Betsy Sweeny has a passion for restoring historic homes. After quitting her full-time job in 2019 to restore historic buildings, she rented a loft in Wheeling, West Virginia. The West Virginia native spent much of her time working as an architectural historian at the Wheeling National Heritage Area.
She quickly fell in love with the quaint city, but she had no plans to purchase a property in the area until she stumbled upon the McLain House. After putting down $16,500 for the historic property, Sweeny was ready to transform the McLain House into a masterpiece.
A House With Immense Potential
The 3,075-square-foot abode is nestled in the East Wheeling Historic District, making it a prime piece of real estate for someone in her line of work.
Sweeney was attracted to the home’s location and the architecturally appealing neighborhood that surrounded it. The home was constructed in 1892 and still had ample original attributes and a large outdoor lot. For Sweeny, the McLain House was a dream, but it was nowhere near livable. Revamping the property would require a lot of time, effort, and money.
Unexpectedly Buying the Dwelling
The house had experienced decades of water damage that resulted in brick decay and more structural issues than one could ever imagine. To everyone’s shock – including her own – Sweeny purchased the McLain House in May 2020 at the height of the pandemic.
Speaking of the house on an Instagram post, Sweeny said, “It’s very old and needs lots of work,” but she was ready to dive in head first. She decided to chronicle her home-remodeling endeavor online and frequently updated the progress on her blog.
The Low Cost of Living
The McLain House may have been a fixer-upper, but it would turn out to be a sound investment—a personal loan assisted Sweeny in purchasing the property for the low price of $16,500.
She also acquired a construction loan for $100,000 to fund the home’s major overhaul. As a homeowner, Sweeny’s monthly living expenses were modest at $1,047 per month. This included her mortgage payment, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and utilities.
Let The Renovations Begin
The abandoned 19th-century home was ideal for Sweeny. Having already been in the business of preserving, restoring, and renovating delicate historical buildings, she knew exactly what needed to be done to update the property.
The renovation process was long and arduous, lasting from summer 2020 until fall 2021. For a while, it seemed like the McLain House would be in a constant state of construction. The property needed new windows, floors, walls, and more. It was important for Sweeny to preserve as much of the home’s original details as she possibly could and she felt more confident with each repair.
Determined to Do It Herself (With a Little Bit of Help)
Sweeny was as hands-on with the remodel as she could be, but she left the more elaborate repairs to seasoned professionals.
She hired a crew to fix the brickwork on the facade, but spent four months of her nights and weekends grinding to repair other sections of the house on her own. Because her other historic restoration projects were on hiatus during the pandemic, Sweeny could focus all her attention on breathing new life into her vintage home.
Things Quickly Start Looking Up
Following the first round of much-needed repairs, she decided to have the house reappraised. The value of the home had skyrocketed to $202,000.
All of her hard work was finally paying off. The increase in value was enough to give Sweeny the extra push to forge ahead with even more renovations. She refinanced the house and took out another loan to begin working on the kitchen.
Ready to Get Settled In
By Thanksgiving 2021, Sweeny was ready to move into her regal and refined residence.
The three-bedroom and one-and-a-half-bathroom home had become livable after 18 months of repairs. The finished product was something to marvel at. When first entering the McLain House, visitors are met by a grand stairway and a charming sitting room with a corner fireplace. Comfort is the key for Sweeny’s newly remodeled historic home.
It’s All in the Details
Stained glass etchings situated above the front door give an added sense of flair.
Sweeny describes her kitchen as “a combination of original and modern,” because new built-in cabinets with a time-honored look were installed. She revealed that the master bedroom, laundry room, and master bath are all still a work in progress. She also noted that she plans on tackling the third floor for her “next big project.”
The House Is a Diamond in the Rough
Sweeny said that what she loves most about her updated historic home is “what it represents.”
She is proud of her decision to restore the house and bringing the neighborhood’s value up. The once-vacant building is now being lived-in and loved, bringing a revived sense of community to East Wheeling. Buying the McLain House for an incredibly low price and investing her resources into its restoration process was a true labor of love.
The McLain House Oozes Appeal
Sweeny has no regrets and considers the home to be a “valuable asset.” She insists that the price to renovate was small when compared with what she paid in rent and utilities while living downtown.
She feels incredibly fortunate to live in an area where she is friendly with her neighbors, can safely walk to work, and is on a first-name basis with the baristas at the local coffee shop. According to Sweeny, taking a chance on a “cheap, old house,” was one of the best decisions she’s made.
An Insta-Famous Property
Sweeny has documented much of her historic home’s overhaul on social media. Her Instagram account has garnered over 74,000 followers who have watched her work tirelessly to restore the McLain House.
Sweeny also takes followers on other restoration project adventures. One of her more recent posts has teased an exciting renovation project that appears to be in the works. “Trust the process,” she wrote. “This vacant lot is about to look a lot more intentional.”
