Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer Uppers (Paperback)

by Robert Irwin (Author) "Most buyers really don't want fixer-uppers, also known as fixers or handyman's specials..." (more)
Key Phrases: cosmetic fixer, fixer opportunities, fixer project, Other Other Other, Big Trouble, Los Angeles (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
In this era of rising real-estate and building costs, it's natural that homeowner wannabes are turning to the less expensive (though more problematic) joys of fixer-uppers. Robert Irwin is a specialist in the area of improvable real estate, and this book is a terrific primer for those do-it-yourselfers who want to save money on the house of their dreams (or turn it around for a tidy profit). Irwin pulls no punches--he starts off with a quiz to determine what manner of fixer the potential buyer is able to handle; lays out the issue of money early on, keeping it firmly at the forefront of every chapter; and includes a horror story or two just to make sure the reader isn't easily scared off. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained" seems to be his motto, however, and the venturesome handyperson will learn a lot from this book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"The author is a veteran real estate broker and investor, and one of the best writers on buying houses".

-- Bookpage

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Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Kaplan Business; 2nd edition (December 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0793139023
• ISBN-13: 978-0793139026
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,051,478 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Unless you are an absolute beginner, don't waste your money!, November 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer-Uppers (Find It, Buy It, Fix It) (Paperback)

Robert Irwin writes in general terms about things that are common sense to anyone who knows a screwdriver from a hammer. This book is strictly for someone that has not even purchased a house before. One last note; If you do buy this book, buy it from Amazon.com because it cost me four dollars more at my local book store!

27 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent guide to buying and rehabbing a fixer-upper., October 15, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Find It, Buy It, Fix It: The Insider's Guide to Fixer-Uppers (Find It, Buy It, Fix It) (Paperback)

This is a step-by-step guide to buying and rehabbing a handyman's (or woman's) special. Real estate expert Robert Irwin shows you how to decide if you're the right person for the project. If so, you'll learn how to locate a property, check it out, become its proud owner, then assemble your "dream team" of plumbers, electricians, and other contractors. You'll also find lots of helpful advice on estimating costs, financing the deal, and deciding what parts of the many projects to tackle yourself.

10 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful and informative, March 12, 2001

By	Don A. Deisheron (Modesto, CA) - See all my reviews

This is a wonderful book that saved me countless dollars and hours in helping me figure out how the best way was to make my newly acquired 'fixer-upper' a dream home.