BUILDING NEW HOUSES 53 



at a reasonable price and yet make a large profit. There 

 is the advantage in buying a new house just completed 

 that those who have not made a study of building plans 

 and specifications can see it in its completeness and 

 better judge whether or not it is suited to their wants. 



A Definite Plan. 



The kind of house, the amount of room required, and 

 every point connected with the undertaking should be 

 studied and a complete and definite plan adopted. This 

 plan may be made by a skilled architect, or the mem- 

 bers of the family may get together and decide what 

 rooms are needed, the details of construction to be 

 worked out by a carpenter or builder. It is, as a rule, 

 more economical to have a plan made by a professional 

 architect, which will often save more than its cost in 

 buying material, planning, and doing the work. 



Contract vs. Day Labor. 



If one putting up a new building has had some experi- 

 ence and can more or less direct and assist in the work, 

 building by day labor is often the most satisfactory, but 

 if he knows little or nothing of such work, it will be best 

 and cheapest done by a responsible contractor with com- 

 plete plans and the fullest possible specifications. 



THE MOST IMPORTANT POINTS. 



In building a house of whatever material the follow- 

 ing points should be most carefully considered: 



Location. 



For comfort and healthfulness a southern or sunny 

 exposure is desirable. While for a time during the sum- 

 mer, a northern and perhaps a shaded exposure may be 

 most comfortable, unless the sun strikes a building or its 

 immediate surroundings for a considerable part of each 



