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About Herald and news. (Klamath Falls, Or.) 1942-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1961)
What Buyers Should Watch In Old Houses Most people approach the pur-lerty lines? If an empty lot is next chase of any kind of house with a door, can somebody build a house great deal of caution. The average closer than you would like tol person buys a home only once or have it? . twice during his entire life, and Does the property drain well? usually it is the largest single Are there sewers? If not, does investment he ever makes With upwards of $15,000 being committed, it's no wonder the av erage family takes the plunge, witn vague teeiings ol anxiety. This insecurity is diminished for the fortunates buying a new home in the same way a new car buyer has less to worry about than the fellow taking his chances in the used car market. ' Buut everyone can't buy a new home. With construction costs spiral ing, a middle income family with four or more children frequently is unable to afford a custom-built home and has trouble finding a house large enough in builder de velopments. These tract homes are designed for the mass market and most have only three bedrooms. With slim pickings among new houses, the big family usually must search for shelter in old neighborhoods. Here the prices de cline (sometimes) but the hazards, real and imagined, increase. The most reassuring thing to re member about buying an old home Is that there is a remedy for ev ery defect in a structure all the way up to razing the old frame and building a new home on the foundation. In examining a prospective pur chase, what you are trying to de termine is exactly how many de fects you will have to correct and how much this will cost. If the buying price is adjusted to take care of the' necessary repairs, you may get a bargain even if sever al thousand dollars worth of re pair work must be done. What you must guard against is the possibility some of these re pair bills come as a surprise. it s me unexpected expenses which turn the apparent bargain into a white elephant. - . For most people, the only reas onable protcclion on this score is professional advice.' Do not make your final decision without an in spection by some competent per son with no stake in the sale. In many areas, engineering inspec tions arc routinely performed for a fee in the $50 range. If there's no company in your city doing this work, find a contractor will ing to do it. Here are some guidelines which a prominent New York architect, Herman H. York, suggests for the private sewage system work properly? Are there any peculiar ouors around the house sewer in dicating possible difficulty? Do the rain water downspouts drain properly? What is the condition of the concrete or masonry walks and driveways? Do any trees need attention? Tree work or removal-is expen sive. THE NEIGHBORHOOD Ride around in your ear in a wide area at various times of the day to check traffic, kind of neigh bors, amount, of noise, railroad noises, airport noises. Check on schools, not only where they are but whether they are ot nigh standards. , Determine whether the neighbor hood is on the up or downgrade In most old areas, the chances are it is going downward, but how fast? Watch out for industrial or com mercial encroachment near your house. Lan somebody build a gas station or a supermarket across the street? Check zoning. ... OTHER TIPS Never offer the seller what he asks for the house. The ' asking price always is higher than the selling, particularly if you are dealing directly with the owner. Also, it is most important to agree with the seller as to exactly what is included in the sale. Get this put down in writing at the first conference. Often when a sell er knows you are interested, he house which is in a neighborhood changes his mind about includ- populated by people who are con ing some of the things he first of-siderably above your economic fered. Carpeting is such an item; level. Regardless of whether you laundry equipment, garden tools, can put a large amount of cash television aerial, screens, and, into the house thus making it similar things are all items which easy to meet the monthly pay he can remove before you move menls keeping up with those in. Come to a firm understanding around you can be expensive. regarding all of these items. Your house has become a sta One final point architect York tus symbol. Stay within your emphasizes: Do not select aimeans. HERALD AND NEWS, Klamath Falls, Oregon "Thursday, Feb. 23, ml Pag2 Front Porch Era Passes There was a time in Amend when folks liked to "set" out on the front porch and watch the neighbors go by. Now we call it "outdoor living," :and the area consigned to it usu ally is in the rear or side of the house rather than the front. Privacy, it seems, is what most people want nowadays Did you ever think of moving your front porch to conform to this new idea of living? If you have a side or back en trance to the house, the project is less complicated. But a win dow can be converted into a door so that your new porch can go wherever you want it. Unlike your old front porch, make the new one more snuare- shaped instead of long and nar row, to accommodate tables and chairs. For safely, it should be level with the room it adjoins; and for maximum use in summer and winter it should be covered. You can eilher use roofing to match ?'"Y----r ll"" uyJtv I 4 .(it h v.s, -It '-'- '- irtfamiiiiimiiimiitiiAi ir if ii .j I 'i)l'i-t i'i; J I i H i l your own inspection and that of j lne 1001 01 your house, or one the professional you hire: iof ,he mony colored corrugated THE HOUSE Look for dampness and termites. Look for large open or patched up cracks. Fine plaster cracks incidentally, are the result of nor mal settling and are not impor tant. Look for sagging floors or girders. Check the electrical system. Anything today with less than 100 amp. service is not sufficient. Check force'of water in faucets. A good pressure indicates pipes which have not corroded. THE PLOT . How close is the house to prop- plastics wilh composition glass Either casement or awning win dows that can be opened from floor to ceiling are best for giv ing the new poreh-room a greater outdoor effect. LIQUID MASKING HELPS Painting window shashes and frames is neater and quicker if you mask the window panes. Masking lope is good, and even wet newspapers will suffice. But the latest method is to use liquid masking material which peels off paint streaks with it. SEE THE ROGERS Roofing and Siding DISPLAY AT THE HOME SHOW Fritjoy and Saturday DINING AREAS in many new homes are a focal point for family living as is this one, taken in a local home. A high hearth provides extra seating behind modern dining furniture. Space is used to advantage with built-in desk and storage cabinets. This area with adjoining kitchen and utility room is done in wood paneling and matching wall paper. . . WHAT? A Brand New 3 -Bedroom CHIOME for only $d,5 Get Complete Details at Our Home Show Booth M&S REALTY, INC. Paul McAfee & Associates 339 E. Moin REALTORS Ph. TU 2-4646 ,iiiiift,j
