San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1924-03-23
Builder of Small D,velHng Should Carefully Work
Out Details Before Starting Construction of His Home

that your ship may come in and you may
desire to build larger and better home.
What Type Sells Best?
That being true, what type of small
home sells the best? The home that is con-
servatively and honestly built; the home
devoid of freakish ideas and gimcracks;
the home that has Honey" air about it,
that has plenty of sunlight and fresh air
and comfort and convenience.
Likewise it is the best home for people
in moderate circumstances to build anyhow
because it costs less, gives better results
and is more pleasant to occupy.
So Just leave out the freaks. Elimin-
ate the built-ins of doubtful utility and I'M
proven value. Do not undertake to cut the
roof into fancy designs, filled with ridges
and cutters and what-nots. Such roofs cost
much more to build, they leak easily, are
difficult to repair and sometimes they are
hurtful when you may want to sell. Also
in locating your rooms and your windows
and your entrances, have in mind not en-
tirely the preferences of your individual
family but the utility for any average FAM
lily. You may not always occupy the place.
Floors are another problem on which
so many people go wrong. Hardwood
floors are very much in popular favor these
days If you can really afford them, prop
ery laid, put them in but do not skimp
some necessary part of your construction
for ''style" of kind. Remember that
quarter-sawed yellow pine, stained and
polished and covered with waterproof
varnsh is beautiful, easily maintained and
reduce the cost of laying and upkeep.
Ask Material Dealer.
There are many other problems that
will arise in each individual case, and it is
well to spend the evenings threshing out,
redrawing the plans and scheming and de-
batting each angle. When you have about
arrived at plan that seems to fill your
needs, visit your lumber dealer. Take the
plans along. You need not be ashamed at
the amateurish aspects of your work. Tell
him frankly what you have in mind, show
him what you have sketched and then lis
ten to his ideas on the subject.
The lumber dealer has had thousands
of such cases laid before him. He is ex-
perienced in many of the problems that are
too knotty for you. He is in position not
only to tell you about materials but he can
tell you about utility, convenience and re-
sale.
Remember after all, that the first re-
qusites of home planning are good foun-
dation and good roof. If you do not get
those two things, all the rest of your in
vestment is thrown away. You may boz
able to live in any house if the roof does not
leak and the floors do not give way. under
meath your feet but it is certain you cannot
from the elements and the foundation
gives way.
Be conservative in your choice OF
paints and colorings Do not try to save
money on cheap materials and cheap labor.
Cheap prices do not always mean saving.
Finally, after consulting your material
dealer after agreeing with him on plans
and prices, call in your builder. If you have
one in mind or allow your dealer to suggest
a man. Then all of you go over the entlre
situation together. reach definite and
final decision and stick TO it. Above ALL do
not begin changing plans after work IS I'M
der way. 1t will cost you much more TO DO
so and it may result in making botch OF
the lob for which the builder can not be
n, hlop,a