Evening star., 1932-04-16
CARE IS STRESSED
IN HOME REPAIRS.
Wise Planning to Enhance
Property Values Urged
in D. C. Drive.

The current cleanup campaign,
sponsored by the Washington Chamber
of Commerce brings to the attention
of the property owner the manifest
advantages that now exist in wise
spending for needed repairs and re-
furnishing work of all character.
The reductions in the price of build
ing materials and other needed prod
ucts. and in the cost of labor that
have occurred in the last year, offer
a special boon TO the householder who
can improve his property.
Leaders of the cleanup movement
are pointing out that wisely planned
expenditures along this line not only
will improve the general appearance
of a community and the city. and pro-
vide additional work for the unem-
ployed. but also will bring possible
financial benefit to the property owner.
Market Value Increased.
Properties in repair, or with the ad-
dition Of new facilities or rooms, or
otherwise nodcrnized it is pointed out,
offer the possibility of quicker sales
and at better prices than those which
are left on the market in shabby state
and lacking in modern Improvements
which the buyer today has come to de-
mand and expect.
1t also is called to attention, how
ever. that remodeling and moderni2a-
ton expenditures on a property in some
cases can be an extravaganza or waste
and such projects should be carefully
considered and wisely planned, in keep
ing with competent advice.
Although the lower prices Of building
lo1N Lob Cf
oenefit to the owner who sees advantage
in Frightening or remodeling the house
or business quarters. such work is being
limited by inadequate finances. just as
all building operations have declined.
The wholesale cost of building ma
terials showed a further fractional de-
cline for the week ending April 8, ac-
cording to the current report OF the
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department
of Labor The index for the group stood
at 729 for April g. as compared with
73.1 for April 2 and 1874 for March y.
Based on Average Prices.
The index figures are based on the
average prices in 1925 as 100 or normal.
The wholesale price of houSefurnlsh-
ing goods was indicated by an index
of 1872 for April 9, as compared with
10 S 1OI ApIu anu 100 4OA -ha4NA l.,
The index for metals and metal
products was 8O2 for April 9, as COM
pared with 806 for April and the
same figure for March II.
Repair work alone amounts to ca
figure for a year in the DIS
trict. The total expended for this class
of work during 1881 was S4,7s7,069,
according to official reports Of Col. John
w Oehmann, building inspector.
Repair work started thus far this
year has maintained the same ratio 10
total building work as was the case IN
the first three months Of last year,
despite lower material and labor costs.
During the first quarter of this year
permits were issued for repair work
costing S605 sos, whereas in the FIRST
quarter of 1881, the total was 1908 $50.
The cost of all types Of private build
ing operations in the District in the
first quarter of this year totaled S3,578,-
CTS, as compared with total of $780,
405 for the first quarter of last year.
IN both cases the amounts spent for
repairs amounted to approximately Is
per cent of the total private building
costs.