One way to keep up home values

Almost two years ago, a group of local contractors approached the Morgan County Commissioners about coming up with some kind of building code as part of the county's planning efforts.

The idea went nowhere, but it's been in our mind after we read a real estate article in The Washington Post some time back. The piece explained the impact of falling home values on some of the older developments in the Washington suburbs.

Seems that many homes built 40 and 50 years ago are no longer attractive to homebuyers because of poor insulation, outdated electricity and assorted corners that were cut in the days before those suburban counties had the rules they have today.

But in parts of Reston, older home values have apparently held their own. When asked why, real estate agents and appraisers credited strict local building standards, saying they caused better construction that has held up through the years.

As the county commissioners and planning commission look at what development rules are needed here in the future, maybe they should take a second look at basic building codes.