If you’re thinking about buying an old house to restore, stop right now and buy this book. It is the absolute epitome of what you should not do, and it may even make you change your mind. Anyone interested in home improvement horror stories will love this book, and there is some very good information that you can take away with you.
The subtitle of the book, Down to the Studs in My House, My Marriage, My Entire Life, really says it all. The author details the process of buying and attempting to fix up an old house and what it did to basically his entire life. Few people realize the type of commitment they are getting into when buying an older home, and get caught up in the emotional side of renovation. This book is a much needed bucket of cold water that may snap you back to reality.
The book is very humorous and easy to read, but at times, you may want to cry instead of laugh. He pulled no punches when it came to describing the various projects he had to undertake, their cost and their emotional toll on his family. At times, you just want to cringe and never think about picking up a hammer again. The author had already written a book, How to Avoid Marriage, and this plays heavily into the entire experience that he goes through.
In the middle of their renovations, he loses his job and that is when things really go bad. You’ll be able to learn a lot about not only fixing up a house but how to manage finances so that it won’t force you into bankruptcy. While this book does not contain any actual blueprints or project advice, it does contain incredibly valuable lessons for anyone interested in home improvement.
Given that there is a phenomenon right now of DIY’ers that cannot seem to stop renovations and projects, this book is very necessary. The prevalence of fix-it-yourself shows has led many to get in over their heads and overestimate their abilities when it comes to home improvement. By reading this book, you may be able to save a lot of time, money and heartache.
We highly recommend this book, especially to those that are completely new to home improvement projects. While we don’t want to discourage anyone from taking on the chore of fixing up their house, it is important to make sure that you are prepared for what is ahead. It is entirely possible to do a lot of damage to your home in an attempt to “fix” it, and if you’re not financially prepared to handle the consequences, it can be disastrous, as this book illustrates very well.
Overall, this is an engaging read and the book is well worth the money and the time spent reading it. Anyone who has ever tried to fix up an old house will appreciate the trials and tribulations of this couple on their journey.
Originally posted 2008-08-29 05:26:55. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
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2 comments ↓
This is so true, many people attempt to tackle jobs and do not realize exactly what is involved until they are in over their head. Even in my off-line handyman business people do not realize what is involved in doing the job. When you think about the job before you actually begin the work it’s so easy to mentally go from step to step and not as easy once you begin. A lot more thought has to go in at the planning stage. Thanks for a great post – I’ll have to look for this book! Scott
Phew! This book could be the tonic that I need to stop myself from taking on the restoration of any rotting woooden boat I see–or taking on projects around my 1930’s house that would better be left alone!
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