The Snowflake herald., 1919-08-22
PAINT AS AN ASSET.
Bankers Say They Lend More
Money on Property When
Buildings Are Well Painted.
AN INDICATION OF THRIFT.
One Concern Advances IS Per Cent.
More II Repainting Is Done
Every Five Years.

Does it pay to paint carefully farm
buildings? Does il add to the selling
value of farm when buildings are
properly kept up and regularly paint
ed? A careful inquiry Of a number of
leading bankers in the Mississippi val
ley, including such states as Iowa, Illi-
nois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Mis-
souri,, reveals the fact that in nearly
every case the bankers did not hesi-
tate TO say that they would lend all the
way from to 30 per cent more on
land where farm buildings were well
painted and kept in good condition.
They maintain that well kept-up and
we'll painted buildings and fences are
an indication of thrift and that the
thrifty farmer is a good client, and to
him money can be safely loaned. An
average of the returns from these
bankers shows that the increased loan
value because of painted buildings is
around % per cent.
Some of these bankers make inter
eSting comment A Michigan concern
says that, while not especially pre-
pared to advise definitely in response
to this inquiry, the officers would loan
more money on farms where buildings
were painted than where they were
not so treated. This bank also finds
that where houses, barns and fences
are well taken care of the farm is
profitable proposition, and bankers in
general consider the farmer good
client. Another Michigan bank says
farm buildings out of repair and
needing paint indicate that the owner
is slow pay" Such farms are rated at
about 0ne-thfrd of the assessed value
for loans. Where the farm buildings
are in good shape the rating is one
half. The president of a middle west
ern bank says that when real estate
loans are considered, painted buildings
are always taken into consideration in
making an estimate The general ap-
pearance of the property surrounding
the house and barn and also the fields
and fences would be carefully obServ-
ed He further says that he has no
hesitaEcy in saying that he would abb
solutely refuse a loan on farms where
the buildings were not kept Up and
we'll painted In his judgment, un-
painted farm buildings would reduce
the loan value at least % per cent
a Minnesota banker says that he is
much more willing TO loan money
where the buildings are well painted.
In his particular case he believes that
he would loan 20 per cent. more than
if the buildings were not properly
taken care of. A farmer who will
keep his buildings painted takes
much deeper interest N his work than
one who does not. Another Mime
sofa bank says that well painted build
ings have resulted in securing from
his bank sometimes as high as % per
cent. more money than where the
buildings are not painted. An Ohio
concern says that it will loan % per
cent more money on q well kept farm
where buildings are painted at least
once every five years. A southern Illi-
nois bank says that ii has no fixed
rule about this. but it does make a, de-
cided difference when owners of farm
lands apply for loans. If the buildings
are we'll painted and thus well pre-
served the loan rate~>wOuld not only
be cheaper, but the amount of money
borrowed would be larger 4 northern
Illinois bank does not hesitate to say
that it would loan fully so per cent.
more on a farm where buildings were
we'll painted and in good order than
where they were not. The vice preSi
dent, who answers the inquiry, goes
on to say: "There probably are many
farmers good financially and morally
who permit their buildings to remain
unpainted. but as a rule the most sub
stantial people who live in the coun-
try keep their buildings well painted"
An Iowa bank, through its vice pres
ident, states that It would make diff
ference of at least % per cent. in fa-
vor Of the farm with painted build
ings. Another Iowa concern says that
it would make a difference Of at least
20 per cent.
All this being true, 1t Is perfectly
evident that 1t is a good business prop |
osition to keep the farm buildings we'll
painted. They not only look better
and are more pleasing to the owner,
but the farm would sell to better ad-
vantage, the loan value of the property
would be greatly increased and the
buildings themselves would last much
longer and need less repair.-The
American Agriculturist