Renovating in Boston? Not So Fast.

For home renovations, it seems theres no time like the present. With an improving economy and rising home value, now is as good a time as any to add that spare guest room or build the deck of your dreams.

According to the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University, spending on home remodeling should surpass $145 billion this year. Thats the highest amount spent in eight years.

But before you pull out the wallet, Boston homeowners should know some of the unique aspects of renovating in our historic city.

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First of all, its important to know that renovation is different from preservation and restoration. Renovation means to update a building, leaving features that are of use in the buildings current function, according to Bostons Landmark Commission.

So if youre looking to renovate your home, the first step is to figure out whether your house is on the National Register of Historic Places, the official list of the nations places worthy of preservation.

Jim Igoe is the executive director of Preservation Massachusetts, a nonprofit historic preservation organization. He said that if your house is on the register, you might want to consider renovating your home correctly, so that youre preserving its historic and cultural heritage. The title is honorary though, so historical preservation is up to you.

This could be as simple as repairing your windows rather than tearing them out and installing 21st century windows, or choosing to restore your original wood exterior, rather than getting aluminum or vinyl siding.

Unfortunately, just because your house is on the NRHP, that doesnt mean anyone will give you money to restore your house correctly, Igoe said. And keeping your renovation consistent with history can be time-consuming.

If your house isnt on the NRHP, it still might be located in a historic district. There are nine in Boston: Aberdeen, Back Bay, Bay State Road and Back Bay West, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Fort Point Channel, Mission Hill Triangle, St. Botolph, and South End. Each one has different rules.

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Renovating in Boston? Not So Fast.