| Show Home Nome Building Resumed R but It If Will Be a Year or More Before Most People Can Expect Their Dream House Material l Shortages Delay Construction On Any Large Scale ScaleBy By W. W WADSWORTH WOOD Government restrictions on build build- building building ing of private houses ends October 15 This comes co es as heartening news to the 12 million families who are said to be ready and anxious to build new homes Now N ow these people are wondering Should we sell our present home or give up our lease in the hope of building right away What plans can we safely and con con- confidently confidently make right now This question raises several other ones which may be summarized thus 1 I. What will win building COSTS be in comparison with those of prewar years 2 Will Vitt conventional materials such as lumber brick etc ete be beof beof beof of poorer quality than prewar 3 What are the new and dif dU- different ferent features and materials so 0 widely discussed for coming homes Are those miracles in terms of revolutionary heating streamlined kitchens and push pushbutton pushbutton button laundries yet available Here is the result of serious think think- thinking thinking thinking ing first on the subject of costs While the government unofficially estimates that home building costs have increased third one-third requiring one thus to pay for a house that could be built for before the war war these these costs are really apt I to run somewhat higher It may take to build that former fonner home This is partly because labor costs are steadily rising and 73 13 per cent of the total building costs are ore directly or indirectly labor costs I Residents in some sections of the country such as in the South may confidently expect lower prices due dueLo to Lo the fact that the less severe cli cli- climates climates climates mates permit the elimination of basements sub-floors sub etc Less ex ex- expensive expensive ex- ex expensive pensive insulation also less expensive expensive expensive sive central heating plants prove adequate Recent wide and authoritative I studies such as the year two-year survey I conducted by Small Homes Guide reveal very pointedly why this fact is so important They show that per cent of families now planning plan- plan planning ning aing to build expect to spend from to Another large percentage per- per percentage per cent plan to build in the to class while only about 6 per cent are planning to build in the and better class lass If these families are to get full value alue for their money the home r i.- i. w Stone and wood combine to make this attractive house The built in garage is one of its most appealing features Contractors estimate it could be constructed for about which is within the range about one one- third of home builders are willing to pay low the trend towards saving expensive expensive ex ex- expensive pensive site labor costs While the home building restrictions restrictions restrictions are being lifted l ted as of October 15 the announcement carries with it a six-point six program that involves several directives aimed at correct correct- correcting correcting correcting ing the present situation These will seek to hasten production of scarce building materials will strengthen inventory controls to prevent hoard hoard- hoarding hoarding hoarding ing will expand OPA price control of building materials to prevent inflationary in in- inflationary inflationary pressure control mort mort- mortgage mortgage mortgage gage practices facilitate action by industry groups and widely advise on home values In the directive great stress is put upon the rapid expansion of the home building industry in in- industry industry as the greatest single add add- added added added ed source of jobs in our entire economy econ econ- economy economy omy and the statement 11 made that we also know that the present housing shortage is bound to con conn continue continue for some time and that there may be pressure to increase the price of new homes in response to toan toan toan an active demand In the light of these facts thou thou- thousands thousands thousands sands will be asking such questions as this Should I renew my pres pres- present present present ent lease which expires in six months or try to build a new home right away Wise advice would ap ap- appear appear ap- ap appear pear to be this Renew for one year A year and a half is not too much time for thoughtful planning and careful working out of your family's requirements requirements from from site selection to the details of in built-in storage facil facil- There are countless houses that could have been good houses if ifa ifa ifa a few extra months had been used for tor planning 4 L 4 Y J Jr r r 4 lI g a y y i 4 t 1 A Yh compartments sinks Electric ranges refrigerators with freeze deep-freeze with in built-in dishwashers cabinets of all an sizes everything will win be ready for the new kitchen early next year building industry must hasten to eliminate the traditional hammer fit cut saw and practices of try Certain union practices and antiquated building codes too long longheld longheld longheld held intact by local pressure groups must also be changed We are frequently asked When can we be sure of being able to get getgood getgood getgood good quality building materials To this our best authorities quickly tell us that most of the hard materi materi- materials materials als such as cement sand lime stone etc are plentiful Brick and cement block vary with the regional manpower picture Good dry lum lum- lumber lumber lumber ber is scarce and the precise local situation here should be carefully checked with a reputable lumber dealer in your community Someone else asks What are the newest developments in construction material that I can expect to get within the next six months Our reply indicates that waterproof plywood ply ply- plywood plywood wallboards plastic finished wood fireproof asphalt shingles light metal met met- metal metal complete package units al framing cabinets cab cab- cabinets cabinets i windows doors in built-in closets fireplaces will all be avail avail- fol- fol able These new developments Still other thousands will be asking ask ask- asking askIng ing Should I sell the home I Iown Iown Iown own now rent for several years and then plan to build To such wise counsel would be Hold your home as rents will be high and there will willbe willbe willbe be no sudden drop in real estate values First because of rebuilding costs due to higher wage levels and second the very sizable backlog of demand that will require several years to satisfy Start planning your new home now It will likely take you a whole year to get through all I the steps carefully Selection of f your new lot title insurance getting your ideas into blueprints working drawings draw draw- drawings drawings ings and specifications getting bids negotiating the financing financing all all this takes time Being very specific others will ask All I can afford to spend is I need three bedrooms What can I expect Our frank advice is this Not too much if your total includes the cost of a lot You had better choose a compact story-and- story half a-half design and then plan to fin fin- finish finish ish the two upper-story upper bedrooms and bath at a later date In the matter of home equipment a flurry of questions always centers around new For exam exam- example example example Will air conditioning be cheap cheap- cheaper er than before the war Well as as- assuming assuming assuming suming that you refer to summer cooling combined with air filtration humidifying de-humidifying and circulation the answer is Yes Several mass pro production pr pro pro- production manufacturers are bringing out new efficient units that can be added later to any forced warm air heating system Others ask Will the new kitchen devices cost less or more than before the war Of course this refers to dishwasher garbage-disposal garbage unit range The latter two will cost a little more but will be more efficient Alert makers are planning to bring costs down by combining units such as one which will wash both clothes and dishes by changing bowls and substituting a rubber-covered rubber wire dish rack for the agitator A modern bathroom is a must mustin in nearly everyone's planning The important new development in bath bath- bathroom bathroom bathroom room ideas involves separating the different fixtures to eliminate early morning congestion Most favored arrangement includes separate shower stall an extra and medicine cabinet The new fixture designs are more beautiful ul and have lots of added conveniences Kitchens Kitch Kitch- Kitchens ens have been brought into focus with the modern dreams too Many manufacturers are offering beautiful and complete package kitchens that include an amazing number of new items of convenience and advanced automatic sav labor laborsaving ing equipment The gripes or pet hates con con- concerning concerning concerning houses are going to be large large- largely ly eliminated through better plan plan- ning There will be plenty of closet space for instance The trend is isto isto isto to larger rooms spread out on one floor with larger windows and pro pro- provision provision vision for more outdoor living livings Colors Col Col- Colors Colors ors will be bright and cheerful and details of decoration will strike a smart peacetime motif How about all the promised promis d postwar post post- postwar postwar war home gadgets you may be asking Well you can look for new refrigerators with freeze deep-freeze com com- compartments compartments compartments new developments in automatic dishwashers and washing machines ultra-efficient ultra vacuum cleaners vastly improved appliances appliances appliances ances ready early next year Will postwar developments completely com com- completely completely eliminate housekeeping drudgery The answer is Al Almost Almost Almost most For example the tron takes dust out of the air elec elec- Most kitchen chores such as dishwashing will be reduced to a minimum by automatic controls Heating and cooling will be fully automatic New developments in plastic wall and floor finishes new rugs and draperies should draperies should help in adding at least three hours more daily freedom to the clock of most housewives It is indeed a great new streamlined peacetime era I which we are about to enter I |
