The Savvy Woman's Guide to Owning a Home: How to Care for, Improve and Maintain Your Home - Softcover

Werner, Kitty

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0971035601 ISBN 13: 9780971035607

Publisher: RSBPress, 2001

Synopsis

In a light and humorous way, yet clear and detailed enough to be of real help, the book teaches the basics of home care, safety, and getting into a new community. It covers everything from moving into the new place, to seasonal and yearly "to do" lists, to dealing with a host of repairs.

The book is laid out in a sensible way and contains sidebars with lots of helpful hints and fun anecdotes. It's something I could easily see becoming a bible for the new homeowner, female or male, but is especially excellent for women because it avoids the jargon often used when such information is geared toward men.

KK Wilder, Producer, "Wild Spirit: The Writing Life"

About this title

About the Author

I was first drawn to construction when my father, Henri de Marne, decided our side porch would make a dandy office for himself. Then seven years old, I offered my services by hanging around until he found something useful for me to do. Soon, I could name all the nails and hand him the right ones at the right time. I learned all the tools and their functions. I'm sure I took a few whacks at boards in my time, but with my slight weight at that age, I didn't make much of a dent, much less pound in too many nails. As a reward for my efforts, Dad made me my own tool box for my little set of tools. I still have it.

It wasn't long before I was fixing things as well as taking them apart. I was learning this stuff. One of my early jobs was working as the Assistant Buyer of Lamps at the Hecht Co. in Washington DC. When I had enough of the office, I could be found upstairs in the back storage creating new lamps from busted parts. My one-of-a-kind specials were put on display and sold. The tough part was when a customer wanted a match. Later, I was hired by a flooring company to sell flooring. I enjoyed playing around with the merchandise and ended up running the warehouse. I furnished my first townhouse with scraps of carpet, padding, carpet samples and plywood. Sold all of it when I moved to Germany for a year when I married Peter.

Back in the States, we moved to Vermont where we ran an old Vermont farmhouse as a ski lodge for a winter. Not only did we run out of water the first day we had guests (Christmas Day), but I had to cook for them as well. (I'm not a cook, my sister is.) Dealing with the fix-it issues of old dryers, temperamental heating systems, cranky plumbing, mazes of "put-together" pipes and wires, wells, and chimneys was an education in survival! Our guests didn't starve, either.

Eventually we bought our own house. As our family grew to include two children, the house grew. We fixed electric wiring, replumbed fixtures, finished off a bathroom, added a large addition, dealt with lightning storms blowing out our water supply, electric lines coming down, days without power and water, and all manner of exciting events.

As a homeowner, I've had 26 years of practical on-the-job training to write this book. I've been helping Dad with his column (he writes it, I straighten out the computer tangles) and therefore learn his information as well. Married to a masonry contractor has given me an amazing education in safe installations of chimneys, what can go wrong and why, how to correct the problems, or more importantly, how to find the right person to do the right job the first time.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Introduction

I'll lay odds that you grew up in a household maintained by someone else, most likely a male, probably Dad. Otherwise, you wouldn't need this book. Don't dwell on it, that's the way we were brought up! Weren't we girls just slated for the kitchen? Cooking in it, not building it. So now you own a home and want to know how it works and what to do if it doesn't work. Congratulations.

To my father's great credit, I, the first of three children and a female, was the one who helped him build, fix, and maintain our house. Unfortunately, not all children are encouraged, nor interested, in these endeavors.

Relax, You're Not Alone
It's okay to feel apprehensive about this ownership thing. You can do it. It doesn't take a genius to own and maintain a house. If you (or your partner) aren't handy with a hammer and nail, or comfortable with a power drill, so what! Either learn to do it yourself, befriend someone who is comfortable with wielding the appropriate tool, or learn to find the right professional to do the work for you.

Your Maintenance Guide
This is where this book enters your life. It was written with you in mind. From homeowners who have been there, done that. Repeatedly. From surviving long, long power outages to replacing bulbs, from overflowing drains to no water at all, we have managed to come through the crises and remain standing (house and all).

Give Yourself Time
As with any new major responsibility, it will take time to "learn the ropes." Every new homeowner has gone through this learning process, and yes, it is perfectly fine to feel overwhelmed at times.

Just as when you purchase a car and have to learn how the lights, wipers, radio, and assorted parts work, the same with a house. The parts are just that much bigger.

Don't Be Afraid to Try
Some jobs are simplicity itself to deal with, others aren't. After reading this, you'll know the difference. There is a huge sense of pride when you know you can do it yourself, and it works. Don't ever underestimate yourself, or your intelligence. Don't let anyone else do that either.

Pick the Important Stuff
Some of the topics won't concern you, depending on your heating system (most are covered in this book and most houses only have one), or water supply (town supplied or your own well) and other variations. Pick out the sections that concern you and your house, maybe highlight the ends of the pages for quick reference, and learn those.

You do have time for this. The house, barring major catastrophes, will be there for a while, long enough for you to sort this all out. Relax and enjoy the read.

Welcome to the world of homeownership!

P.S. We are assuming that you are an intelligent person, single or otherwise, who needs this knowledge to maintain a home. Marital status has nothing to do with this, as there are men who can't change a light bulb or identify a hammer. Knowledge is power, use it.

Edition details

• Publisher: RSBPress
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0971035601
• ISBN 13: 9780971035607
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 256