Well, I learned long ago not to tell a farmer, 'It can't be done.' While it's certainly romantic to picture- or actually see- a restored old home, the reality can be rather daunting:

1. We don't live the same as our ancestors. Few bathrooms- often only one for the whole house- and tiny bedrooms (closets? what closets?) make for some head scratching in a remodel.
2. Insulation, or lack thereof. Adding or augmenting existing insulation is a must.
3. Windows and doors and I'll throw siding in here too. Rattling, rotten, leaky, odd-sized units make for the drafty conditions some of us remember from younger days. Once you get the place sealed up, ventilation becomes an issue.
4. High ceilings. While these have somewhat come back into fashion, they do reduce energy efficiency.
5. Dark, dank, dirty basements. See #7 below.
6. Foundations. Lots of old farmhouses were built atop stone foundations. Previous additions make for a mishmash of different construction.
7. Once #2 and #3 are improved, radon abatement becomes a requirement.
8. A big, dirty, leaky, crumbling, unused-but-difficult/dangerous-to-remove brick chimney typically runs right up through the center.
9. Heating ductwork is typically toward the center of the house. Will need to be rerouted/replaced.
10. Plumbing- what little there is- is probably galvanized pipe half rusted shut.
11. Wiring. Knob-and-tube wiring connected to an inadequate panel. Best to rip it all out and redo the whole building.
12. Cracked plaster walls and ceilings. A very dirty process to remove it and start over. On the plus side, it does mean ready access to install new plumbing, wiring, and HVAC.
13. That "saving grace" old timber? Crooked, odd-sized members weren't such a problem back when you could vary the thickness of the plaster to achieve flat walls/ceilings, but with modern drywall...
14. Asbestos. Ca-ching! $$$

I could probably go on, but I'm sure you get the picture. It's kinda like old barns- they're lovely when restored, but pretty useless on most farms today.