I know what you mean.... I have an old house (not the one we live in but a project from when I HAD money!) It's small.. just a couple of rooms actually. It had bugs - not termites, but bugs going for the moisture. Part of it was water logged and part was dry rotted and crumbling. I torn off two porches was got rid of most of the crap and had to replace a wall, etc.

The house we live in over 100 years old. It is sound, but has been poorly remodeled 5 or 6 times. Basically just tearing out all the crap work others have done and updating as we go. There wasn't any "antique" value or "charm" to save.... but plenty of garden hose in the wall for water pipe, lamp cord for wiring between switches/ ceiling lights, and finding where in the h377 the mice were coming in from.