What It Really Means When a House Has "Good Bones" (Plus, How to Tell)
If you're a fan of HGTV's many house-hunting and home renovation shows, then you've undoubtedly heard the hosts and experts describe a home as having "good bones." But what does this phrase really mean? And more importantly, how can you tell if the house you're interested in buying has good bones? To find out, we consulted the pros at the architectural firm Ike Kligerman Barkley, including Elizabeth Sesser, the interior design studio director, who is currently in the process of looking for a home herself.
"Buying our first home has been overwhelming and stressful," says Sesser. It's a feeling most people who have bought a house can probably relate to—but especially during a pandemic. "My husband, two-year-old son, and I moved in with my parents as soon as NYC shut down at the end of March. We left our apartment one Saturday morning with enough in our bags for two weeks away. Almost a year later, we are still here. We are so grateful for the helping hands and outdoor space, but if my mother reprimands my husband one more time for not sorting the recycling properly, I think he might just force us into the car and drive away, never to return. After a recently hurled hummus container, our timeline for leaving the city for suburbia was expedited."
Like many young families, they suddenly found themselves looking for a house in the height of a super competitive market. "Everyone says to find something with 'good bones.' But what are those anyway?" Here's what her colleagues at Ike Kligerman Barkley have to say.