Handy Man Fix Home Repair

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 Old Post Promoter

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We loved the subtitle of this book, Respectful Rehabilitation, and this convinced us to give the book a try. There are more than enough wreckovating books out there, and for those that are interested in maintaining the charm of older homes, a book like this is a rare find indeed. If you are living in an older home that has seen better days, or considering purchasing a fixer upper, this is truly a vital book that belongs on your bookshelf.

While this book does not go in depth on many actual projects, it does offer key advice that you would be hard pressed to find anywhere else. The book starts off with the reasoning behind restoring an old home to its former glory and offers some great consideration points when it comes to making a decision on whether a renovation is actually worth it. There are no pie-in-the-sky ideals here, and the author is not afraid to discuss whether or not it is feasible to restore an old home. Not every property can be helped, and you can save a lot of money by figuring this out early on in the process.

The next two chapters deal with learning more about older homes and how to start the process of actually fixing them up. You’ll also learn about safeguarding older properties and some considerations that need to be taken into account before you even begin. By simply reading this book before starting a renovation, a homeowner could easily save thousands of dollars, even if they only read the first three chapters.

The section on cost is by far the best and can be used to get a better idea of how much you are going to need to spend to fix your older home. Contractors and DIY angles are discussed as well as what to expect when your budget gets out of control, as it often can with an older home. Remember, once you start one project on an old house, there are tons of chances you’ll be dealing with five more as a result.

The actual renovating process is broken down into the exterior and interior of the home. Some great advice can be found in these two chapters, especially if you are trying to maintain the character of your older home and restore it properly. We can’t always rely on old photographs, and these chapters will help with some of the bigger decisions on what to do during your renovations.

The last chapters go over learning more about older homes and how to find resources that will help with your renovation project. If you are committed to respectful renovation, these resources are incredibly helpful, especially if you are in the dark on your home’s previous history.

We loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone that is trying to fix up an old home. You’ll be able to save money and get the benefit of some great advice along the way.

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