http://realestate.aol.com/article/impro ... 0709990001
Here is one explanation of why homes built in 1970s should be avoided.
I have heard about this trend, but never knew the details.
So here are the details (very reasonable, btw):
• SPEED BUILT HOMES - If you really want to draw a line when homes began to be built poorly, my vote would be to set that mark at around 1970. When the Vietnam War and government spending stimulated high inflation, President Nixon instituted price controls that really hurt builders. Costs were going up; interest rates were sky high and the only thing that helped builders recoup was getting homes built as fast as possible. Also around this time, builders also stopped paying employees hourly for work and began paying by the task. The faster the kitchen was installed or the deck got built, the more that particular contractor would make for his day’s wage. As a result, workmanship really took a nosedive.