Home Renovation Checklist: Everything You Need to Know to Save Money, Time, and Your Sanity - Softcover

Irwin, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0071415033 ISBN 13: 9780071415033

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 2003

Synopsis

An indispensable quick-check guide to saving money and headaches during home renovations

Lured by skyrocketing real estate values, more Americans than ever are renovating their homes. Some have had some experience with home renovations. Many are trying their hands at it for the first time. Most are totally unprepared for the thousand-and-one pitfalls, screw-ups, and headaches that can plague a home improve project, including runaway costs, unscrupulous suppliers and contractors, arcane building codes, and more.

Written by America's #1 source of real estate know-how, Home Renovation Checklist is an indispensable guide to navigating the renovation process and keeping costs, time, and headaches involved to a minimum. Modeled after Irwin's bestselling Home Buyer's Checklist, this book is packed with hundreds of checklist questions (and answers) covering every detail of any home improvement project, including:

• Budgeting costs
• Dealing with contractors
• Obtaining financing
• Determining whether or not to do all or part of the renovations themselves

About this title

From the Back Cover

One of the nation's foremost real estate experts gives you the tools you need to avoid costly mistakes when you tackle home renovation projects!

New addition to the family? Add a new addition onto your home! Avocado green kitchen making you a little green around the gills? Bring it into the twenty-first century with new cabinets and flooring! With today's skyrocketing real estate market and record low interest rates, more homeowners than ever before are deciding to remodel. But if you think the only tools you need to start a home improvement project are in your shed--STOP! Before you start gutting walls, turn to the Home Renovation Checklist for tips to keeping costs, time, and serious problems down to a minimum.

Written by Robert Irwin, Americas #1 real estate expert, this step-by-step book is packed with vital checklists of everything you should ask yourself, your contractor, your architect, and your lawyer before and during the renovation project.

• Check for lead, asbestos, and black mold before you drive a nail or sign a contract: You don't want to endanger yourself, your workers, or your chances for future resale.
• Make sure your contractor's license at least matches a driver's license: It might be a bit awkward to ask, but not as awkward as hiring a crook to do your work!
• Show your renovation plan to an appraiser or real estate agent: You may be surprised to discover that the project may actually decrease the value of your home.
• Building permits: Think again if you plan on renovating without a permit. If there's a fire in your home, your insurance may not cover damages without the benefit of a permit.
• Financing: Ask for substantially more than you think you'll need; it's harder to get more money later if you underestimate, and you're not charged for the money until you actually borrow it.

When it comes to home improvement projects, it PAYS to be a "know-it-all." Turn to the Home Renovation Checklist for everything you need to know to stop your dream home improvement project from turning into a renovator's nightmare!

About the Author

Robert Irwin is one of America's most respected experts in all areas of real estate and the author of more than 20 books.

About this edition

• Publisher: McGraw-Hill
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0071415033
• ISBN 13: 9780071415033
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 196