If you live in an ancient house, you've probably wondered more than once who slept in your bedroom, when the pipes were last overhauled, and why that ghost hid the car keys. Doing research like this is not only an exciting journey into the past, but also a great way to understand how to take care of your property.
Steps
Step 1. Go to your city land registry office, which will have access to official information about your home and land
You can also search the parish registers.
Step 2. Request a copy of the original building permit, which contains the initial dimensions of the house, the building details and the names of the architect, workers and first owners
- If the house is very old, you can ask any local historical society, which has probably conducted projects on the old properties in the city.
- In some cases it may be necessary to pay for the service (after all someone has to dust off the old archives), but the price is worth the invaluable information contained in those documents.
Step 3. Also request records of all legal transactions associated with your property, so you will know all the people who have lived there
In theory, however, you should have received these documents at the time of purchase.
- Review your purchase history so you know more about price increases or decreases. If it has increased, it may be that some renovations have been done. Check the building permits for the type of structure, building data and owners.
- If you live in the United States, go to the district courthouse to have a look at the registry, which is usually located in the county registry office. This information is indexed by a lot and a city block number or by a district if it is a country property. For more details, you can also go to your local Municipal Planning Agency. Find the office that deals with building permits, property taxation, and real estate sales registration - they probably have your home papers. Try to take a look at the surveyor's map as well, so you will understand if any additions or demolitions have been made.
Step 4. Check your city's newspaper archive
It can generally be consulted in the library.
- Search for mentions of your neighborhood, former homeowners, and rental or sales announcements regarding your home. With a bit of luck, you might even find some old photos.
- Remember that street names and numbers may have changed over time, so in some cases the search can be unsuccessful.
- Look for relevant historical periods. If you know when the house was built or when its value increased, for example, do an extra research concerning that era by reading articles containing titles like "construction" and "architecture".
Step 5. One of the two safest things in life is undoubtedly taxation, so go to the office of the tax officer, where you will find the records on your home
You can also look at the old city phone books, demographics and census records.
Step 6. Inspect your home
Try to understand how it was built and with what building materials.
- Examine the walls and ceilings for the original materials.
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It may have been restored over the years, but if you look closely, you may see clues to its first construction and the lifestyle of its first inhabitants.
226254704_ec334d4e47 - Try looking under the lid of the toilet cistern: you may find its date, which will allow you to estimate the date the house was built; the toilet should have been installed soon. Put it back after you're done.
- Try to get an idea of the years of remodeling the house. Different kitchen styles, for example, come and go after a number of years.
- Use a metal detector in the garden to find ancient coins and artifacts, which will add further value to your home. You may even find the key to the cellar door, which you never dared to open.
Step 7. Talk to your neighbors:
they might know something about the history of the house.
- Ask them about the people who lived there before you and if they remember seeing any structural changes. This way, you will also break the ice with them.
- If they look at you suspiciously and tell you that they don't know anything, maybe they are hiding something!
- If you become good friends, you can ask them if it is possible to inspect their home, so you will understand if it is similar to yours. Some areas have houses built in the same style and during the same period for reasons of efficiency and architectural trends.
- For example, according to the New York Times, overhanging porch roofs were extremely popular in the 1950s and 1960s in the Big Apple, but are now out of style and many owners are having them done away with. In 50 years, they may be back in fashion.
Step 8. Track down former owners to find out what improvements have been made
You will find their names on the records of the land registry office. Then look for them on the internet or in the telephone directory. Talking to them will help you get a better idea of the original house. However, the house may be too old, so you can only get in touch with the former owners through a séance!
Step 9. Do a research on the history of your neighborhood, so you will find out a lot about your home, especially if it is old
Step 10. Fill in all the information to create a chronological picture of your home:
when it was built, which parts were added and which were demolished, which natural events changed it.
Advice
- Look for old photos of the house and neighborhood to get an idea of the changes.
- Use all the resources offered by the land registry office, parish registers and municipal library to find relevant information. Make a list of the former owners and track them down, perhaps considering their family tree.
- If you need to make photocopies in a public office, ask what the rate is.
- If you live in the US, try the free service offered by www.thatsmyoldhouse.com, a site that allows people to talk about the houses they lived in, the changes they made, the memories, etc.
- Go to the local historical museum or search online.
Warnings
- Do not break the privacy of former owners or their relatives - they may have painful memories connected to the home or, perhaps, prefer not to be disturbed. In some cases, you may want to collect the information yourself before contacting them. Always respect their wishes.
- Do not damage old documents - they may be the only records available. Protect them with transparent bags or folders.
