I was just remembering last night how the WH was discovered to be falling apart (literally) during Truman's presidency, and how they had to move out for almost his whole term so the place could be gutted and rebuilt. One historian noted that of all the people who could have been in office at the time, Truman was the least likely to have a problem with not being able to live in the great house.
His daughter's piano leg punched a hole in the floor and that is when it was discovered how badly decayed the place was.
I think the Truman balcony was part of the reno.
Oops--that means they probably didn't get their deposit back.
:)