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The purchase of the abandoned historic house shows how a cheap old property can hide mold, animals on the roof, compromised plumbing, water damage, and a much larger renovation before becoming a safe home
After three years living in a van, Becky and Drew Bidlen bought an abandoned historic house in Indianapolis and found a scenario much more difficult than a common renovation. The property required heavy cleaning, mold removal, plumbing replacement, and care for damage left by raccoons.
The information was published on June 22, 2024 by Business Insider, a digital news outlet from the United States. The couple had lived in an adapted van between 2020 and 2023 and bought the house after the birth of their daughter.
The case draws attention because it shows a simple and important point for any buyer of an old property: a large and cheap house can hide structural problems, humidity, animals, and expensive repairs before receiving furniture and residents.
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House listed for $139,000 received an offer of $150,000 due to its size and potential
The house was listed for $139,000 at the end of 2023. Even without looking for such a large or labor-intensive property, Drew visited the property with a friend who had experience in house renovation and saw potential for recovery.
The final offer was $150,000, made to show real interest in the purchase. The value seemed attractive due to the size of the building and its location in Indianapolis, near part of Becky’s family.
The property had about 325 m². The main house included four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a library, sunroom, garage, basement, and attic.
There was also a guest house in the backyard, but in poor condition. In practice, the purchase involved not just a residence, but a set of old spaces that needed to be assessed, cleaned, and restored before use.
The previous resident accumulated objects and cleaning became the first major stage of the renovation
Before any construction, the couple had to tackle the accumulation of objects left in the property. There was dirt, old food, furniture, books, appliances, boxes, and household items scattered throughout the rooms.
This type of situation prevents the correct assessment of the house. While the spaces are filled with objects, it’s difficult to see the real condition of the floor, walls, ceiling, and water-affected areas.
A company would charge about US$ 10,000 to sort and remove everything. Becky and Drew decided to handle this stage with the help of family and friends, which turned the cleaning into a process of several weeks.
The most important part of this work was not just to leave the house empty. It was to discover what was hidden beneath the dirt and understand which problems required repair before moving in.
Mold appeared after water damage and delayed the family’s move into the house
After removing the unused objects, the most concerning problem emerged: mold on the first and second floors. The mold appeared because the house had not been properly prepared for winter and suffered water damage.
For the lay reader, this means that water entered or accumulated in parts of the construction. When moisture remains for a long time, it can promote the growth of fungi and compromise the air inside the property.
The removal of mold became a lengthy stage. Becky and Drew did much of the work themselves after consulting a professional. The air quality was the main reason for delaying the move.
In the publication of June 22, 2024, the family was still waiting for the house to be ready and safe to enter. The mentioned forecast was a move in July, after the progress of cleaning and recovery of the affected areas.
Raccoons occupied the attic and left dirt, holes in the floor, and damage to the ceiling
The problem was not limited to mold. Business Insider, a digital news outlet in the United States, also detailed the presence of raccoons in the attic of the house. The animals left a large amount of dirt and made holes in the property.
Raccoons are common animals in some regions of the United States. When they enter attics, they can damage wood, lining, flooring, and access points used to enter and exit.
In the case of the Indianapolis house, the holes affected floors and ceilings. This increased the work because it was not enough to clean the animals’ dirt. It was necessary to close entrances, repair damage, and make the structure safer.
This is an important alert in abandoned properties. When a house is vacant for two years, animals can occupy high areas, roofs, and attics, creating problems that only appear during a more careful inspection.
Plumbing was replaced and the renovation began to involve important parts of the structure
The renovation also reached the plumbing. The couple replaced the entire hydraulic system of the house, which is the part responsible for bringing clean water and removing used water from bathrooms, kitchen, and laundry.
In addition, there was an adjustment in a wall and beams between the kitchen and the sunroom. Beams are pieces that help support parts of the construction, so any changes at this point need care.
The couple also worked on the recovery of wooden floors, some damaged by water. This type of repair requires attention because moisture can warp the wood, stain the surface, and affect the fitting of the pieces.
The previous experience in the van renovation helped in tasks such as electrical, plumbing, wood, flooring, and insulation. Even so, an old house is a much larger project, with more risks, more rooms, and more decisions that affect safety.
Buying a cheap old property requires attention to what does not appear in the first photos
The story of the house shows that the purchase price alone does not reveal the size of the challenge. The property of $150,000 had space, history, and potential, but also required extreme cleaning, plumbing repairs, mold removal, and correction of attic damage.
For those who see an old house as an opportunity, caution must come before enchantment. Mold, infiltration, animals, compromised flooring, and accumulation of objects can turn a cheap purchase into a long renovation.
The main point is simple: before living in it, the house needed to be safe again. This involved clean air, protected structure, functional plumbing, and spaces free from the dirt accumulated during abandonment.
The purchase made by Becky and Drew Bidlen shows that renovating a historic house can preserve an old property, but also requires patience, money, labor, and attention to hidden problems.
The abandoned house in Indianapolis was not just a change of address after three years living in a van. It was a complete renovation, with mold, raccoons, water damage, damaged plumbing, and heavy cleaning before the first night in the property.
The case raises a practical question for any buyer: when an old house seems too cheap, does the discount pay off if the renovation reveals problems that put health and safety at risk? Share your opinion and share with those who enjoy real stories of renovation and construction.
