New-York tribune., 1921-12-18
Home Builder
Tells How to
Select House
Points Out Structural Details
That Should Be Observed:
Also Stresses the Value
of Location and Transit
By Stewart Wiley

President Queens Village Homes, inc.
There are many persons who think it
necessary to rent In section before
buying. In other words, test the char
acter of the district and the quality Of
it's buildings.
Years ago, when the real estate bust
ness was not so highly developed, when
competition was not so keen and when
men of limited honesty operated extern
svely in the suburban sections, such
procedure was justified. The builder
who does not build we'll or protect by
restrictions of one kind or another the
buildings which he has erected and
sold to families cannot be successful
The successful builder is the man
who builds better than the next fell
low and gives better protection to the
people who come to live in his develop
ment. Service must be given and it
should be given, for it is a great salts
faction to make people happy At least,
theory that l have operated on for
many years.
Guides to Home Seeker
The family looking for home in
the country should be guided in its
selection by location, transit facilities,
surface improvements and type of de-
velopment
The first thing to be considered is
the location, because, though the home
may be comfortable, attractive and
satisfactory in every way, if it is not
in the right location no family will
ever be happy while living there You
must be sure that transit is close
enough at hand, that the trains and
trolley service available is suitable to
your needs, that the shopping district
is conveniently located and, if you have
children, the schools are not too far
away.
1t also is advisable to buy house
on street that is built up on@ both
sides. Inferior houses on opposite or
adjoining locations have deprecated
the value of homes that preceded them.
This, of course, does not apply where
the community is properly restricted
Practically the only property in the
suburbs of greater New York that is
carefully restricted is the larger de-
velopments.
If the house in which you are inter
ested is not in carefully restricted
development the only way to ascertain
the future character of the neighbor-
hood is to examine the records in the
County Clerks Office as to the restric-
tions on the surrounding property.
If you find a house that you feel
sure is in the right location the next
thing to be considered is the design,
and whether it is laid out in man
ner satisfactory to your family and
convenient for easy housekeeping In
order for house to be convenient for
easy housekeeping, it should have walls
IN the kitchen that are washable, sepa-
rate space for the icebox outside the
Kitchen, with proper drain, gas water
heater. tile floor in the bathroom and
the other convenient appointments
known to every housewife
Structural Details to Be Observed
The following details of construction
should be noted: Start at the founda-
ton wall and see that it is of solid
poured concrete construction to grade,
so that the cellar will be dry; see that
the floor beams are of proper size and
we'll bridged, that the floors are of
good quality and properly laid
and scraped; that the trim is of
simple nodded design and we'll
quality, not warped or sagging. See
that there are no small very white
spots in the plaster, which are caused
by unslacked lime in the plaster; these
spots will burst out in time and ruin
the walls
1t the house is OF frame construction
be sure that the outside walls are COW
cred with waterproof building paper
under the shingle siding, or stucco to
keep out the moisture Demand a test
OF the heating plant, as it is impossible
for the layman to tell if it is of sufti-
clent capacity to heat the house.