Review: Excellent Information
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 11 14, 2012
This e-book is not a planning guide. It is not a guide to remodeling. It is a how-to book that gives you the nitty gritty behind-the-scenes look at what to expect if you consider a remodeling project. Since this is an e-book, I do want to mention that the contents page is thorough and links well, and the only formatting issue I encountered involved one table in the subcontracting section of this book.My husband and I first experienced remodeling/working with contractors on a home we were not living in at the time (fortunately). We encountered nearly every single problem that this particular book lists! We had one contractor, who put in our cinderblock wall leave all of the dirt instead of haul it away. They normally contracted for freeways, and this was how they did it. Another contractor removed all of the face plates for outlets and switches, plus the ceiling fixtures to paint - then complained that their contract didn't include replacing them. Both bathrooms were included in the remodel, and we did not have a bathtub and only had a toilet with temporary flooring the day we moved in because the contractors were behind. It was NOT a nice situation.I vowed never to do another remodel.This was true until we purchased a piece of commercial property that was more than 100 years old. I could see the potential, and this time I found the right contractor, who shared my vision. He subcontracted certain aspects of the work, and he made sure everything was done on time. He kept us informed of the process and discussed prices openly and honestly. He made the conversion of that building into a retail store an incredible joy. In fact, the ONLY problem I had was with the plumber who made a decision without consulting the contractor that led to problems that weren't supposed to exist. Because of the excellence of the contractor, we were able to work around his "independent nature," and everything worked out well in the end.I still love those guys, and would do another project with them in an instant!The difference? The building contractor - something this book insists you research, because they are the key to a good project!Today we are considering a building project in a home we ARE living in. After the first nightmare, and the second good experience, I know that things can go either way. This book is an excellent guideline for helping me with this decision, in fact I will be going down to the building department to determine whether our job will be an easy one or one entangled in red tape before I even consider beginning, a step I might have ignored if I hadn't read the book.At the point where I was trying to decide if this was feasible, Familia Publishing offered me a complimentary copy for review. Since it was an area I was researching, I accepted their offer, and agreed to review and report my experience with this book.I was able to read it fairly rapidly, and especially appreciated the sections specific to different rooms (kitchen and bathroom), since our addition could include another bathroom. As I said in my opening, it isn't a how-to guide, it is a very clear, simple guide to telling you how to avoid many of the traps I have already experienced, and as the voice of someone who has seen both the worst and the best, I wish I had read this book before my first experience!I do recommend this book for anyone considering a remodel of their home, before you take your first steps. It will save hundreds of hours of frustration, and keep you from making many of the mistakes I have already made. It is like having a friend guide you through the experience!