The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1917-06-23
PLANS
GREAT item In
RIGHT BUILDING
.. 4
Selection of Competent
Architect and Thorough
Study Essential
TWO ARE DROWNED
Appeals to Gardeners to
Waste Nothing-Re-
quires no Social Skill

Home builders who find the cost of
their dwellings have exceeded the ap-
preparations and that many things
| they ordered were made at an extra
cost, should not blame the contractor,
according to architects who have lis
tened to complaints in regard to costs.
Failure to study plans carefully and
to understand them often compels the
home builder to pay extra for the
things he wants most, say the archi-
tects.
To prevent such surprises the
builder is advised. first to obtain
complete set of plans. He should
have the architect explain them in de-
tail and the specifications should be
complete and as thoroughly under
stood. .t
Then when the plans are taken to
the builder there should be another
understanding. If the home builder
has limited amount of money and
the contractors bid exceeds that
amount the owner should learn just
what is eliminated to bring the cost
within his means.
Full understanding Necessary.
Only such an understanding Of the
plans, specifications and the contract
will make the owner secure, according
to N. F. Hoggson, member OF the
American builders commission, which
will advise Europeans regarding
structural costs in the building OPP
erations that follow the war. Mr..
Hoggson said recently Of building
contracts:
The cost is the starting point. An
owners dream of the building he
would like to have is, Of course. his
hearts desire. After his needs,
wishes and requirements are under
stood by the builder, and 1t Is known
the desired structure can be erected
for the specified amount, then con-
struction work may safely begin.
THAT way would be idealistic, but
1t finds few parallels in reality. The
average owner usually omtts at the
outset to determine on and protect
himself in the matter of cost. And he
generally is unable to visualize or pic
ture from the drawings and plans that
are made and shown him just how
his building will appear. or whether
his ideas will be carried out.
6ewildered by Plans.
Generally speaking, plans are q
source of bewilderment to the layman.
Undoubtedly the prospective owner
has noted and studied certain features
contained in different buildings which
strongly appeal to him.
'Often at his instigation these fea-
lures have thereupon been assem-
bled, harmonized and drawn out on
what are technically known as fiat
elevation and sectional drawings,
which are perhaps even more Of a
mystery to him than the plans. To
him the elevation drawing, ordinarily,
is hardly an intelligent picture.
Then a number OF contractors are
asked to submit estimates of cost
based on the plans and specifications.
Statistics show that in a vast major
- hn ara
far in excess of the owners expecta-
tions.
"The prospective owner should real
ize that building materials and labor
cannot be legitimately obtained at
less than cost. Therefore, should he
accept an offer that is materially
lower than the ruling price, he must
take 1t for granted that the contrac-
tor purposes to erect and deliver the
kind of building that can be con-
structed for the low price he has
made If the cost is 20 per cent
less than the market price the owner
will receive building 20 per cent
less in value than he intended to
build.
'sBuilding today is a much more ex-
pensive and difficult operation than IL
was generation ago. This is due to
the constantly increasing cost Of labor
and supplies. Yet it has been prac-
ticaIly demonstrated that 1t Is entirely
feasible for a man who would erect
a building to go to reliable business
concern which will design, construct
and deliver to him a building, COM
plete, as a motorcar company would
sell him an automobile.
But with the extraordinary facili-
ties at the command of the modern
builder there is little chance of. disap-
pointment or for misunderstanding TO
arise A maximum guaranteed cost
can be agreed on, and in such case
it is not necessary for the owner to
pay more than the contract price.
The builder, on the other hand, will
credit to the owner any saving that
may be effected in the execution Of
the work" a-s .aA4-I