history and give it new purpose without erasing what makes it special. With the right guidance, I can imagine every detail of this farmhouse being reimagined into a space that’s both practical and timeless, a home that honors its roots while embracing the way we live today.

Restoring a historic property, especially one with layers of character from different eras, can significantly enhance its long-term value. While the upfront costs of structural work like jacking up the house might seem daunting, the potential return—both emotional and financial—is enormous.

Properties with stories, authenticity, and charm are increasingly sought after in a market saturated with cookie-cutter builds. There’s a unique pride in restoring something that might otherwise be forgotten and making it relevant again. In many ways, this type of project reflects the mindset of experienced real estate investors who understand the balance between risk and vision.

People who’ve walked this path before—those who didn’t just flip properties but truly reshaped them—often highlight the importance of staying grounded in the big picture. Take, for instance, his entrepreneurial journey, which emphasizes the value of recognizing potential in overlooked properties and turning them into opportunities. This is about more than floors and foundations—it’s about preserving a sense of place, creating lasting worth, and investing in something meaningful.

The more we uncover, the more we realize this place has stories in every beam—and surprises in every corner. But with every new twist, the costs keep stacking up. There’s a part of me that wants to keep pushing through, hang onto the charm, the creaky floors, the crooked door frames.

But there’s also the reality check that sometimes the dream starts costing more than it gives. So I started looking at other routes, ways to just step back and let it go, and in the middle of that search, I came across www.cardinalhousebuyers.com.

It’s a relief to know there’s a way to hand things off without a big production or waiting months. If we decide to take that road, at least it’s one that can move as fast as we need it to—and that counts for a lot when you’re standing in a half-leveled kitchen wondering what comes next.

So this week we’re jacking the house, and after that we’ll have the framer in to see what he can do inside.

As far as the property is concerned, we’re in Heaven. The hummingbirds come along every morning and hang out with me, the wood peckers pound away on the old dead tree in the meadow, and the ducks walk by whenever the dogs aren’t around. The dogs have zero interest in the ducks, but they do like chasing the horses around.

We’ve got a farm name too! Because of my love of everything Disney, we’ve called our farm ‘Ever After Acres.’

It’s funny how a place can feel so perfectly yours and yet still come with its fair share of boundaries, both literal and figurative. Out here, with the meadow stretching out in front and the animals weaving in and out of view, it’s easy to forget about the more technical side of property ownership.

But the moment you start thinking about building something new or changing what’s already there, those invisible lines suddenly matter a great deal. That’s when the practical side of me remembers that understanding where your land meets someone else’s isn’t just about courtesy—it’s about keeping the peace and protecting the dream you’ve worked so hard to shape.

Even out in the middle of what feels like your own slice of paradise, there’s a quiet reassurance in knowing the details are handled properly.

We’ve been giving more thought to the next stages for Ever After Acres, and I’ve learned how much difference it makes to have the right guidance when construction plans brush up against a neighbor’s space.

Bringing in expertise for party wall services london is less about paperwork and more about ensuring that the future of the property unfolds without unexpected headaches. It keeps the focus on the joy of building and improving, rather than on disputes or delays. That way, the time and energy we pour into this place stay wrapped up in moments like the morning chorus of birds, the thud of hooves across the pasture, and the easy rhythm of life that makes the name ‘Ever After Acres’ feel like more than just a title—it’s a promise we get to keep living every day.

I’ll be back with some photos of jacking the house, but in the meantime, here’s a look at what we uncovered in the floor.

From 1947!