Companion to the best available guide to saving money on a home construction project, The Owner-Builder Book: How You Can Save More than $100,000 in the Construction of your Custom Home. The Special Reports volume shows you how to contract your new home, remodel, or addition at phenomenal savings. Contains a step-by-step description of each component of the process, from finding land to building green. Includes interviews with representative subcontractors and hundreds of suggestions from owner-builders on each topic of interest in building or remodeling your home. Illustrated with owner-builder photos. Richly colored sidebars provide links to thousands of Forum threads, and template forms for contracts, agreements, budget and schedule forms and worksheets. Super-index provides over 7,000 search terms for total utility.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"... the Smiths' advice covers everything about building a home ... the book is an awesome resource guide" -- Women's Day Home Remodeling
"If you've always dreamed of your own custom home, you may want to try The Owner-Builder Book." -- The Orange County Register
"It's incredibly detailed, with valuable lists, charts, ideas and questionnaires, yet is easy reading ... this is must reading." -- The Pocket Change Investor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
"If you've always dreamed of your own custom home, you may want to try The Owner-Builder Book." -- The Orange County Register
"It's incredibly detailed, with valuable lists, charts, ideas and questionnaires, yet is easy reading ... this is must reading." -- The Pocket Change Investor --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From the Publisher
This book will help you through a challenging task, that of acting as contractor on a new home, house addition or remodel. There is a tremendous amount of money to waste when you build, and The Owner-Builder Book: Special Reports will help you to save a substantial amount while building a better house.
We have provided many other resources to help you build at OwnerBuilderBook.com, including a free Download Gallery of software templates for construction budgeting and scheduling, along with numerous helpful forms and contracts.
At OwnerBuilderBook.com we have posted more than 60 pages of reader comments such as these:
"My friend had your book checked out of the library so much that the librarian bought her her own copy."
Dale B. Tucson, AZ
"I enjoyed your last edition very much. I was very glad to find this new edition at the bookstore. Because I remodel houses, I watch for all the books on this subject. I've probably read them all. There are so few books out there that you can use. The majority of the construction books are just written to sell. Yours is written to inform. Some of the books I just get maybe a paragraph out of that's new. Yours I can use."
Cliff S. York, SC
"We are working on a huge apartment project, and this is coming in really handy. The book gave us the inspiration to get started in the first place."
Edmund & Emily M. Coppers Cove, TX
"This book fell into my hands last year. It was like an answer to prayer. I just devoured the book immediately. I have 20-30 sticky tabs sticking out of it all over."
Dorethy H. Topeka, KS
"The book has been helpful in pointing us in the right direction, and giving us the right questions to ask. We wouldn't have been in as good shape if we hadn't read it."
Kurt A. Hayden, ID
"Excellent book. A lot of useful information a lot of people don't have. Very informative. As a contractor. I sat down with the book. At first I was wanting to toss it out the window. Either this guy is clueless, or he's been there before. I finally realized that the realities of running your own project are right on target. You can run your own project and become your own construction manager. Often the client doesn't have a clue and they are running fifteen subs and don't want to cut loose control and it turns into a nightmare. They are never there, but they hold the power of the purse. When the subs know that you're not cutting the check, they don't paying attention to you . It was very informative and very on target. And this is the wave of where construction will go. A great book to pass on to clients. I've got a client now where they can't get a hold of a contractor. They've done a lot of footwork, but don't have enough information to take the reins and do it. It's very hard to get contractors right now and this is a great resource for people who could do this on their own. This will give them enough to know what they are getting into at the very least. It gets crazy with people who don't know what they are doing. A contractor's perspective. We hear how to sell. And we find contractors that just slam dunk people, and we are trying to build a reputation for doing what's fair. I've laid my books open to people. Everyone talks about leveling the playing field, but that's difficult when there's no one to reinforce the certification of contractors. We find scabs out here who undercut the price but don't carry the insurance, the workmen's comp., and they're not above board. We often have to go out and clean up a bad mess. If people really want to level the playing field they have to reinforce the certification of contractors. In stead, let's give everyone the information to be a true owner-builder. We're trying to run a square game. We try to make enough profits to stay in business for another day. We get slammed with high liability insurance, workers comp., and all the overhead. I'm all for people being fully informed. If someone had this information and had their project as well planned as it should be, it would be a joy to work for them. There would be very few problems. That does everybody a service."
Larry T. Santa Rosa, CA
We have provided many other resources to help you build at OwnerBuilderBook.com, including a free Download Gallery of software templates for construction budgeting and scheduling, along with numerous helpful forms and contracts.
At OwnerBuilderBook.com we have posted more than 60 pages of reader comments such as these:
"My friend had your book checked out of the library so much that the librarian bought her her own copy."
Dale B. Tucson, AZ
"I enjoyed your last edition very much. I was very glad to find this new edition at the bookstore. Because I remodel houses, I watch for all the books on this subject. I've probably read them all. There are so few books out there that you can use. The majority of the construction books are just written to sell. Yours is written to inform. Some of the books I just get maybe a paragraph out of that's new. Yours I can use."
Cliff S. York, SC
"We are working on a huge apartment project, and this is coming in really handy. The book gave us the inspiration to get started in the first place."
Edmund & Emily M. Coppers Cove, TX
"This book fell into my hands last year. It was like an answer to prayer. I just devoured the book immediately. I have 20-30 sticky tabs sticking out of it all over."
Dorethy H. Topeka, KS
"The book has been helpful in pointing us in the right direction, and giving us the right questions to ask. We wouldn't have been in as good shape if we hadn't read it."
Kurt A. Hayden, ID
"Excellent book. A lot of useful information a lot of people don't have. Very informative. As a contractor. I sat down with the book. At first I was wanting to toss it out the window. Either this guy is clueless, or he's been there before. I finally realized that the realities of running your own project are right on target. You can run your own project and become your own construction manager. Often the client doesn't have a clue and they are running fifteen subs and don't want to cut loose control and it turns into a nightmare. They are never there, but they hold the power of the purse. When the subs know that you're not cutting the check, they don't paying attention to you . It was very informative and very on target. And this is the wave of where construction will go. A great book to pass on to clients. I've got a client now where they can't get a hold of a contractor. They've done a lot of footwork, but don't have enough information to take the reins and do it. It's very hard to get contractors right now and this is a great resource for people who could do this on their own. This will give them enough to know what they are getting into at the very least. It gets crazy with people who don't know what they are doing. A contractor's perspective. We hear how to sell. And we find contractors that just slam dunk people, and we are trying to build a reputation for doing what's fair. I've laid my books open to people. Everyone talks about leveling the playing field, but that's difficult when there's no one to reinforce the certification of contractors. We find scabs out here who undercut the price but don't carry the insurance, the workmen's comp., and they're not above board. We often have to go out and clean up a bad mess. If people really want to level the playing field they have to reinforce the certification of contractors. In stead, let's give everyone the information to be a true owner-builder. We're trying to run a square game. We try to make enough profits to stay in business for another day. We get slammed with high liability insurance, workers comp., and all the overhead. I'm all for people being fully informed. If someone had this information and had their project as well planned as it should be, it would be a joy to work for them. There would be very few problems. That does everybody a service."
Larry T. Santa Rosa, CA
Product Details
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More About the Author
You may email Mark A. Smith at Mark@OwnerBuilderBook.com
Amazon.com: Where are you from? How--if at all--has your sense of place colored your writing?
M.S.: I was born in New Jersey, and lived in a wonderful old Colonial home with my 11 brothers and sisters. Later I went to Utah and met many large families with beautiful homes. People are more resourceful in Utah than anywhere else I've lived, and I consider it the owner-builder capital of the world. We live in a very nice subdivision in Provo, Utah and there is a street near us with 12 houses on it. Nine of those were owner-built.
Amazon.com: When and why did you begin writing? When did you first consider yourself a writer?
M.S.: I wrote my first book in college, and never had the chance to get back to it during a busy life trying to succeed as a manager and consultant. I rediscovered my love for writing as a consultant when I developed marketing plans for clients. It was a lot of fun to make the plans interesting and to see a buzz develop among managers when the plans were delivered to their desks. It is very valuable to interview lots of knowledgeable people when you research and take their often pithy words and ideas and weave them into a"good read." The Owner-Builder Book has valuable content, in fact, because it is based on 200 interviews Elaine and I did before writing.
Amazon.com: Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way? What books have most influenced your life?
M.S.: I love self-help books, and have read several hundred of them. Three or four of them have changed my life. I think a good book of this type should give you lots of clear steps to follow and a good reason to follow them. In other words, the book should motivate, even inspire, you.
Amazon.com: What are you working on?
M.S.: After conducting several workshops for owner-builders, we began to understand their needs and how they learn. We are always dismayed when someone looks into owner-building and is intimidated before they start. We have tried to create support materials that overcome this problem and take the fear out of owner-building. We have many downloadable audios, videos, free software, special reports, and construction bargain strategies at OwnerBuilderBook.com. We also offer the leading current books on owner-building at the site. I personally like iPod-type audios as a way to learn and get motivated, but most people like videos. So we have developed videos to make it easier for people.
Amazon.com: What do you see as the major issues in your book category?
M.S.: The thing that bothers me about most of the books I found on owner-building is the propaganda in them that leads people back into the hands of general contractors. It is easy to scare people off. Our purpose is to motivate and give them the tools to do the job. And I think people need to know that they don't need to knock themselves out doing all the actual work on their project to save money. Our book demonstrates that most of the serious savings are in the contracting end. Elaine and I want people to have a great experience building and then the same satisfaction that we do in a great house that you planned well.
Amazon.com: Where are you from? How--if at all--has your sense of place colored your writing?
M.S.: I was born in New Jersey, and lived in a wonderful old Colonial home with my 11 brothers and sisters. Later I went to Utah and met many large families with beautiful homes. People are more resourceful in Utah than anywhere else I've lived, and I consider it the owner-builder capital of the world. We live in a very nice subdivision in Provo, Utah and there is a street near us with 12 houses on it. Nine of those were owner-built.
Amazon.com: When and why did you begin writing? When did you first consider yourself a writer?
M.S.: I wrote my first book in college, and never had the chance to get back to it during a busy life trying to succeed as a manager and consultant. I rediscovered my love for writing as a consultant when I developed marketing plans for clients. It was a lot of fun to make the plans interesting and to see a buzz develop among managers when the plans were delivered to their desks. It is very valuable to interview lots of knowledgeable people when you research and take their often pithy words and ideas and weave them into a"good read." The Owner-Builder Book has valuable content, in fact, because it is based on 200 interviews Elaine and I did before writing.
Amazon.com: Who or what has influenced your writing, and in what way? What books have most influenced your life?
M.S.: I love self-help books, and have read several hundred of them. Three or four of them have changed my life. I think a good book of this type should give you lots of clear steps to follow and a good reason to follow them. In other words, the book should motivate, even inspire, you.
Amazon.com: What are you working on?
M.S.: After conducting several workshops for owner-builders, we began to understand their needs and how they learn. We are always dismayed when someone looks into owner-building and is intimidated before they start. We have tried to create support materials that overcome this problem and take the fear out of owner-building. We have many downloadable audios, videos, free software, special reports, and construction bargain strategies at OwnerBuilderBook.com. We also offer the leading current books on owner-building at the site. I personally like iPod-type audios as a way to learn and get motivated, but most people like videos. So we have developed videos to make it easier for people.
Amazon.com: What do you see as the major issues in your book category?
M.S.: The thing that bothers me about most of the books I found on owner-building is the propaganda in them that leads people back into the hands of general contractors. It is easy to scare people off. Our purpose is to motivate and give them the tools to do the job. And I think people need to know that they don't need to knock themselves out doing all the actual work on their project to save money. Our book demonstrates that most of the serious savings are in the contracting end. Elaine and I want people to have a great experience building and then the same satisfaction that we do in a great house that you planned well.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 81 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
C'mon! Gimme a hint!,
By
This review is from: The Owner-Builder Book: Special Reports (Spiral-bound)
The review is sufficiently illucidating, but I was hoping for a little more meat. What is at least ONE of the 10 Commandments? Give me an idea, at least, of the actual text of the book.
(Also, there's a small typo in the second sentence: There should be an apostrophe just before the period.) I do feel a little silly reviewing a review.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
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Inside This Book
(learn more)
First Sentence:
The right features rank with budget and calendar as your core tools in making money on your home. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
radiant floor system, bargain strategies, home center stores, cultured stone, idea about cost, stucco look, underground plumbing, stick framing, radiant system, floor trusses, superior walls, plumbing supply house, resale number, hillside lots, jetted tub, electrical plans Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Consensus Group, Home Depot, The Owner-Builder Book, Los Angeles, The Complete Guide, Yellow Pages, Amount Spent Notes, Contracting Your Home, Description Percent, Salt Lake City, High Point, Las Vegas, Kansas City, North Carolina, Parade of Homes, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Canon City, Chief Architect, San Jose, Sloshdot Post, Board of Equalization, Corpus Christi, Elk Grove, Hickory Furniture Mart New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
The right features rank with budget and calendar as your core tools in making money on your home. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
radiant floor system, bargain strategies, home center stores, cultured stone, idea about cost, stucco look, underground plumbing, stick framing, radiant system, floor trusses, superior walls, plumbing supply house, resale number, hillside lots, jetted tub, electrical plans Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Consensus Group, Home Depot, The Owner-Builder Book, Los Angeles, The Complete Guide, Yellow Pages, Amount Spent Notes, Contracting Your Home, Description Percent, Salt Lake City, High Point, Las Vegas, Kansas City, North Carolina, Parade of Homes, San Antonio, Baton Rouge, Canon City, Chief Architect, San Jose, Sloshdot Post, Board of Equalization, Corpus Christi, Elk Grove, Hickory Furniture Mart New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Books on Related Topics
(learn more)
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