Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 191, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 August 1915 — Hints tor the House Hunter [ARTICLE]

Hints tor the House Hunter

Qt course this Isn't at all the sort of house we wanted. It really Isn't at all big enough. And it's quite In the wrong location. There’s water in the cellar and there’s a leak in the roof that the landlord won't mend. But just had to take IL It has a perfectly heavenly seat in the turn of the stairs —one of those box seats that you can keep the rubbers, the brush and the broom in. The minute I saw that set my heart on having IL" We all know women who use about this sort of logic in choosing the habitations for themselves and their families and American men are .such nice, easy-going individuals, and they have such a blind sort of faith in their wives* ability to make home all that it ought to be, that they docilely sign the lease and pay the rent for the house that some such little foolish wife with some such illogical reasoning would pick out. But fortunately most women go about the task of house-hunting with considerable method and to make the task as simple as possible a good plan is to write out a list of qualifications before starting on the hunt, checking off those qualifications which are absolutely essential. Such a list, if put Into the hands of the real estate agent, would save many, many steps on the part of both agent and house-hunter and would, in many cases, simplify the task to the inspection of two or three houses or apartments. Usually the first consideration is one of rent. And American women ought to remember that it is a national falling of ours to pay too large a percentage on our house rent, leaving, therefore, too little for the elegances that make the house worth living In. American women have a way of occupying a house the very construction of which demands several servants, arid trying to live comfortably with one or none. Butlers’ pantries, large ✓ kitchens, breakfast rooms, many halls —all these things presuppose a train of servants. And yet many a woman tries to live in such a house with one or possibly no helper. Therefore, warning number one: Keep down your rent to the minimum. A second failing characteristic of Americans is that of a willingness to live at almost any distance from the place of work of the head of the family. The good old-fashioned method of living “over” one’s place of business had its advantages and in the old days many a fortune was made largely because the man of business was able to give the constant attention to his work that such an arrangement would make possible. The Astors In New York, long ago, lived over the store where the first of the family traded. And Benjamin Franklin recommended to his daughter that she make her home over her husband’s place of business. Of course, we don’t all want to do this, but we might with great advantage Insist on finding a habitation within easy distance from the work of those who have to bring In the Income. Another point to make note of In your list besides desired rent and location Is the question of exposure. Think well in what windows of your house you want the sun and never consent to dwell In a house where the direct rays of the sun do not at some time of the day fall In the room In which you will spend most of your waking hours.

Then think critically when inspecting a possible house, of the convenience of the arrangement of the rooms. In your imagination take the' steps that will be necessary to take in the course of getting one meal, or the course of one day of housekeeping.' And remember that many a housewife’s breakdown has been due simply to the faulty construction of the interior of her house. Expert judgment should be consulted on the subject of the dryness of the house. Be morally sure that the cellar is dry and that the drainage Is perfect. Insist on a recommendation house in matters of this sort more strictly than you seek for a recommendation of the integrity of the servants whom you take into your kitchen. Don’t be fooled In choosing a house by a doorknob that appeals to your, fancy, by a chandelier that pleases' your sense of the aesthetic, nor by a seat In the bend of the stairway that happens to be something you have always longed for.