Inspecting a House: A Guide for Buyers, Owners, and Renovators - Softcover

Carson, Alan; Dunlop, Robert

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0773760377 ISBN 13: 9780773760370

Publisher: Stoddart Pub, 1999

Synopsis

A house is the biggest investment most people will ever make, not to mention the environment in which they spend much of their time. Whether evaluating a house independently or with the help of a home inspector, homebuyers owe it to themselves to understand as much as possible about house components and systems, how they function, how they can go wrong, the consequences of common problems, and what to look for in evaluating them.

Inspecting a House: A Guide for Buyers, Owners, and Renovators takes a system-by-system approach to the daunting task of assessing a building s strengths and weaknesses. Readers will be able to break their evaluation into coherent, manageable pieces. Using clear, concise descriptions and outstanding technical illustrations, the book covers all major house components and areas, including:

The structure, exterior, and roof of the house
Heating systems, electrical wiring, and plumbing
Insulation and interiors
The hidden spaces-attics, basements, and crawl spaces

For buyers and owners interested in renovating a house, the book also covers the functions of architects, designers, consultants, and general contractors. Important elements of the renovation process are included: planning and budgeting, building permits, contracts, and new building materials.

Inspecting a House will be a valuable tool during the homebuying process and, afterwards, as a reference for home maintenance and improvement.

About this title

Synopsis

A new home should be a financial investment, not a financial drain. Homeowners often realize too late that the property they've purchased is in need of costly repairs. Now, you can protect yourself before you make a purchase by conducting a thorough home inspection. Seasoned real estate inspectors Alan Carson and Robert Dunlop will help you master the techniques of professional home inspection.This all-inclusive guide, filled with clear and detailed illustrations, will show you: what to inspect yourself and what to leave to the experts; which materials are the most durable when it comes to gutters, exterior walls, and roof; how to check the fuse box or circuit breaker panel for trouble spots; how to identify pipe materials used in plumbing systems and evaluate a septic system; and, what you need to know about floors, doors, windows, walls, and much more. For those who want to perform their own renovations, this book features such useful resources as a breakdown of typical renovation costs and a sample construction contract to help do-it-yourselfers avoid common construction pitfalls.

"Inspecting a House" is a valuable resource that will save you time, money, and the endless frustrations of unforeseen home repairs.

Edition details

• Publisher: Stoddart Pub
• Publication date: 1999
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0773760377
• ISBN 13: 9780773760370
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 200