Have you ever driven by a historic home and wondered to yourself, “I wonder what it’s like to own or work in such a place?”

Lucky for you, we have the answers.

Auburn has 10 homes on the National Register of Historic Places. To get on the register, a property must be more than 50 years old and have retained its historic integrity. It must also meet one of four requirements: contributed to history; is associated with people who were significant to the community; has distinctive historic characteristics; or is tied to important information about a city or town.

Once those requirements are met, documentation of the property must be provided and the nomination is reviewed by state historic experts. If approved, the National Parks Service in Washington D.C. has the final say.

There are benefits to properties becoming historic homes, including tax incentives, assistance with preservation, and federal preservation funds, according to the National Parks Service.

The challenge, however, for those who receive federal funding, grants or tax credits is that you may be required to follow specific guidelines when making renovations that can be more costly.

We recently talked to some of the owners of Auburn’s 10 homes on the National Register. Here’s what they had to say about historical home ownership.

What it’s like to own a historic home?

Olga Dolgicer, owner, Munroe Inn: “I would describe it as an adventure. It gives you an opportunity to step into a piece of history and restore it to what it once was. Granted that was 12 years ago, but it’s been an amazing adventure and I’ve enjoyed the process.”

Nicholas Worden, partner, Sherman and Worden Trial Lawyers: “We work out of the A.A. Garcelon House, but it’s always like stepping into history. When you see the beams, you see that they’ve been here for 100 years. You see the work and craftsmanship that went into the house. You see these homes are built incredibly solid and you can feel it just being in it.”

What’s your favorite part of owning a historic home?

Jeremy Hiltz, owner, Gay-Munroe House: “Just the craftsmanship of the home. You can see the love, the time, the effort that were put into these homes. I use the Gay-Munroe House to help individuals get the help they need from substance abuse disorder and mental health, but I often have people telling me how special of a place this is to them.”

Joseph Jackson, owner, Charles Jordan House: “I would have to say the integrity of these homes. We’re looking to use the Charles Jordan House as a post re-entry site for incarcerated individuals and want to keep the original characteristics. There’s so much behind these homes from the ground up. These homes are vital to the Auburn community.”

What about maintaining the property? Is that your job?

Olga Dolgicer: “Yes, I am in charge of maintaining the property, both the exterior and interior.

I understood from the start that this was a big responsibility in handling these projects, but I’ve been taking them in small portions: doors, windows, roof, ceilings. I did my homework, ran question-and-answers in my head and to experts. It’s not hard maintaining these properties but you must know what needs to be done and do your research.”

How much does it cost to maintain a historic home?

Olga Dolgicer: “Oh, I was quoted a range of prices on projects that I have done over the years. One company quoted me about $250,000 to redo all 53 of my windows but I was able to do it for $6,000 to $7,000.

“A few years ago I was quoted $250,000 by a roofing company and they were telling me that they’d need to put in a brand new roof. I didn’t want to do that. Luckily, I found a roofer who told me that my roof was in excellent condition and that only the peaks needed to be replaced. I only spent a total of $18,000.

“It’s not about breaking the bank, but knowing the right people who respect historic homes and understand how expensive these fixes could be.”

Are there people who are willing to work on historic homes?

Olga Dolgicer: “Yes! Depending on where you look, you’ll find some great contractors and resources that you’ll want to keep in your pocket.

“Using the examples I mentioned previously, I was able to do my windows at such a low cost because I was working with a professor at the University of Maine at the time who was teaching a restoration of old buildings course that sent students over to look and restore my windows.”