On the Market: Restored Victorian farmhouse in Lansdale for $985K
For the past 20 years, Mike Basta has been living a Victorian farmhouse in Lansdale, which he restored it to its original 19th century charm.
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On the Market profiles homes for sale in the Philadelphia region.
For the past 20 years, Mike Basta has spent time restoring his Victorian farmhouse in Lansdale to its original 19th century charm.
"It was pretty run down, it was uninhabitable." Basta said of when he purchased the 2,052-square-foot home. "It looked like a house that was about a 100 years old and nothing had been done to it for 30-40 years."
When Basta was relocating to Pennsylvania from France for work in 1993, he drove by the brick home on Skippack Pike and saw a "for sale" sign. The home's unique appearance from the outside, with its curved roof and siding, drew him in.
"I liked the architectural aspect of the house," he said. "I liked the roof construction, the doors and windows."
Built in 1898, the house is believed to have been built by Lansdale architect Milton B. Bean, according to researcher Leopoldo Montoya.
When Basta moved in, the home had most recently been used as an apartment building. But Basta's vision was restore it to a single-family home.
His good friend and developer, David Markel, volunteered to help oversee the whole project.
"Over a period of time, we completely rehabbed the place and just brought it back to its original splendor," Basta said.
About $1 million in renovations and 20 years later, the three-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home has a fresh look. Basta said he kept as much of the original features as possible, including the hardwood floors, two Victorian fireplaces, wainscotting, and windows. He spiced it up with some modern touches, including a gourmet kitchen, updated bathrooms, and a new electrical system.
Basta expanded the master suite on the second floor and gave it a cathedral ceiling, a sitting room and a balcony. He added a sunroom and a large porch to the back as well.
On the third floor, there's a large recreation room with an 1890s Bordeaux billiard table and antique chandeliers.
Some other stand-out architectural details include fish-scale shingles, a 30-pane stained glass front door, and custom hand-made storm windows.
Outside, Basta cleaned up the landscaping and added in reclaimed stone walls. There's a two-car garage on the property with an unfinished second floor, which could be used a guest appartment.
After taking on this project – his first time restoring a Victorian – Basta is selling the home now. He has listed it for $985,000.
Basta has retired after working for a medical device company for 35 years, and is relocating to Florida.