Styles of Properties: Victorian

When you step into a Victorian, you step back in time. These were the mansions of turn-of-the-century Salt Lake City, and they are arguably the most impressive single-family residences ever built in the area. The interiors of many victorians are
wonders to behold, with grand staircases, ornate wooden built-ins and beautiful chandeliers. These were the palaces of Utah's most wealthy residents.

Remodel of a Victorian should not be undertaken lightly. Lathe and plaster walls can hide wiring that dates to when electricity was a new technology. Narrow-gauge
pipes can be restricted by deposits. You could spend $1 million
renovating one of these giants. Pay attention to the properties around
any Victorian. In the Avenues, especially, you might have some
low-end properties as neighbors.

These impressive giants were built in
the late 1800s and early 1900s.

WHERE:
Victorians are concentrated along the
city's great boulevards. South Temple
has some notable examples, including
the governor's mansion. You can find
more on 100 South, in the lower
Avenues and scattered around the
University of Utah .

Styles of Properties: Rambler

Almost all of the ramblers in Sugar House Utah were built after World War II. Most were built from the mid-1950s to the 1970s. What they lack in charm they make up for in space. Ceilings are high, rooms are big, and many basements are walkout. If you need a house above 3,000 square feet with five or more bedrooms and a two-car garage, you'll want to look at a rambler. Many St. Marys and Oak Hills residents are original owners of their homes. They are dated, and sell for about $150 per square foot. As this area turns over in the next few years and these homes are updated, watch out. These are big houses close to town, many with great city views. It could one day be the most desirable area in town.

Quirks: Built around 1960, most ramblers have plumbing and wiring that is not an inspection issue. Check the bar-tile roof in Oak Hills/St. Marys, however. If original, they might be due for a replacement.

Styles of Properties: Cottage

These post-World War II boxes were built by the thousands above 1500 East in Salt Lake City and throughout Highland Park. They are the most affordable real estate in the Sugar House area, if only because of their size. They are tiny, averaging about
800 square feet per floor. Don't look for formal dining in these houses.
Some are so small they don't even have room for a kitchen table. Most
cottages have one-car garages.

all of these houses were built with shake roofs, though most have asphalt shingle today. Have your inspector check beneath those shingles. If they were laid atop
the shake, it will drastically cut the shingle's life. That is especially true
if vents were not installed during re-roofing. Shake roofs breath. But
once covered by asphalt shingles, attics heat up fast. The shingles will
buckle and curl in a few years.

Styles of Properties: Tudor

The tudor is the most popular home style in the Sugar House area. These homes command more dollars per square foot than any other. Most were built between 1920 and 1940, though the style has become popular for new construction. The interiors are dominated by tile fireplaces, often flanked by built-in bookcases.
Accents include gumwood or mahogany trim, coved ceilings, leaded-glass and arched doorways.

Quirks: Basement ceilings in tudors are lower than in modern homes, but they are taller than bungalows. That's because tudor basements were built for human habitation instead of coal storage. Many tudors have two staircases to the basement, one off the front door and another off the kitchen in the back. Larger tudors also have an upstairs. You might find knob and tube wiring in these older homes, but upgrades are simple.

Styles of Properties: Classic Bungalow

Working around SLC valley, people are often ask me the definition of property styles. Salt Lake City Utah properties are some of the most diverse in the country, and Sugar House is home to some of the finest old homes.

I would like to review some styles today, and sugeest some things you should be focus on:

Classic Bungalow: Bungalows are ubiquitous in Sugar House. Unpainted, the woodwork is a real attraction.

Most of these handsome Sugar House Utah homes were built between 1910 and 1930. They are defined by their big, shaded front porches. The focal point of the inside is the tile fireplace with an ornate metal grate. Hardwood floors, coved ceilings and arched doorways are common. Gumwood trim is a beautiful accent to the plaster walls,
although all too often this wood has been painted over.

Many Sugarhouse Utah bungalows were built on shallow foundations. Particularly on the valley floor, some have settled to either side. They are noticeably crooked.
Not to worry. Most settled 80 years ago and are as sound as any home built today. Basement ceilings are usually low and a dirt-filled concrete shelf runs around the perimeter, taking up hundreds of feet of otherwise useful space. Some people
dig these basements out to create another level of quality living space.

Quirks:

Unless a bungalow has been updated, it will have knob and tube wiring whose appearance is so archaic that it can freak out an uninitiated buyer. Don't despair. This is quality wiring. Old fuse boxes can be replaced inexpensively. Open junctions can be enclosed. This wiring has worked for a hundred years. It will work for a hundred more. Check the water pressure. Old iron Utah pipes can fill with deposits, restricting the flow. According to "Bungalow Nation," a book by Diane Maddex and Alexander Vertifkoof, bungalows are the most common house style in America. "At
the start of the twentieth century," the pair write, "the bungalow took America by storm. These small houses . . . were built throughout the country and helped fulfill many Americans' wish for a single-family home, equipped with all the latest conveniences and set in a garden, however tiny.

A bungalow allowed people of modest means to achieve something they had long sought:
respectability. Central to its popularity was the idea that simplicity and a sense of style could harmonize in an affordable home. One type of house that would fit many tastes, pocketbooks and climates, the bungalow for the first time extended democracy to the nation's architecture. . . .

What accounts for the bungalow's popularity? Marketing certainly played an important role. Bungalows were displayed prominently in the pages of popular magazines such as The Ladies Home Journal, and influential editors extolled the large windows, airy porches, built-in furnishings, open floor plans, and other features that made bungalows convenient and healthful."

Bungalow fans might want to check out American Bungalow Magazine's website. Sugarhouse Utah real estate is epitomized by the bungalow. http://www.ambungalow.com/