The dos and don’ts of buying a period property

Scotland is full of period homes with high ceilings, cornicing and decorative fireplaces – and owners have the potential to add value by renovating or extending. But what factors should you consider before buying? 

Period features to look out for  

Georgian properties were mainly built during the final nine years of the Georgian reign when George IV was Prince Regent. Consider this type of home if you like your properties in proportion as they are usually formulaic and symmetrical. They can be found in Edinburgh’s New Town and usually have tall windows, wrought iron balconies, balustrades and pilasters.  

Victorian properties were built out of necessity due to an expanding population. Victorian homes feature large bay windows, decorative fireplaces, high skirting boards, ceiling roses and cornicing and door-shaped open cupboards/shelving known as the Edinburgh press. The Marchmont area of Edinburgh, separated from the Old Town by the Meadows, was developed to provide middle-class tenements in the 19th century.  

Edwardian properties are generally wider than Victorian homes, with larger gardens for parties, and were built to reflect the changing priorities of the middle classes as they moved out of the city to the suburbs. They are characterised by mock-Tudor cladding, sash windows and timber-framed porches.  

Listed properties  

If the property is listed or in a conservation area, you may be limited on the amount of work you can do on it. Alert the council of major works such as extensions and internal layout changes, but also minor alterations like cleaning stonework or repainting a door.  

Listed homes in Scotland are split into three categories. Category A is buildings of national or international importance, special architectural or historic interest which are outstanding examples of a particular period, style or building type. Category B represents regional importance and Category C is local importance.  

When interior designer Emma Manners married the 11th Duke of Rutland 30 years ago, she was faced with the daunting task of renovating the lavish 200-room Belvoir Castle – which is where the Netflix series The Crown was filmed – and was restricted in the number of renovations she could do to the property. 

She says: “Simply keeping the place in working order is a mammoth task in itself! Our biggest achievement has been restoring the Capability Brown Landscape when we found the original plans in our archives in 2013.”  

The Duchess has advice for those buying a listed property: “Before you start on any of the interiors – make sure the roof is sorted! At Belvoir, we have nearly two acres of roof that needs to be maintained, and the last thing you want in your newly decorated drawing room is a flood.” 

Potential issues with period properties  

Older homes can require more maintenance than newer homes. Damp-proof courses weren’t introduced into construction until 1875, so properties built before this date may not have a course at all. When viewing a period property look out for signs of mould on walls or ceilings, bubbling plaster or wallpaper that is peeling away and discolouration on walls.  

Older homes were often used in a different way to how we live in them today so the layout may be odd. They may contain alcoves or bathrooms that are accessed via the kitchen downstairs. A renovation project could involve knocking down walls to create a more open-plan living space. 

Jennifer Mack experienced this when she bought her Glasgow flat in 2019, a converted B-listed in Glasgow’s west end. The previous owner had been there since 1967 so it was “very dated with a terrible layout”. The flat needed a lot of structural work before Jennifer could even begin painting.   

Jennifer says: “I have renovated property before but not on this scale. Last year I removed a wall and removed the flaking paint on the outside of the flat to restore the blonde sandstone. I am also removing the staircase and I am going to add storm doors.” 

Jennifer, who is a home economics teacher, loves cooking so her priority was the kitchen. It was originally upstairs at the front of the flat but Jennifer moved it downstairs to the back of the property into an old bedroom. 

Spend on a survey  

A survey is a worthwhile expense when buying a period property. Using a surveyor that specialises in period properties give you an idea of what you’re taking on; they will advise on things like structure or damp, and assess any underlying issues with the property.

A solicitor estate agent can help   

It is worth speaking with a solicitor estate agent early in the process when buying a period property as they can offer advice on the purchase and make the experience as seamless and hassle-free as possible. Choosing a solicitor estate agent means that they can help you with securing your next property purchase too. 

If you opt for an estate agent, you will still need a solicitor for the legal part of the process, but they will come from another firm. By using a solicitor estate agent, you only have to contact one firm for the property marketing and legal side. This may make the process less time-consuming.  

ESPC and our network of first-class solicitor estate agents have been helping people move home for over 50 years. For the last five years, independent research has verified that ESPC is the first place that home buyers visit when looking for a new home. 

When buying a property your solicitor can talk you through the steps in detail covering everything from how you intend to fund the purchase, what to look out for in a Home Report, and how long the legal process is likely to take. They will also have access to the ESPC sales archives which can offer insight into what properties are achieving in the area you are looking to buy.   

With ESPC your home will get: 

• Promoted on espc.com which attracts over 2.2 million visitors a month. 
• An average of 100,000 users from overseas visiting espc.com per month, gains you access to a local and international buyers’ market. 
• Emailed to our database of home hunters that gets over 1300 new signups each month. Seven million property alert emails were sent in 2021. 
• You can also opt to be included in our monthly magazine or upgrade your listing with our Featured or Premium packages. 

The Accidental Duchess by Emma Manners, published by Pan Macmillan is available in hardback for £12.99.  

The Crown returns to Netflix in November 2022.  

You can follow Jennifer Mack’s renovating journey on Instagram @theflatontheterrace