a --.op 12 THE OSHAWA TIMES, Friday, March 28, 1961 Buying Older House Means Close Checks By DAVID L. BOWEN . AP Newsfeatures Writer Most people approach the pur- of any kind of house with a great deal of caution. The average person buys a home only once or twice during his entire life, and usually it is the largest sin gle investment he ever makes. With upwards of $15,000 being committed, it's no wonder the average family takes the plunge with vague feelings of 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. But 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 the builder develop- ments. These tract homes are designed for the mass market and most have only three bed- rooms. With slim pickings among new houses, the big family usually must search for shelter in old neighborhoods. Here the prices decline (sometimes) but the hazards, real and imagined, increase. The most reassuring thing fo remember about buying an old home is that there is a remedy for every 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 purchase, what you are trying to determine is exactly how many defects you will have to correct and how much this will cost. If the buying price is ad- justed to take care of the neces- sary repairs, you may get a bargain even if several thou- sand dollars worth of repair work must be done. What you must guard against is the possibility some of these repair bills come as a surprise. It's the unexpected expenses which turn the apparent bargain into a white elephant. For most people, the only reasonable protection on this score is professional advice. Do not make your final decision without an inspection by some competent person with no stake in the sale. In many areas, en- gineering inspections are routinely performed for a fee in the $50 range. If there's no company in your city doing the work, find a contractor willing to do it. Here are some guidelines which a prominent New York architect, Herman H. York, sug- gests for your own inspection and that of the professional you hire: THE HOUSE Look for dampness and ter- mites. Look for large open or patched up cracks. Fine plaster cracks, incidentally, are the result of normal settling and are not important. Look for sagging floors or girders. Check the electrical system. Anything today with less than 100 amp. service is not suf- ficient. Check force of water in faucets. A good pressure in- dicates pipes which have not corroded. THE PLOT How close is the house to property lines? If empty lot is next door, can somebody build a house closer than you would like to have it? 'Does the property drain well? Are there sewers? If not, does the private sewage system work properly? Are there any peculiar odors arounf the house sewers indicating 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 ex- pensive. THE NEIGHBORHOOD Ride around in your car in a wide area at various times of. the day to check traffic, kind of neighbors, amount of noise, rail- road noises, airport noises. Check on schools, not only where they are but whether they are of high standards. Determine whether the neigh- borhood is on the up or down- grade. In most old areas, the chances are it is going down- ward, but how fast? commercial encroachment near your house. Can somebody build a gas station or 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 seller knows you are interested, he changes his mind about including some of for expert "HEATING SERVICE Watch out for industrial or the things he first offered. W.F. BOWDEN 2 SON PP PPP POT TWN GAR-WOOD HEATING UNITS Completely Installed or Repaired 54 BURK ST. ® EAVESTROUGHING Prompt Service . . . Reasonable Rates ® ROOFING RA 5-5533 you buy you build see DISTINCTIVE DESIGNS RESIDENTIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL BUILDING CRAWFORD CONSTRUCTION LIMITED in the modern trend, exquisitely fashioned to fascinate any eye, to please any budget. Craw- ford Construction Ltd. has a wide selection of homes from which you may choose to your exact requirements. Would it not be wise to see and compare for your own satisfaction the advan- tages of building and living in the Crawford Construction Ltd. fashion. - foul H Fg 5 BLOOR ST. W., OSHAWA hi Dr UAE GR Wy SO TR