This book equips owners with the information and strategies needed to turn their vision into a home or renovation project that can be executed on time and within budget. Chapters give detailed coverage of critical topics: design options, selecting and supervising the architect and contractor, cost estimates, budgets, plan specifications, contracts, dealing with town officials and keeping track of everything along the way. For each stage of the project there is detailed information on common pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as insiders' tips which reveal what most contractors can't tell you. This book was previously published by Warner Books (2004) and titled What the "Experts" May Not Tell You About Building or Renovating Your Home.
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Editorial Reviews
From the Publisher
This is the bestselling book of its type for good reason. It’s exactly what owners need and want to know before they start a building project. It’s frank, insightful, well sequenced and gives the reader a fascinating look into the surprising culture of the construction industry. It addresses what all owners are worried about and plenty else they should be worried about. The reader will come away a savvy consumer with foresight, prepared and focused on the right things to ensure their project is a success.
From the Author
Creating a dream home just shouldn't be a nightmare, but hiring people to design and build for you is an enormous investment and a high-risk endeavor involving decisions that will last forever. Most homeowners spend about 20% of their time on the plan and 80% of their time on a messy, traumatic, expensive construction phase, often with bad consequences. Pros spend 80% of their time on the plan and 20% on a smooth construction phase with the desired outcome. But the homeowners can't know what goes into a solid plan unless someone tells them. After years of hearing bright people tell me horror stories about their experiences I thought ‘If owners knew even a fraction of what the professionals did, they could avoid most of these problems.’ I hope you find this book illuminating and helpful. Best of luck with your project.
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More About the Author
Amy Johnston is a Construction Manager and Owner's Representative. She grew up renovating homes with her family and went on to build and renovate several of her own. Johnston has spent the last twenty years managing the design and construction or renovation of residential homes, affordable housing projects, historic downtown restorations and commercial spaces on behalf of owners. As liaison between the parties on so many projects, she enjoys a unique perspective on the dynamics of successful design and construction.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
128 of 128 people found the following review helpful
By Boraxo
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I am looking to build my own home on a nice suburban lot in an existing neighborhood (replacing a teardown) and have purchased half a dozen books from Amazon in hopes of learning how to start the process from scratch. This is by far the most informative useful book of the lot.
It contains detailed information on how to go about hiring an architect and contractor, selecting materials, etc. along with choices that will save money or upgrade your home. It explains the differences between materials and provides tips on how to make sure you get what you put in your plans. It is written for someone like myself, an ordinary joe who has zero experience in design, building or construction. But unlike the awful Dummies book, this one contains useful information and tips for avoiding problems.
If you only buy one book on building your own home this should be the one.
It contains detailed information on how to go about hiring an architect and contractor, selecting materials, etc. along with choices that will save money or upgrade your home. It explains the differences between materials and provides tips on how to make sure you get what you put in your plans. It is written for someone like myself, an ordinary joe who has zero experience in design, building or construction. But unlike the awful Dummies book, this one contains useful information and tips for avoiding problems.
If you only buy one book on building your own home this should be the one.
150 of 155 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Designing and building a new home is intimidating for three reasons (1) It is something with which you are not familiar; (2) you are not likely to have many friends who have done it; and (3) it is VERY expensive. Worse, you feel responsible for every mistake made, and you know that each mistakes cost you money and time. Buying this book is NOT one of those mistakes. Instead, it is the "ounce of prevention" that will pay for itself many hundreds of times over.
Amy Johnston is a professional construction manager and owner's representative. Her wisdom focuses with framing the entire construction project in terms of a tradeoff between time, quality, and money - you can only have two of the three. We're only part way through our new house, and that rings very, very true. We clearly opted for taking a longer time - will we keep that focus as construction progresses? In any case, she gives the insights into each part of the triangle. Better yet, she is fair - she makes sure that neither you, nor anyone else, is getting cheated. Contractors, architects, bankers, inspectors, and everyone else are clearly defined in their roles - though the most important role is the home owner's, which she describes in great detail.
Every chapter is focused on another phase of the project, and her clear writing opens up the mysteries along the way. She describes who is doing what (or should be doing it), and describes what choices need to made - and what the alternatives are - before saying what her choice is.
Her points are illustrated with good references, pertinent anecdotes, and points that she labels "Insider's tips" and "pitfalls".... Read more ›
Amy Johnston is a professional construction manager and owner's representative. Her wisdom focuses with framing the entire construction project in terms of a tradeoff between time, quality, and money - you can only have two of the three. We're only part way through our new house, and that rings very, very true. We clearly opted for taking a longer time - will we keep that focus as construction progresses? In any case, she gives the insights into each part of the triangle. Better yet, she is fair - she makes sure that neither you, nor anyone else, is getting cheated. Contractors, architects, bankers, inspectors, and everyone else are clearly defined in their roles - though the most important role is the home owner's, which she describes in great detail.
Every chapter is focused on another phase of the project, and her clear writing opens up the mysteries along the way. She describes who is doing what (or should be doing it), and describes what choices need to made - and what the alternatives are - before saying what her choice is.
Her points are illustrated with good references, pertinent anecdotes, and points that she labels "Insider's tips" and "pitfalls".... Read more ›
68 of 68 people found the following review helpful
By greenie227
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is excellent for those new to building or renovating and need to know what to do and say and who to say and do it to. The author does an excellent job setting out the relationships, processes, chronologies, and thinking for dealing with other parties all the way from dreaming about doing a remodel/build to finishing it. This is exactly the book I was looking for -- not a technical manual about building, but a handy reference about my role as owner and how I can or should interact with the architect, lender, general contractor, etc. to get the home or addition I want.
32 of 32 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Ms. Johnston's book is an easy and enjoyable read chock full of sound advice. I purchased the book a year ago, one month before my husband and I began to interview architects for our project, building a new home 1000 miles away. After one quick read, I knew it was my "organized builder's guide for all non-builders". By using the suggestions found in the step-by-step approach we have now successfully survived the design phase, bid and builder selection process, contract negotiation, and the permitting phase. The knowledge we have gained from this book has provided us with confidence and there have been a few times already that we have impressed the industry professionals!
It pays to be prepared and Ms. Johnston's book is a very big bargain when considering renovation and new construction costs. We have miles to go before our house is complete, but along the way I expect that we'll refer to this book time and time again...
It pays to be prepared and Ms. Johnston's book is a very big bargain when considering renovation and new construction costs. We have miles to go before our house is complete, but along the way I expect that we'll refer to this book time and time again...
29 of 29 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
As an attorney, I regularly see people who didn't go into contract deals as carefully as they should have. As someone about to build my own home, I read this book to make sure I was doing everything correctly since I knew enough to know that there was plenty I didn't know about contracting, building etc.
This book is fantastic! Even if you're an attorney, you need this book. It provides valuable insight into specific subjects you would never know about unless you'd done these types of projects many times. I can't recommend it highly enough!!
This book is fantastic! Even if you're an attorney, you need this book. It provides valuable insight into specific subjects you would never know about unless you'd done these types of projects many times. I can't recommend it highly enough!!
22 of 22 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Amy's book is wonderful. We received it when we were about to undertake a huge three story addition. Reading this book helped us to think outside the box and ultimately opt to renovate an existing porch. We ended up doing most of the work ourselves but chose to hire out the things we don't like and are not good at (sheet rocking). This book has many helpful details that have positively impacted our renovation. Amy articulates that most standard trim on houses is too small and therefore looks bad. We took her advice and used wider trim, it makes a huge difference. Our new windows look really balanced with the wide trim. I would recommend this book to anyone undertaking renovations. I learned so much.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
On the Money
This book provides the knowlege to properly plan your home construction project and ensure the contractor works your plan. Good value for the investment.
Published 5 days ago by Trace Laux
3.0 out of 5 stars
useful, but would be more so if updated
I have the "Copyright 2008" paperback. It recommends Quickspecs by Guidelines, which I can't find. Much has changed between 2008 and 2013, and this book is showing its age. Read more
Published 14 days ago by gardener
5.0 out of 5 stars
A very good book
Easy reading and it really got my attention. She does an excellent job describing what to look for and her experience. Read more
Published 25 days ago by Narcisa M. Droste
5.0 out of 5 stars
This book is amazing
This book is so amazing. I learned so much by reading it. And, I am a contractor. I didn't know even half the stuff in this book. Oh my gosh this book fantastic. Read more
Published 26 days ago by Boo Hoo
5.0 out of 5 stars
Extremely helpful guide for remodeling!!
My girlfriend and I have relied on this book for several projects on our new home, and we love its straightforward tone and comprehensive content. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Nicholas P Tippery
5.0 out of 5 stars
BUY TWO! This is the Bible of Home Building
Buy Two! One for you and one for your spouse. You will both want to highlight, make notes and sleep with this next to your pillow throughout the life of your project. Read more
Published 1 month ago by KMK
4.0 out of 5 stars
It has helped!
Getting ready to build a new house and this book as been helpful. Especially like the sections on choosing a builder and contracts.
Published 2 months ago by Taloolla
5.0 out of 5 stars
This Really is the Essential Guide
This is hands down the best book I have ever seen when it comes to tips for building a custom home. We are in the early stages of working with an architect to design our dream... Read more
Published 2 months ago by G. W. Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars
Lots of good tips, not the same old, same old...
Open this book to any page and you will likely see an idea or hint you haven't seen in other similar books. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Dr. Rhonda J. Button
5.0 out of 5 stars
Purchased for business...
Purchased for business. I design homes and this book has provided great ideas, as well as a visual for my trades.
Published 3 months ago by Vetta
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