HOUSE TOUR | Historian Pays $18,500 for Victorian-Era West Virginia Home She Is Restoring

Betsy Sweeny has a big job ahead of her! She is a historian and preservationist who is renovating an old home in Wheeling, West Virginia that was built in 1892. It's been vacant for the past 30 years and is in need of a major renovation. She paid $18,500 in cash for this 4-bedroom, 1.5 bath, 3,200 square foot home that will take about 18-months and lots of love to restore.
#hometour #interiordesign #homedecor
LIKE and SUBSCRIBE to Homeworthy's KZbin channel for more home tours and design content
Be sure to visit www.homeworthy... to discover amazing furniture, art, and accessories handpicked by our editors to help transform your house into a home - all of the items are inspired by the episodes you see here on this channel!
Follow us on Instagram: / homeworthy
Follow us on TikTok: / homeworthy
--
If you're thinking about restoring an old home, here's more from Betsy about the financial side:
"I got a $25k preservation fund loan from a local program. I used that $25k as a down payment on a $100k construction loan for the rehab. So my all in cost of acquisition and rehab is $143,500. This is also a state residential historic tax credit project. Upon completion, I’ll get 20% back on $125k of qualified rehab expenses--roughly $20,000--which will fund the kitchen."
Fore more about Betsy and her work! www.betsysweeny...

[@shirleyemrick1700]

Thank you. I wish there were more people like you who realize these houses can and should be restored.

[@maddscientist3170]

what a steal!!! mine was $45K for a 3000 sq. ft. 1864 victorian gothic brick.....recently sold for $300K in a small village in western new york. It was in excellent condition, just tweaked & made back into a 1 family home, from a 2 family. updated landscaping, added the porches back on & built a garage to match the style

[@MizzTrinaNY]

Why did this make me emotional!?! I think the idea of it being so “far gone” and how she took the challenge of restoring it and making it habitable is touching. Also the beauty and charm of maintaining some of the historical aspects of the house was so cool!! Somehow it reminded me of my faith and how we’re never too far gone for God to restore us and that made my heart smile. ❤️

[@suelyons531]

I followed Besty since she started and I am so excited to see when she can finally move in! Such a great house. I wish more people would do this in Pittsburgh.

[@aiai-j7i]

I don't easily get jealous...but I have never been more envious of anything ever!! WOW!! And thank you for saving that gorgeous house!!!

[@carollovelett898]

I would love to see the follow up on this!

[@shannontate8483]

She has an Instagram that she updates daily!

[@janinafisher101]

The commitment to restore this beauty makes me want to cry with joy!

[@dougn2350]

Wheeling is a fascinating historic town. I hope it gets restored before it's too late to do so.

[@LedgerAndLace]

LOVE this! There's a couple in St. Louis who are restoring an old Victorian house. They're on YT as "The Second Empire Strikes Back" and it's been fascinating watching the progress.

[@Homeworthy]

Thank you for telling me about this couple!

[@twistoffate4791]

I am one of their subscribers! You're right. It's a fantastic channel.

[@LedgerAndLace]

@@twistoffate4791 Betsy Sweeny is a gift to the world of restoration. She has done AMAZING work with that house!

[@itscarlamcd3122]

Great video- equal parts interviewing with a good amount or video footage of the home! Your questions were well thought out too👏🏽👏🏽 What an opportunity to bring this home back, I’d love to see the finished project! Thanks for sharing 👍🏽👍🏽

[@margotling9851]

Betsy Sweeny makes me proud to be a history major

[@sarahmiddleton4728]

I'm her fan! This house is a GEM, and so is she.

[@th0ttyywitab0dyy60]

I literally watch the work on this house from my back window and its been super interesting, the people before worked on it a bit, but you can already tell its going places now

[@jodyslater6969]

Would love to see what it looks like now

[@carter358]

Beautiful house!!

[@aimansteele]

Absolutely love this, the best kind of content ❤️

[@michaelkoenigs9295]

What a gem!

[@KruezFam]

So is the house. ❤

[@nicolebirch7878]

Love your videos! Your channel is seriously such a special place to come to for inspiration, unique stories, and beautiful styling, and interior design!

[@mrshankj5101]

I think i remember this house! I hope she restores it back to what it looked like back in 1892!

[@sylviajones4907]

So impressed with her "can-do" attitude! Fantastic lady!

[@jodyslater6969]

I love this house, please show us a progress report!

[@carolnacarato4448]

I can't wait to see it styled too! It will be amazing and I hope that Homeworthy makes another visit--hopefully this time in person!

[@carolnacarato4448]

I didn't know that Homeworthy had visited them before. I love that channel! I'll have to look it up

[@danaallcock2898]

Thank you for seeing beyond the obvious with the house. Your vision is beautiful and I'm sure you were the one it was waiting for 😇.

[@rebeccavl97]

Absolutely love this!! I’ve always wanted to own an old Victorian home!

[@lizze490]

I love these big old Victorian homes. She is so ambitious to take on this challenging project. I hope she accomplished a lot in a year.

[@cathleto868]

Alison, I love your channel! Keep up the good work ! And Betsy, wow, you are so inspiring! I’m glad I was able to discover your project thru homeworthy!

[@AdjanaMinistries]

I can’t wait to see the final results

[@thesunandthemoon9995]

So cool! Well done on taking on this challenge.

[@andreabenson2491]

Awesome project - lots of work and $$. I was an avid watcher of HGTV and in my mind I could rebuild anything. I purchased a 630 square foot tiny beach cottage (up the street from the beach) in total disrepair...set out on a journey and have actually lived here for two years now. Still working to make it all mine always an ongoing process! This little place is my supercool home - I'm doing my best to make it all happen, inside and outside. I'm a lot older than this young woman and am trying to do all I can while I still can! I look at this space and have a vision and believe tiny and simple or big and grand we can make them our own. Love her enthusiasm and feel her joy, such a wonderful project with a house worth saving! Wishing you many blessings! When I see my tiny space it looks like the Taj Mahal ( for an alive person), I'm sure she sees the grandeur there. ❤️

[@juliajohnson5276]

Betsy is a very smart lady.

[@zuzuspetals38]

Omggggg extra lot!!!!!!! Pays for itself!!!

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thank you for the video.

[@newmannedge]

Love this so much!

[@melaniekeeling7462]

You're my hero.

[@davidr6026]

Love this video. ❤

[@cathypoole3015]

Impressive. I'd like to know where you got your education. Your home is beautiful. I look forward to seeing what you do with it.

[@elizabethcolley6383]

Love what you have done with this home!!!!! I'm totally in love with the wallpaper in the bathroom. Could you tell me what it is called?

[@bonnielarch6916]

You need a tv show I’m one would love to see and if I could get one I would

[@roospooscreate]

Beautiful 😻

[@AvadoraMimouniOfficial]

Gorgeous ❤️

[@nicodemuswellington9762]

When would you ever use the fireplace under the stairs?

[@silvergirl7810]

This is how we should approach many homes across America- too bad we can’t get teams of people on it - instead the gov wastes hundreds of millions on stupid things or giving to other countries

[@NiinaSKlove]

Wow 🤩

[@estherfloresflores]

Where did you ger the wallpaper

[@bonnielarch6916]

I love this iv always wanted a hoe wit character on the old woodgrains are beautiful.