IMPROVED HOMES

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1076, 13 September 1930, Page 22

IMPROVED HOMES

INAUGURATION OF NEW PUBLIC SERVICE ARCHITECT’S FREE ADVICE Lucky indeed is the householder whoso home, after a lapse of years, satisfies his every requirement-meas-ures up to modern standards of utility, comfort, or outward and interior attractiveness. Tho truth is that comparatively few homes are in this fortunate state. The majority do not improve with age; rather do they tend to become "old fashioned” in many respects, even if they remain sound and weather-proof. New designs and new ideas come along. Requirements change. The inevitable* result is that the old houses become obsolete despite the care and attention that may have been lavished on them to keep timbers, roofing, and general incidentals in good repair. What is more serious still to the householder, they lose value. When modern dwellings, equipped In modei'n fashion are available to the house-buyer and house-renter, it follows that the demand for older homes falls away. Prices and offers drop down out of all sight of original values. Clearly, then, to the man or woman who owns a house built and equipped in the fashion of a past generation (anti there are a surprisingly large number of these in Auckland) the offer of the Home Modernising Society comes as a most attractive proposition. A GOOD INVESTMENT It is an offer that, ultimately, may mean all tho difference between a bad sale and a good sale —a bad lease or a good lease. In a word it suggests an investment that is bound, sooner or later, to pay a substantial dividend. There is another familiar type of householder —one found as frequently in Auckland as in any other city ox* town. lie is the man whose home definitely, requires repairs of a greater or lesser nature. Probably he has realised this need for some time past. Jle has recognised that ho and his family are

enduring a certain degree of discomfort, and ho has been saving money and setting aside a little nest-egg for tho time when the job can be doin'. Perhaps it is an unsuitable 11 replace that has been giving trouble. The lighting system may be b'ut-of-date. Tho hot-water system may be a poor one. lie may be in need of an extra bedroom, a sun porch, new wall-papers, fresh paint-work Obviously the longer this man waits the greater will be his troubles, and the larger his bills in the long run. Decay breeds decay and structural faults encourage other faults. Details left unattended become major troubles. To this man—the owner who Is awaiting a favourable opportunity to effect the repairs his home requires the announcement of the Home Modernising Society is equally interesting. PLANNED BY EXPERT The society’s offer means that he can save. money by acting now—that tinwork he plans to do will be planned free by an expert and carried out in the best and cheapest possible fashion by firms who are banded together in an Auckland-wide campaign. Thirdly there are the many householders who are settled in homes that have been kept always in good r« iv • Needless to say, however, these homes lack much from a modern stanupu..... They may have been built, for example, without bay-windows, the lack of which, in certain circumstances, can stamp a. house as-obsolete and uninteresting. Their kitchens may be of the old-fashioned type. Their plumbing may' be hopelessly out of date. Their bathrooms may lack those inexpensive modern refinements that visitors and members of a younger generation learn to expect as common-place luxuries. To these householders comes the welcome message of tho society which offers to have its own expert pass competent judgment on any dwelling or building. As a practising architect hp can inspect a house anil, free of charge offer his recommendations. If, in liis opinion, nothing requires to be done, he can sav so. If. on the other hand, he sees the need for change and improvement he can point out how theise may be brought about in the best and cheapest way. MAINTAINING VALUES Without doubt, the service of the .Homo Modernising Society is one that must interest every home-owner who takes a real interest in his property —who wishes to maintain the values of the assets which represent so much j of his savings and capital. ! Tho society' has been formed by prominent public and business men with a two-fold objec t. In the first place, it is intended that, in a period of cheap materials, plentiful labour, and slackness of trade, there should j be a concerted move on the part of | householders to take advantage of tho j economic position and benefit themselves as well as others by carrying | out necessary and desirable home re- i pairs and alterations. In the second place, it is anticipated } that the fillip given to the host of j trades associated with home build- ! ing and equipping will do much to re- » lieve unemployment in the city and j province. Actively working along the lines laid ! out by the society is a strong com - • mittee whose services to the public are entirely gratuitous. BEST MARKET PRICES Funds have been provided by publicspirited citizens, an architect, Mr. L. E. Brooker, has been engaged to act in the capacity of a free advisor to the public; arrangements are being made by which tenderers in every branch of trade may be kept fully in touch with the work that is offering. This is a point of considerable importance, as it means that householders will bo able to buy or place their orders in the best possible market. It is emphasised that in the society’s dealings, apart from the services of the architect, the competitive spirit of normal trade will continue to exist as strongly as ever. In other words, competition will be as strong and prices will be cut as keenly as is the case when tenders are invited through ordinary channels.