I became involved in real estate because I love old houses. I have owned 7 vintage or antique homes and renovated all of them acting as either general contractor, or actually renovating them with my two (and my husband's two hands) So before you take on a project of renovating an old house and most especially before you replace anything, talk to a realtor who specialized in Antique Houses. In Fairfield County Connecticut, that would be me. But if you don't talk to me, below is a rough guildeline. I do consulting in all facets of real estate in Connecticut for a fee and on any antique home in New England and the Mid Atlantic States.

• Putting vinyl siding on an antique home in some towns in our area is like the kiss of death. First of all, it changes the environment and the ventilation of a house.
• Work with licensed professionals who know antique homes.
• Make sure to pull permits.
• Don't pay in advance and get estimates, contracts, and receipts for everything.
  
• Use appropriate materials for an antique home. No Laminate or vinyl floors!
  
• Pull up wall to wall carpets and don't replace them.
  
• Renovate by keeping consistent with the style in which the house was built.
• Don't cover up or pull any fireplaces or fireplace hearths
• Renovate safely. Lead and Asbestos and mold must be removed and disposed of by licensed or certified professionals and by the standards of the state.
• Don't be shy about hiring a structural engineer to look at sagging homes do ascertain if there are structural issues that require foundation or beam work.
• If you put an addition on, don't even think about not calling me first, I have go to people who can design a wonderful renovation plan for any antique home. 
• Keep your receipts and put them in a long term file.
  

MY TWO GO TO GUYS

Jim Nugent is a master carpenter. He restores old houses so well that you can't tell they've been restored but they look as though they've been expertly maintained for its entire existence.  He builds qualitiy kitchen cabinets and he makes them look great in an older home. Jim's work isn't cheap but he is worth the price. He does work as far north as Maine and as far south as CT and Metro NYC. He lives in an antique home as well and has owned several.

Here is his contact info

Phone 802-299-9929
Email 1952nuge@gmail.com

Home Doctor of America has been doing work for me and my clients for several years. Bob Mariani and his crews have worked for me on my last project, a vintage house I still own in Fairfield. My daughter and her husband live in it so I wanted it Lead Free, Hazmat Free, Green and Low VOC so she could feel comfortable. It was retrofitted with new insulation, a new kitchen was installed and most of the interior walls were replaced as well as the electric and plumbing updated. The interesting thing about Bob is that he not only does all of the work, he's licensed in all of the areas needed for construction. He not only did my house, I saw another antique house in Westport that he did top to bottom including hand building cabinetry, retrofitting insulation and he did a magnifient job in a remarkably short period of time.

http://homedoctorofamerica.com/

Bob has an amazing amount of resourses for financing too. The government wants you to GO GREEN so take advantage of the tax and financing ncentives. The energy audit he does is remarkable.

Bob's emails is Bob@HomeDoctorofAmerica.com

First, do no harm. Don't pull out old windows, or cover beams or exposed stone or brick if your house is graced with them. Don't replace a bannister, fix it. Don't pull off a front porch or a pergola, repair!! If you're lucky enough to own a house that has a central fireplace, don't wall it up!! (and look for walled up hearths) Fix the mortar and joints, put a chimney cap on for a damper and open those hearth up and ready them for use. With Home doctor, any old house can be insulated. WARNING. Don't fall for people trying to sell you liners for chimneys. The price is far more than it would be to deal with chimney issues (for heating systems than it would be to get a new heating sytem that doesn't need the chimney for venting.