The Washington herald., 1911-09-16
CARE OF HOUSES
ENRICHES OWNERS
In THE LONG RUN
Failure to Repair Is a Big
Mistake.
KEEPS MANY HOUSES VACANT
The Landlord who Refuses to Keep
His Property Whole and At
tractive and Insists or Allows
that Tenant Make Repairs Loses
Money in the End.

The greatest mistake a property owner
can make is failing to keep his rental
property in repair" said a prominent
Washington real estate man last night,
for as a house deteriorates in useful
ness, so does il deteriOrate in rental
value There are not many vacant houses
in Washington, but there are some which
are vacant because landlords refuse to
make necessary repairs, in many in
stances expecting the occupant to bear
this burden.
1T is cheaper in the long run for a prop
erty owner to make the improvements
himself for then they will be uniform.
and the home, instead of decreasing in
value, will increase as improvements are
made.
Lawns Are Valuable.
Another mistake that is made by land
lords is failure to take care of the grass
plots and shrubbery around their rental
premises. There is nothing in Washing
ton so attractive as a wel-Cared-for
lawn and a few pretty flowers and shrubs
about a house to relieve the glare of the
sun and the mOnotony OF the brick walls
of the house or the paint OF fence.
Yet in this city. there are landlords
who allCw grass plots and flowers and
shrubs to go to absolute ruin rather than
spend the few cents a day required 10
care for the green's about the place. On
Maryland avenue northeast, there is
house that should rent for $50 a month at
least. But two months ago the tenants
moved out because the landlord refused
to make needed repairs He has even
allowed the grass and the flowers which
his tenant planted. and which had cost
him nothing TO die for lack OF water
The house is still vacant, and II will be
several months before IL is rented. Even
when tenant takes it, he will probably
not be permanent. because he will find
that the landlord will not make repairs
Effort Worth While.
"On the other hand, as an exemplifca
tion of what can be done. one max
brought a house only two blocks away
from this first man. There was no grass
plot, no trees, no shrubs, and no flowers.
And there was no fence at the rear. But
this man was wise He got up at
o'clock in the morning. He built a fence
and NE painted il. Then he sowed grass
seed in the front and made a lawn. He
planted a hedge. and 1t is doing we'll.
He planted flowers and they are bloom
ing. He planted shade trees, and they
are growing. Everybody that used to
pass lIldt mouse III q hurry no" stops 10
look at it and wonder how he did it in
such a short time.
But he explains it this way: I got
up early. l know the value of green
in this country. and l was determined
to have it. All it cost me was a few
dollars and a little exercise that made
me eat a hearty breakfast. My family
and I have enjoyed it this year. Next
fall may sell this house and make 5000
1. -
be long or short. 1t pays
This argument is clear. II demon
strates one reason why landlords should
care for their property. Most landlords
are open to conviction. at least when
they know it will mean money pouring
into their Golfers, and that is just what
il means"