The Washington times., 1925-10-03
ADVISES PEOPLE
NOW To BUILD
OWN HOMES
LocaI ReaItor States Mistakes
Are costIy-cheaper to
Have Expert Erect Same

Addressing the class III Hoiho
ownership at the Y. M. G. A. this
week, w. c. Miller, local realtor
and builder. advised generally
against people building their own
homes. He stated that the time
taken from ones business to SUI
Dervise the building of hone
often costs more than the saving
made. Furthermore, the mistakes
that one would make from inexperl-
ence are not only costly but some
times permanently affect the utility
and value Of the home.
When one determines to build
home, it was the advice of Mr.. Mil
Ter that he secure the services OF q
high class competent architect TO
draw the plans in accordance with
the personal ideas and require
rnents of the individual. With q
good set of plans in hand the next
step would be to turn the matter
over to a reliable and trustworthy
builder for execution. If personal
finances will not justify going into
such a proposition in right man.
ner it is far better not to do it
at all. There are many new houses
available to the buying public.
Builders with years of experience
and well developed organizations
are constantly producing homes OF
varying size, type and value. com
petition and experience in meeting
the desires of the public have re-
suited in continual changeS and
improvements. New and practical
ideas making for better home COM
forts are being included in building
programs of today.
This plan of buying a home al
ready constructed may not meet
the exact wishes or requirements
Of the individual but it will repre-
sent something of compromise in
wants, desires and ideals that in
most cases is satisfactory. Expert
ence has shown that most people
who build their own homes will
admit after completion that there
were certain changes which would
have been made If the opportunity
of doing the job over was pre-.
scented. So If one is unable to
construct his ideal home he should
be able to find one built according
to another's ideas and plans which
will serve hfs purpose.
Among the essential elements in
the purchase Of a home Mr.. Miller
stated was the question of location.
The location should be given seri-
Gus thought and the purchaser
should determine whether or not
he desires to live in given loca-
ton and whether the environment
meets his wishes and requirements
and is q desirable section in which
to bring up his family. OF course
the finances of an individual will
to a great extent limit and govern
IN he CnlN q location
Selection of location having been
decided upon two other funda-
mental things should be considered,
namely, drainage and foundation.
The ideal home should be situated
on lot that is well drained and a
high altitude is preferable to a
low one. Trees always add to the
appearance of the home site and
frequently also add to its value.
In respect to the foundation 1t
was pointed out that this was per
haps the most important thing IN
connection with the construction OF
a house although it is frequently
overlooked by the average pur-
chaser. When laid on solid GROUND
and care is used to see that -
SQUARE and plumb the foundation
almost i1sures satisfactory results.
other features of home construc-
ton. such as roofing, plaster1nE'
woodwork and decoration were dls'
cussed and modern methods now III
use were outlined by the speaker.
Types of architecture as well as
materials used in the building 10
something to be decided entirely oy
personal preference and ideas.
STYLES in houses change and vary
almost as much as styles in clothes.
some seek the fastidious and ex-
treTne. Othres seek the more SUD-
dued and normal. Frame houses
when properly constructed OF good
material and cared for should snow
no more depreciation than houses
built of other materials. There are
in the country many frame houses
built 100 and 200 years ago that are
still in good condition. Row houses
il was pointed out. meet very
definite demand of the public be-
cause they are more economical 10
construct and less expensive to keep
up than a detached house. and the
builders work is largely governed
bv the wishes of the buying public
both in the type and character OF
buildings he constructs. With years
of experience in dealing with the
public the builder senses the gen
eral trend Of the needs OF the public
and directs his activities accordingly
People buy row houses because they
prefer them and people buy de-
tached houses because they prefer
them. Consequently both are being
constructed %by the building industry