Architecture Books : What Your Contractor Can't Tell You The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating
Renovation: Completely Revised and Updated | 
 | 100% Recommended by our customers.
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Manufacturer: Shube Publishing
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List Price: $19.95
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- ISBN13: 9780979983801
- Condition: New
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A "Must-Buy" if You Want To Understand the Construction Process
We're just in the process of putting out to bid plans to remodel our home. We live in an upscale area where multi-million dollar homes aren't unusual so our significantly, significantly less than that budget pales in comparison to what most of the contractors in the area are accustomed to. Also, they are accustomed to working on a time and materials basis for absentee owners. (If you don't know now why time and materials isn't a particularly good way to work with a contractor or why using a time and materials approach might be an especially bad idea if you are seldom on-site, you will after you read this book.)
This book has been a lifesaver in helping me understand the construction process. Learning the various methods contractors can use to pad their bills at your expense (e.g. claim to work more hours than they do), how to use alternate bidding to give us options as we move through the work, how to minimize the expense of change orders, what a construction schedule looks like, what a draw schedule looks like, etc. etc. has been tremendously useful. I'm sure this book has saved me thousands of dollars because I now know better what to ask the contractor for during the bidding process.
For the price of this book, you can save yourself lots of heartache as well as dollars.
Do note that a lot of the author's experience seems to be in areas that have, from my perspective, amazingly low labor rates. She uses examples of budgets for remodels that wouldn't allow you to put up a garage around here. But the principles she employs are still sound.
You may also want to look at "The Homeowner's Guide to Managing A Renovation" by Susan Solakian which expands on the ideas set out in "What Your Contractor. . ." The two combined are terrific, allowing you to know which approaches are tried and true and which may be more a matter of an author's personal preference. I recommend both strongly.
Note: this book was previously published under the title "What the 'Experts' May Not Tell You About Building or Renovating Your Home."
 Great Companion when Remodeling your House
I read at least seven books on how to manage your remodel or how to hire a contractor, but this book was so valuable I decided to purchase it to have my own copy handy for our remodel. The author provide explicit advice on how to go about each of the crucial steps in planning your remodel and how to interact with the contractor and provides 'real world' advice and expectations.
must have
this book is is unique and essential for anyone looking to get the most out of their builder and protect what is most likely their largest investment
Great Book!
If you are planning on a remodel or build and plan to hire a contractor, you will be glad you purchased this book. To summarize, it is all about the plan. And all the different ways contractors can separate you from your money. It does not say contractors are dishonest, but it does help you spot the tricks they can use and understand how the industry works.
A good book for amateurs!
For most of us - the investment we make in home renovation is one of the most expensive single investments that we will make -- and it makes sense to be as well prepared as possible for the role we need to play in a renovation venture. This book is a solid overview of the fundamentals of your role as a customer -- a very important role, when you consider your professionals' incentives are not aligned with yours...
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