Evening Star Newspaper, June 22, 1935, Page 22

FLASHY FEATURES OF HOMES SCORED Many Small Houses Have Been Pcorly Designed, Institute Says. Bhoddy decoration, mechanical gadg- ets and flashy finish will give way to efficient plan, sound construction and finishing requiring a minimum of up- keep expense in the designs of the Buffalo Small House Bureau, accord- ing to the Buffalo Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. “For some years it has been evident that the average owner of the small building costing $7,500 or less has not secured the maximum value for his money in his property, because these buildings are, for the most part, in- efficiently planned, poorly designed and carelessly constructed of im- proper materials and without compe- tent supervision,” a report by the chapter points out. “The owner failed to appreciate the real cause of high maintenance cost and low resale value. With drastic reductions in income, many owners were compelled to vacate properties that were subsequently sold at prices ‘which meant a loss to both mortgagor and mortgagee. The low resale value of these buildings was not solely the result of the existing economic con- ditions, but was, to a great degree, determined by their poor condition, which had resulted from the original use of improper materials, inferior construction and poor design. Problem Outlined. “These factors should be eliminated from the small buildings field, as they invariably result in rapid depreciation and obsolescence of property. The problem is how to increase for the owner the possibility of securing a structure which will comfortably serve his needs, without unwarranted expenditures for permanency and maintenance. “The Government is doing all with- in its power to bring about a revival of building, especially in the small- house field, and is urging upon banks and other lending institutions the de- sirability, and even the necessity, of taking mortgages on such new build- ings. “With this action or the part of the Government, tne following ques- tions automatically arise: ‘Wiil these mortgages be good or will they con- stitute additional undesirable 1isks? ‘Will it be possible for either a bank or the Government to liquidate such mortgages at their face value should the mortgagee pe unable to fulfill his obligations to them? It it is wossible to make them better risks for both Government and the banks, how can this best be done? Fancy Trimmings Tricky. “Architects feel that some new serv- Jce must be made available in the design of small homes. Fancy trim- mings have fooled the buyer. Too great emphasis is, as & rule, put upon shoddy decoration, mechanical gadg- ets and flashy finish, and not enough on efficient plan, sound construction and finish requiring & minimum of expense for upkeep, all productive of & high resale value.” The keystone of the Buffalo Small House Bureau, organizeda by the archi- tects to protect the home owners’ in- terests at a minimum cost, is the use of “standard” plans and specifications for homes not exceeding $7,500 in value, it is explained. These plans are prepared 'by 1egistered arcatects to meet & variety of needs, “Before ‘any design is accepted it will be passed upon by the board of directors, to insure that the design is correct and that pride of owner- ship will be its possessor’s privilege,” the report continues. “Dissatisfaction or litigation with the builder, fauity construction and rapid depreciation, high upkeep or low resale value will be avoided py mak- ing use of the bureau, at a cost which cannot be reduced.” REAL ESTAT Members of the Washington Real Estate Board enjoyed & day of fun and frolic at the Congressional Country Club Tuesday. Upper left: Lee D. Latimer, for- mer president of the Real Estate Board, having a rest. . Upper right: J. W. Cumming has just tossed a horseshoe, and A. N. Miller is awaiting his turn. Miller was chairman of the horseshoe contest. Below: Garfleld Kass safe at third bLase in the builders-brokers game. —Star Staff Photo. Air Conditioning Comfort Through Hot Sea- son for Those Who Heed Equipment Advice. BY LAWRENCE TUCKER. The exeremely hot weather which bore down upon the Capital the early part of the week can certainly be taken as a'warning that Summer is ready and waiting to make every one thor- oughly uncomfortable in the very near future. Working on the age-old theory that those who are forewarned are fore- armed we should immediately take steps to protect ourselves against the onslaught of Summer heat. Residents of homes equipped with modern heating plants of the forced- air type are able to turn on the electric blowers and circulate cool basement air throughout the various rooms. This circulation will give ade- quate comfort for the great majority of people, but it is also possible to g0 a step further and provide definite cooling equipment. a Coil in Conditioner. By the simple method of placing & coil in the air conditioner, and connecting it to either a refrig- eration machine or ice tank, the air being forced through the house can be properly cooled and dehumidified. The equipment required to serve the entire house is apt to be too expensive for the person of average means, but it is also practical to cool only those rooms which will be occupied most, thereby reducing the size and cost of the machinery required. Houses that are equipped with old- fashioned hot-air systems are easily converted into pleasantly cool havens of refuge by installing forced-air ONLY TWO balsam wool. spouts are of copp features. 811 15th STREET N.W. $7,950" BOSS & PHELPS REALTORS In Exclusive Woodley Park Exhibit Home, 2940 Cortland Pl. N.W. Woodley Park, a select intown section where some of Wash. ington’s finest homes are situated, is a location that will have an instant appeal to the most discriminating. These qual- ity built homes, at this price, are the outstanding real estate offerings of the year . . . Seven beautiful rooms (four real bed rooms), three bath rooms. First floor lls are furred, flashings, J Quiet May oil burner, electric refrigera- tion, the latest kitchen equipment and many other outstanding Drive out Conn. Ave. to Cathedral Ave., west on Cathedral to 29th, north on 29th one block to Cortland, left to house. H.G. Smithy Co. 4905 Chev% gl‘n: Boulevard AVAILABLE atory. Insulated with gutters and down- NATL. 8904 MD, ONE OF THOSE SURPRIS- INGLY LOW PRICED NEW HOME BUYS OF TODAY'S Open Today, 2 to 6 Sunday, 10 to 6 Drive out Wisconsin Ave., over District line, to Chevy Chase Boulevard and west about two blocks to house. blowers on the old furnace, utilizing the sheet-metal ducts already in place for the distribution of the conditioned air, Either of these systems could make use of a source of cool air such as a shaded spot near the house or the interior of a nearby well. It would only be necessary to run an insulated duct to & place of that sort so that the refreshing air could be sucked into the house by the circulator. If a quantity of sufficiently cold 1226 14th St. N.W. 4 Bed Room New-Detached Brick *8,950 Centrally located in this popular suburban community, less than two squares from Georgli‘n Ave. and short distance from scl BEAUTIFUL LOT, 50x180 FEET Open 10 AM. to 9 P.M. Today and Sunday reach; . or Georgia Ave. ilver Si continue on To Teeh Tt ot A A P Y Aot s Thosees SHANNON:& LUCHS Come Out and See the Reason These Homes Are Selling Before Completion 5711 Kansas Ave. NW. Just Above Madison St, BEAUTIFUL DETACHED BRICK HOME Only 1 left in this desirable location and no more avail- able building sites. Facing into 22-acre Fort Slocum wooded Government Park. Near bus and street car transportation, stores. Very high. elevation. Facing into 120-ft. boulevard, which leads direct downtown. Open to 9 P.M. Daily and Sunday ".':".:" Drive out Kansas Large Lots Ave. to Houses Waple & James, Inc. Ouwners and Builders well water is available, it may be pumped through & cooling coil “or spray arrangement and utilized in the same manner as ice water or refrigera~ tion equipment. It is now possible to rent portable room coolers by the week, month or Summer season. They utilize ice for cooling, and it is merely necessary to supply them with a large cake every day and drain off the water and con- densate after the ice has melted. These units may be rolled from one ool SATURDAY, JUNE 22, 1935. place to another and will keep the oc- | spread use in hospitals where patients cupants of an average-sized room very | are made even more uncomfortable by the heat if they are compelled to These deyices should find wide- ' lie in bed continuously. L EXHIBIT HOpMp ' st o v NAtional 2345 District 3347 O Annoubcing the Opening of 7121 HAMPDEN LANE (Furnished by Hutchison’s, Inc.) Greemuich Foress IS DELIGHTFUL Colonial All-brick Home on a beautiful wooded lot of 95 feet frontage, entirely landscaped by Small, exemplifies the quality construc- tion of this smart restricted community . . . Thi contains 4 bedrooms, 2 baths, Electric Health Kitchen and attached garage . . . Other features include oil burner, copper water pipes, slate roof, furred walls and insulation . . . Price $12500 . . . In- spect the new 8-room, 3-bath homes now nearing completion . . . Reason- able cash payments with convenient terms . , . Open until 9 P. M. We Will Design, Build & Finance to Suit Your Own ldeas Preliminary sketches of your individual require- ments in a home submitted without obligation. DIRECTIONS: From traffic light at Bethesda, turn left on Old Georgetown Road 3 blocks to Wilson Lane and Greemwich Forest. Phone: Wlisconsin 5204, Modern Homes All Improvements Masterfully Built Reasonably Priced Open for the First Time A new English studio home containing 6 rooms, 2 baths, recessed r: Home subject to a Federal Housing Loan. PrRICE, $8,950 Open and Lighted Every Day Till 9 P.M. Home Sites Averaging 35,000 sq. ft. $500 to $1,100-Terms Bargains all. Seriously, you owe it to yourself to see how much your money will buy here. We build to your specifications. Directions: Drive out Piney Branch Road, four miles into Montgomery Co. - Office on Premises or Call Ad. 0022 I s HEATH HOME REAL ESTATE. AR BULDNG (&= A!.thnughno record of new construc- tion work or improvements is kept in any county department, the commis- sioner of the revenue has declared that he expects real estate valuations to show their greatest increase to date when the new work is added to the New Construction Starting | s 7 esment books st the end of Daily, and Realty Trans- |, tos,commisioner stated that while - fers Keep Pace. marked proportions toward the end of last year, yet the increase in valua- tion this year would hardly reflect the true amount of construction work under way at the close of 1934, because buildings are not assessed untl they are completed. UNHEARD VALUES IN NEW HOMES Sample House 4820 North Lane EDGEMOOR $7,850 to $9,250 5 and 6 Rooms 1 and 2 Baths LARGE, MODERN BUNGALOW With Almost an Aere of Ground THESE ARE = ELECTRI 66068 EASTERN AVENUE KITCHEN HEALTH HOME TAKOMA PARK, D. C. s Located on one of the highest points Py B ] in Takoma Park. with plenty of snade Bethesda County House). west one- and fruit trees. Incl Raly “block, turn right o houses, Open dally and Sunday. Bullt by J. Charles Shapire Goss Realty Co. Sales Representative 1405 Eye St. Na. 1353 nday afternoon. 3 and Herald straight ahead 3 blocks to ““UNION FINANCE CO. 916 Woodward Blds. _Nat. 7936 A TEST GRE VALUE! 6430 6th ST. N.W. A Ereatest” vame."six “Toome. eleetric $ kitchen, finished attic, builf-in garage. oux 3,950 o memirmmm: Bldg. 2030 CORNER CENTER-HALL BRICK HOME A Type of Detached Home Reduced to $12,950 ommunity of Small Estates radiation. At 1500 Underwood St. N.W. Right in the City Never before have such values been offered in completely detached homes so close in town. Every structural feature the very finest. ‘Waterproofed walls, copper gutters and downspouts, fenced, spacious rear lawns, two-car brick garages and every house individually different inside and out. Located at the very entrance to Rock Creek Park golf course. You will be interested in this novel group. s 5. (Lacdhic o Drive out today, sure! HEALTH HOME Open Daily Until 9 P.M. WM. H. SAUNDERS CO., Inc. 1519 K ST. N.W. DI. 1018 $50 PER MONTH With Reasonable Cash Payment. $50 Per Month Will Pay All Interest, Principal, Taxes and Insurance in Buying One of Our NEW—ALL BRICK—SEMI-DETACHED SIX ROOM—2 BATH HOUSES $7.1 50 =d 37,350 Recreation Room and Garage, Electric Refrigerator, Ideal Kitchen, Furred Walls and Weatherstripped See . 524 Quintana Place N.W. Open Daily, 9 to 9 Turn right 6100 Block 7th St. N.W. HARRY WARDMAN, INC. 1512 K Di. 3830.. “Life’s Worth Living in a Wardman Homd"”