Undertaking a building or renovation project can be a bit daunting. But with the help of this book you will be in control at all times, confident in your decision making, and sure of getting the job done on time and to a high standard. It includes proven and simple-to-use management techniques that would suit projects ranging from one thousand to one million pounds. Contents: Introduction; About the author; 1. Getting started; 2. Know your requirements; 3. Contacting contractors; 4. Establishing credibility; 5. Obtaining and agreeing quotes; 6. Starting the work; 7. Financial arrangements; 8. Operation and maintenance manuals; 9. Good working relations; 10. Record-keeping; 11. Professional and site teams; Index
Undertaking a building or renovation project can be a bit daunting. But with the help of this book you will be in control at all times, confident in your decision making, and sure of getting the job done on time and to a high standard. It includes proven and simple-to-use management techniques that would suit projects ranging from one thousand to one million pounds. Contents: Introduction; About the author; 1. Getting started; 2. Know your requirements; 3. Contacting contractors; 4. Establishing credibility; 5. Obtaining and agreeing quotes; 6. Starting the work; 7. Financial arrangements; 8. Operation and maintenance manuals; 9. Good working relations; 10. Record-keeping; 11. Professional and site teams; Index
Save 30% on home construction! Whether you want to take on all the responsibility of contracting your home or simply want to intelligently communicate with your homebuilder, The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home can help you save 30% or more on the cost of home construction by teaching you the ins and outs of managing your construction project. Learn how to get your project off to a solid start. Get financial and legal details in language you can understand. Learn what to consider when selecting a lot and how to deal with suppliers, labor and subcontractors. Gain understanding of building codes and inspections so you can manage with authority, confidence, and efficiency. This extensive guide walks you through each phase of construction including preconstruction, foundations, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, painting, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile and landscaping. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes a new section on sustainable building as well as the most comprehensive building resources section ever compiled. You'll find schedules, order forms, control logs, contracts and checklists to help keep your project on track.
Your company's ability to complete a high quality home on time and within budget is your most important asset. Don't let scheduling problems destroy it. Master project scheduling and you'll lower overhead and boost profits. Create efficient schedules to monitor and control construction progress using Microsoft(R) Project 2010. You'll produce more projects with the same management staff and fewer headaches in the field and the back office. This book will help you schedule your next project with confidence and ease. Learn how to: - -record and communicate progress - -control financial, human, and physical resources - -record expenditures and analyze cost details - -manage cash flow and tasks - -create a baseline schedule and updates Don't let sloppy scheduling eat up the time and money you need to build your business and move on to your next profitable project. You must have Microsoft(R) Project 2010 installed on your computer to access the practice files. There are two versions of Microsoft Project - standard and professional. The standard version costs less because it is designed for a single user, whereas the professional version is designed to be used on a server and accessed by multiple users. *Sample schedules are available online. Web address provided in the book. "A formalized scheduling procedure is one of the most powerful tools a builder can use. Scheduling with Microsoft Project illustrates best practices for keeping your projects on time and on budget." - John Barrows, CGB, GMB, CGP, President, J. Barrows Inc., Wainscott, NY Your company's ability to complete a high quality home on time and within budget is your most important asset. Don't let scheduling problems destroy it. Master project scheduling and you'll lower overhead and boost profits. Create efficient schedules to monitor and control construction progress using Microsoft(R) Project 2010. You'll produce more projects with the same management staff and fewer headaches in the field and the back office. This book will help you schedule your next project with confidence and ease. Learn how to: - -record and communicate progress - -control financial, human, and physical resources - -record expenditures and analyze cost details - -manage cash flow and tasks - -create a baseline schedule and updates Don't let sloppy scheduling eat up the time and money you need to build your business and move on to your next profitable project. You must have Microsoft(R) Project 2010 installed on your computer to access the practice files. There are two versions of Microsoft Project - standard and professional. The standard version costs less because it is designed for a single user, whereas the professional version is designed to be used on a server and accessed by multiple users. *Sample schedules are available online. Web address provided in the book. "A formalized scheduling procedure is one of the most powerful tools a builder can use. Scheduling with Microsoft Project illustrates best practices for keeping your projects on time and on budget." - John Barrows, CGB, GMB, CGP, President, J. Barrows Inc., Wainscott, NY
The star of HGTV’s Hidden Potential and HELP! I Wrecked My House offers a rare glimpse behind the TV show curtain, inviting readers into her world with super-simple advice that takes all the guesswork and stress out of any home project. “Renovating a home can be mega intimidating, but not if you surrender to the wisdom of your new guru, Jasmine Roth. She knows all.”—Jonathan Adler Finding your style is the first step to creating your dream home, whether you’re buying a new place, designing ground-up construction, or simply sprucing up the décor on a rental. Through her clear descriptions of four common design types and their many style subsets, along with thought-provoking questions and worksheets, Jasmine helps you create a cohesive feel with your home décor. She also includes helpful information on curb appeal and outdoor lighting (the most forgotten detail of your home), the science of knocking down walls, creative solutions to the five most common layout needs, floor finishes and wall treatments, everything kitchen and bathroom, and fun ways to personalize your space with DIY projects and unique bookshelf styling. With hundreds of stunning photographs of Roth-designed interiors, House Story is a lush exploration of what is possible for you and your home, whatever the size and budget.
Keep construction on track with helpful checklists Turn your dream of a custom home into reality! Thinking about building your own home? This easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. From acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely -- and staying sane during the process! Discover how to: * Find the best homesite * Navigate the plan approval process * Obtain financing * Hire the right contractor * Cut design and construction costs * Avoid common mistakes
Building Your Own Home A Step-by-Step Guide "This is an impressive undertaking. I've seen plenty of books about home construction techniques but this is the first one I've seen that packages construction information with the whole process of acquiring the property." --P. Gilbert Mercurio, Executive Vice President Westchester County Board of Realtors "Written by an expert in both design and construction, the book is highly readable and addresses each aspect of the home building process in terms of cost-effectiveness, quality and aesthetics." --Michel Sargious, PhD, P.Eng. Professor Department of Civil Engineering The University of Calgary Now Building Your Own Home puts complicated material into terms anyone can easily understand. From managing the construction process like a pro to mastering every legal and financial detail, you get step-by-step instruction to guide you through the entire construction process. It explains with 132 clarifying photographs and illustrations how each part of the house is built. You'll learn how to: * find a good lot and select an appropriate design * apply for a building permit, secure the best financing terms as well as the best insurance coverage * handpick top-notch independent contractors--and successfully manage their work * control every stage of construction, from door knobs to deck installation to the plumbing and electrical work Easy-to-read and filled with practical information, Building Your Own Home contains everything you need to build a customized house of your dreams.
Do you want to renovate your existing home or build a new house but don't know where to start? This book has valuable tips and advice to help you. Building or renovating a house should be exciting. You can make it a success, whether you do everything yourself, outsource some of the work to experts, or leave everything to the experts. But, even experts need to be managed - and of course, make sure that they really are experts! How much you do and how much work you leave to experts will depend on your expertise, confidence, means and time. In this practical book filled with invaluable information learn who the various parties are in a home building project, discover different ways you could manage your building project, appreciate what to consider when renovating your house, understand common construction practices, know what to look for when selecting your contractor, learn how to manage your contractor and complete your building project successfully. Know your rights and obligations, avoid common construction problems, learn about construction contractual and financial issues, and understand the traps and pitfalls you should avoid. Armed with this knowledge your home construction project will be a success. Good luck.
This handy and practical planner makes it easy to organize and track your project plans, to do lists, room measurements and layouts, room by room. Your home is one of the biggest projects you will have. It's both the family nest and your go-to relaxation place, and you want to make it the best it can be. Home renovation projects are a lot of work, with lots of little details to track. Basically, you're a project manager for your own home remodeling. Fortunately, this planner makes it super simple to organize everything, with: Notepads for Design Ideas and Sketchpads for the layout Progress Tracker Checklists for Goals, Questions, To Dos, and Materials Shopping List Master Checklists to organize and check off project permits, required supplies, contractor activities, etc Quick Tips and Advice for Home Improvement Projects The compact 6x9 in. size makes this organizer easy to take with you. Get started on managing your home renovation projects today!
If you’ve ever dreamt of designing and building your own home, this book is for you. Becoming a ‘self-builder’ doesn’t necessarily mean learning to build a house physically from scratch. Anyone can be a self-builder – you can do so without ever having to lay a brick yourself. Self-built homes can also be more individual, better designed and more economical than buying from a developer. This book is designed for homeowners and self-builders, whether aspiring or on the brink of starting a project. It provides a jargon-free, step-by-step guide to the process of designing and building your own home, distilling all of the practical information needed to make your dream house a reality. Carefully crafted to offer friendly, easy-to-understand practical guidance and packed with watch points, hints and tips, it also highlights the potential pitfalls and suggests ways of avoiding them. Including indications of costs and timescales, Self-build demystifies the process of budgeting, finding a site, gaining planning permission, designing your home and all of the surrounding issues to do with sustainability, planning, regulations, procurement and the use of building contracts. Beautifully illustrated with over 230-colour photos, diagrams and plans, it provides all the inspiration and ideas you need to bring your own project to life. Featured houses include: Amphibious House by Baca Architects Corten Courtyard House by Barefoot Architects Haringey Brick House by Satish Jassal Architects Shawm House by Mawson Kerr Architects Sussex House by Wilkinson King Architects The Pocket House by Tikari Works Architects.
