Period homes have never been more popular in the inner suburbs of Australia\u2019s capital cities than they are right now.<\/strong><\/p>\n That old-world charm, rock-solid build quality and almost timeless elegance have put them at the top of the list for many buyers who are prepared to pay a premium to own a piece of historic architecture.<\/p>\n But will all of those distinctive period features both inside and outside the home stand the test of time? Or will some fare better than others?<\/p>\n Here are the features that will best retain their value in the coming years.<\/p>\n Find any property listing<\/a> for a period home and it\u2019s almost a given that the hero shot will be a stunning view of the front of the house from the street.<\/p>\n Jellis Craig director Andrew McCann says buyers are forever enamoured with period fa\u00e7ades, which he says will continue to be the number one drawcard for most homes from that era.<\/p>\n Many home buyers love period fa\u00e7ades. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe market is very drawn to that architecture and that style,\u201d McCann says.<\/p>\n \u201cSo I think if you can retain the integrity of the fa\u00e7ade and have it well framed, for example not taking away an original verandah from a Victorian home, they\u2019re the things not to change or alter.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProperties with a picket fence and a nice attractive Hawthorn-brick style with a traditional roofline really seem to appeal to most buyers\u00a0\u2013 this look tugs on the heartstrings<\/span>.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRespecting the colour palette is important with the fa\u00e7ade rather than trying to make it too contemporary. That also applies to the front door, window furnishings and those types of things as well.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: 10 FEATURES TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A PERIOD HOME<\/p>\n McCann says that when people walk into a period home, they expect the front rooms to reflect the design and feel of that era.<\/p>\n That means retaining the original floorboards, as well as the \u201cintegrity of the principal rooms\u201d at the front of the home.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re walking into a double-fronted home, having the main rooms\u00a0\u2013<\/span> which are often the front bedroom or a formal sitting room or dining room\u00a0\u2013<\/span> still intact is a real feature,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cHeritage homes often have high ceilings and grand rooms of good proportion. If you can get that part right, along with retaining the original floorboards, buyers usually respond very positively.\u201d<\/p>\n When people walk into a period home, they expect the front rooms to reflect the design and feel of that era. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Flowing on from the general\u00a0fa\u00e7ade is the retention of original period windows at the front of the home.<\/p>\n McCann says original windows are critical to sustaining the period appeal and value over time.<\/p>\n \u201cIf the windows have been replaced, often that alters the look of fa\u00e7ade look and the integrity of the property. I would say you want to try and keep originality in the front portion of the home as intact as possible. Look to make your alterations in the second half\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>that\u2019s where the best balance comes.\u201d<\/p>\n Original front windows are critical to sustaining the period appeal and value over time. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Many people associate period homes with the ornate detailing that is the internal calling card of those eras.<\/p>\n But McCann says those components are less critical.<\/p>\n Period detailing such as decorative ceilings are less important to most buyers. Picture: realestatecom.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThings like cornicing and mouldings are probably not as important in a buyer\u2019s mind these days as the home being light and airy and more simplistic in style,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \u201cHouses that are very ornate really appeal to a smaller market.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI think people still probably want to see the cornicing and the mouldings in place, but they would usually update them with more contemporary paint<\/a> colours. Those traditional federation and period colours and paint detail of the \u201980s and \u201990s, where it\u2019s a lot of greens and maroons and traditional Victorian colour schemes, that\u2019s now viewed as being a bit outdated.\u201d<\/p>\n READ MORE: RENOVATING HERITAGE HOMES IN AUSTRALIA<\/p>\n McCann says that the strongest market is for period properties that are in almost original condition at the front, but have been renovated with a modern extension at the rear.<\/p>\n The strongest market is period homes with contemporary extensions at the back. Picture: realestate.com.au\/buy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n \u201cA house that\u2019s got a very good blend of the functional parts of a period home, updated with modern architecture and contemporary tones from an interior<\/a> perspective, that\u2019s really the best balance you can find in the marketplace,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
\n <\/p><\/div>\n Realestate au <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The\u00a0fa\u00e7ade<\/h2>\n
![\"heritage](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/772x579-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/03\/20124815\/heritage-facade_800x600.jpg?resize=772%2C579&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nThe front rooms<\/h2>\n
![\"front](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/800x600-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/03\/20123721\/front-room_800x600.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nThe windows<\/h2>\n
![\"period](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1397x1048-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/03\/20130102\/period-homes_800x600.jpg?resize=1397%2C1048&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nWhat about period detailing?<\/h2>\n
![\"period](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/1822x1366-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/03\/20125423\/period-details_2000x1500.jpg?resize=1822%2C1366&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\nA blend at the back<\/h2>\n
![\"terrace](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.realestate.com.au\/blog\/images\/800x600-fit%2Cprogressive\/2018\/03\/20124037\/terrace-extension_800x600.jpg?resize=800%2C600&ssl=1\")
<\/p>\n