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
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