The Washington times., 1910-04-23
Buyers Are Educated, Know
Good Construction, and
They Demand 1t.
BUILDING LAWS
ARE EXACTING
Little Chance of Buying a House
That Is Not Up TO Proper Stand
ard, Is Claim Made.
By JOHN MARTIN.


II there y ere any dishonest builders
IN Washington they would have a diff
1icUlt time unloading on the public
houses OF inferior construction.
This is the consensus Of opinion, not
only OF builders. but Of the public. it
self. It represents a condition which
has been brought about by the fact
that Neutrality-suspicious. takes no little pride
IN the development OF the city. and are
on she alert for the slightest evidence
OF departure from the standard Of ef-
ficiency required
Washington's building activity has
been enormous Rows OF houses have
sprung up as If by magic The situa-
lion has demanded that the public keep
q scruJinizing eve upon IL
Thus. the public has become educated
IN the matter Of knowing a good house
perhaps 10 an extent that does not
prevail in any other American city.
The building regulation has been the
V,ea pom Of TIE citizens IN safeguarding
the city's development, and conserving
civic beauty
Regulations Are Exacting-
These regulations have been added TO
with such frequency during recent years
that they touch upon the minutest de-
Aa4-S l--L ~ " -i+ilS-- - - -
struction OF houses
One NAV brv a home on what II is
represented 10 be and feel reasonably
sure that the. price paid for the property
Is not greatly il excess Of its value.
But the be- ding regulation cannot &C
complfsh al Il is manifestly imDOs-
sible that, with the great number Of
houses being built, they can constantly
be inspected by officials at every stage
OF their construction
In the final analysis. the situation is
governed by the honesty Of the builder
and the ability Of the buyer TO Judge
Honest builders and capable buyers
undoubtedly are TO be given the credit
for the suPS- >5r class of house that has
marked the Capitals development TO the
present time, and there is little doubt
but that his combination viii make fer
an even greater Washington, as the art
OF building Is developed
Builders may be honest and comply
with all regulations and yet place
houses on the market which may nOc
be all that buyers have the right to
expect them to be. at least. not up 20
type which are sold Tor practically the
same price.
Buyers Should Be Posted
Thus, il behooves the buyer to keep
posted as TO innovations in building
methods. as this IS the only means BY
which he can know positively that the
house he buys IS modern in all its de-
tails and constructed along the most
approved lines
An old maxim which a buyer can safe
y 20 by Is this
Do not expect good construction IN
the unseen parts of a house where care
lessness is revealed in the visible pOr-
items
But this maxim, OF course, only half
covers the situation. II leaves the IN
seen portion the unknown quantity
The surest method one can follow. II
DE intends buying q home In certain
locality which Is being improved by
speculative builders. is TO watch the
construction Of the house from the
foundation I'D
IF he fails 10 do this, the next surest
method Is TO inquire of the builder con
parts OF the house which should be as
Certaiued before he invests mis- money
In the property.
Questions to Be Asked.
This inquiry should. at least. include
the following questions
J. Is -he lumber well seasoued2
= Are the joints tOngued and grooved
al both sides and end. and is there a
double flooring on the main fiOOr2
3 Were the sewer pipes laid before
foundation
4 is there plenty of hair and no
hank sand in the plastering2
= We're the brick fUes and Innings
put up under the supervision Of
heating >3ntrsctor2
Of course. these are but a few Of
many questions a buyer should ask
regarding the features Of a house
Wnich may not be readily Inspected
Undoubtedly the first Of them Is the
most Important one With a COntiuu-
alton OF the present building activity
there viii constantly be more likeli-