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Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands (Paperback)

~ James Shepherd (Author) "There are two methods of contracting for the homeowner to consider before building a new home..." (more)
Key Phrases: professional general contractor, return diffusers, framing crew, Framing Your Project, Energy-Saving Insulation Options, United States (more...)

2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

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Product Description

Consumers who are building or renovating their homes can save substantial time and money simply by contracting the work themselves. This guide will help homeowners obtain permits, develop plans and specifications, and check work. Even if they choose to hire a general contractor, this handbook will help consumers knowledgeably oversee the project.

Product Details

Paperback: 278 pages
Publisher: Kaplan Publishing; 2 Sub edition (March 1, 1996)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0793117313
ISBN-13: 978-0793117314
Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.5 x 0.7 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds

Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,661,249 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
There are two methods of contracting for the homeowner to consider before building a new home. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
professional general contractor, return diffusers, framing crew, footing trenches, masonry supplier, plaster veneer, carpentry crew, contractor furnishes, brick ties, grade stakes, own general contractor, passive solar heat, supply registers, air infiltration, corner bracing, shoe molding, steel lintels, auxiliary heat, trade contractors, polystyrene block, trim material, baseboard heat, solar heating system, heat pump, culvert pipe

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Framing Your Project, Energy-Saving Insulation Options, United States, Striking Interior Wall Finishes, The Importance of Footings, Flooring Options

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 1 book:

Be Your Own Contractor!: Building Your Dream House Creating New Spaces Managing the Project Yourself or Using a General Contractor by James M. Shepherd in Back Cover

2 books cite this book:

How to Afford Your Own Log Home, 5th: Save 25 Percent without Lifting a Log by Carl Heldmann in Back Matter
Handy at Home: Tips on Improving Your Home from America's Favorite Handyman by Richard Karn in Back Matter

Books on Related Topics (learn more)

The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home by Dave McGuerty

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How to Plan, Subcontract and Build Your Dream House by Warren V. Jaeger

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Build Your Dream Home for Less by R. Dodge Woodson

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	27% buy the item featured on this page: Be Your Own Contractor and Save Thousands 2.0 out of 5 stars (2)
	20% buy The Owner-Builder Book: How You Can Save More Than $100,000 in the Construction of Your Custom Home, 4th Edition 3.7 out of 5 stars (43) $13.57
	20% buy Build Your Dream Home for Less 4.0 out of 5 stars (14) $7.35
	19% buy What Your Contractor Can't Tell You: The Essential Guide to Building and Renovating 4.8 out of 5 stars (27) $14.36

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Very Basic, not as good as other books on this topic, February 7, 2005

By	Blake Morris (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There are other books on being your own contractor that are better. This book is not very insightful and offers basic ideas and concepts. For the price, there are better choices and more up to date books out there.

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4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars I had to laugh, June 6, 2005

By	M. Wyze - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

If you need this book, you're already in huge trouble if you're going to be your own contractor. It's full of basic information about building that anyone contemplating being their own GC should already know. If you don't know this stuff, hire a general contractor and you'll be glad you did. It's a little bit useful in guiding homeowners along the myriad paths of decisions that need to be made while building. I cracked up when I saw the "cost table", Pella windows for $2650. I envisioned a house with three windows. I checked the copyright date, and it was 1996. Prices haven't risen that much, so okay his house had maybe seven windows. The rest of the cost table was just as useless as data, but the format is useful. I have no problem with James Shepard's expertise, he obviously has built houses. This is a good self-test book to see if you're capable of being a GC for your own project. If this book contains new stuff for you, hire someone else. Much more useful are the "Code Check" books and "Building Construction Illustrated".

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