5 comments about Dress Your House for Success: 5 Fast, Easy Steps to Selling Your House, Apartment, or Condo for the Highest Po ssible Price!.

1. This was a wonderful book! I am a realtor and believe in giving my clients the best possible chances for the most return on selling their home. I was very pleased with her method. The clients that have followed her ideas have gotten better offers, not just higher ones. I have even fallen into the trance of "I want to buy this house" when I show a home to my buyers that another realtor has listed and had their sellers stage the home for selling. If you watch any of those staging house shows on TV you will see how important it is to have the house look ready to move in. Martha's advice is practical and even has tips on how to keep the house looking great during the period of the listing even when you are very busy and have kids running around the house. I highly recommend this book!



2. I am in real estate and I offer a copy or recommend this read to everyone who has a property to sell. I was impressed with the method. Proven results show that sellers who followed her ideas have gotten better offers. Many of the ideas are offered in the staging shows you see on HGTV. Martha's advice is practical and even has tips on how to keep the house looking great during the period of the listing even when you are very busy and have kids running around the house. Its a great resource!



3. Of several books I read in preparation for selling my house, this one was by far the best. I gave it to my parents when they were selling their house, and they also found it very helpful. While it took my parents a little longer to sell their house, I sold mine in just a few weeks!



4. Being a small book, I was surprised at the amount of practical information crammed into it. It's clearly written by an experienced author and I look forward to using the suggestions in it.



5. This a great book and if you're having trouble getting ready to sell your house, this is book to put you on the right path. The author tells you the things that HGTV has drilled in our heads for a while now, but it gives you a check list to keep you on track.
   
   I purchased the book to help with my condo redecorating; I wanted to go all out, but this book (and others like it) provided me with guidelines to keep me from going to far. I didn't want to have to undo my decor once I got ready to sell.
   
   If you already know to clean, repair, declutter, then you don't need this book, but if you would like a little more insight into each (a little direction) this is a fantastic book. It would be interesting to know if people really do sell faster in a down market based on these strategies.

3 comments about About the House With Henri De Marne: How to Maintain, Repair, Upgrade, and Enjoy Your Home.

1. Every year, for over 32 years, Henri de Marne has been fielding thousands of questions from homeowners. As a result, he knows better than anybody else what problems people encounter, the mistakes they make, and the issues they face when repairing or upgrading a home. This book belongs in every home as a ready reference, because you never know when you'll need the information it contains.



2. Written by home improvement columnist Henri De Marne, About the House with Henri De Marne is a comprehensive homeowner's manual written in plain English for lay readers. From crawl spaces to roofs, doors and windows, plumbing, electrical systems, kitchens, baths, interior surfaces, insulation, and more, About the House with Henri De Marne provides "how-to" solutions to common problems and recommends when to do it yourself and when calling in a professional is recommended. A small amount of black-and-white photographs and sketches illustrate this money-saving, question-and-answer format guide. "The best way to clean an oil stain from concrete or asphalt is by sprinkling a layer of TSP-PF crystals onto the stains and sprinkling hot water onto the TSP-PF. Scrub with a stiff bristle brush and let stand for a half hour. Rinse with clear water. If the oil is deeply embedded, you may need to repeat the procedure." An excellent resource of tips, tricks, and techniques for keeping one's home in top condition.



3. Henri De Marne publishes a nationally syndicated column called "First Aid for the Ailing House," in which he answers homeowners' questions about how to maintain, repair, upgrade, and enjoy their homes. If you are a fan of the column, buy this book pronto. De Marne has over three decades of experience with home maintenance and this volume collects all his advice into nine chapters organized by section of the house (roof, exterior, plumbing, etc.). It includes an extensive index which cross-lists items under as many names as possible. If you have a question and De Marne has ever answered it, you can locate his advice in a few seconds with this book.
   
   This reviewer purchased About the House not because she was a fan of the column, but as part of a search for a good new homeowner reference book. This has been recommended as a great gift for a new homeowner, and I disagree with that recommendation. This is a great book for an experienced homeowner or a regular reader of the column. It is not organized in a fashion that is relevant to new homeowners, who need step-by-step maintenance and care instructions and would be aided by illustrations (which this book lacks, for the most part).
   
   Know what you are getting into, and buy this book if it meets your need. This is not a gift book for the first-time homeowner.

5 comments about Mrs. Clean Jean's Housekeeping with Kids: Family Pickup Lines (and Household Routines) That Work with Less Work from You.

1. Thank you, Tara Aronson! As the mother of a four-year-old, who is on the cusp of being able to do so many things for himself -- but who doesn't -- your book was immensely empowering for me to take control of the situation. It gave me the tools to teach my child how to take reponsibility for himself and help keep this house running smoothly. Your book is so easy to read and spells things out succintly -- and with wit. Your book is now my new gift to all my mommy friends. Thank you!



2. I'm one of those moms who found it easier and faster to do all the housework myself. Now with teens in the house who won't lift a finger, I wish I'd read this book 10 years ago!
   What's best about this book?
   * Chore lists broken down by age brackets that make cleaning fun, even for toddlers.
   * Surprising storage ideas for my always-cluttered garage.
   * Smart ways to reorganize your kitchen to cut cooking time in half.
   If you're starting a family, buy this book first. You'll thank yourself some day in the not-too-distant future when your kids not only take part, but have fun, sharing housework.



3. She has some good chore charts that are organized by the age of the child. Some very good room ideas too, but they're not always easy to find in the chapters.
   
   However, some of her ideas on things other than cleaning are just bizarre.
   
   For instance, she discusses carpools in great detail, even going so far as to say you should inquire about insurance levels of all the drivers. Well, gee, if you're going to do that, shouldn't you go as far as getting driving records from DMV too? And if you're really that worried about it, should you be doing the carpool thing at all?
   
   And, be forewarned, this author has apparently never lived outside of a large metropolitan city, because for her, cell phones are a fact of life--she apparently has never lived nor traveled where there is no coverage. She is so dependent upon them, that when there was a minor injury to a friend's child, had practically a panic attack when she couldn't reach the parents (either didn't have the phone with them or turned it off). Cell phones are not foolproof, folks--they stop working, there are areas with no coverage, people turn them off, people leave them behind in the car or at home, people actually choose to ignore the ring, really! For someone so "organized", in this situation she came across as fairly helpless. Hopefully she learned her lesson and has a signed medical release form for her friend's kids somewhere, or better yet, taken a Red Cross First Aid class.
   
   If she stuck to the cleaning issues only, the book is okay, although she seems very into disposable anti-bacterial wipes. Her other advice, well, it's good for a laugh. Buy used, after checking it out of the library first.



4. Excellent Book! A lot of great ideas to get the house in order. One of the things I especially like are her suggestions for including kids of all ages in practical matters around the house. Get your two year old to clean?! She offers many idea on how to do it. From that angle, her ideas are rather "Montessoriesque", giving kids a challenge and a sense of accomplishment when their task is acheived.
   
   I do agree, however, that some of her idea will not work with every house and family. (She really does like those disinfectant clothes. Not very economical.) But, if you take what you need and adapt if for your own needs, this book offers much.



5. By nature I am an organized person but for some reason I have had trouble translating that organization to my home and specifically with my children. This book lays out very practical steps in guiding your kids in being a part of keeping your house clean and orderly. There are some excellent lists of 'age appropriate' chore suggestions as well as many ideas for implementing and encouraging your kids to be a part without whining and complaing.

5 comments about More Straw Bale Building: A Complete Guide to Designing and Building with Straw (Mother Earth News Wiser Living Series).

1. I have been reading up on SB construction for quite some time now and this is by far the best book yet. It is a nice blend of the glossy pics that are nice and the technical info that we need. It is also nice to see Tina taking a bit of credit for a change. Congrats folks you have another great book out there.
   
   Nick



2. I received my item quickly and in good condition. Very satisfied.



3. A VERY HIGH QUALITY INFORMATIVE PUBLICATION. ANYONE INTERESTED IN STRAW BALE CONSTRUCTION SHOULD HAVE A COPY.



4. This was a pretty good book. But, I must admit, I am waiting for one book that says it ALL!! I haven't found that book yet.



5. I was very impressed with the level of detail and thoroughness in how the authors explained about building with straw bales, the details, etc. If you are considering alternative building materials with an eye on energy conservation and reducing your "footprint" on the planet, this is a must for your library and to use while planning your home design.

2 comments about Builder's Guide To Swimming Pool Construction.

1. The title of the book should be called then "CA Contrators Guide to Swimming Pool Construction". It didn't seem to me to be much more that an overview of what you would be getting yourself into if you decided to go after a C-53 California Swimming Pool Contrator's License.



2. This is a great book and we are in Massachusetts not California. I don't know what the other reviews problem is. Help us tremendously with a great pool design. Has the ins and outs for this type of construction.

1 comments about Animal Puzzles for the Scroll Saw: 30 Projects in Wood.

1. The book is excellent , a good price and delivered in a timely manner.

3 comments about The Harvard Five in New Canaan: Midcentury Modern Houses by Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson, Eliot Noyes, and Others.

1. New Canaan was a household name according to a 1953 issue of House and Garden magazine: it referred to five architects who designed houses for themselves and their clients in New Canaan, Connecticut. An introductory essay provides the history, recounting how the town became the figurehead of a new modern movement in housing experimentation: chapters which follow analyze the structures and works of Marcel Breuer, Landis Gores, John Johansen, Philip Johnson and Eliot Noyes. Black and white interior and exterior photos abound.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch



2. William Earls reveals an interesting fact in his introduction: that a small group of brilliant young architects uniquely designed houses for themselves and others in this conservative small town in the post-war years. The book details thirty-seven modern houses though it has to be said that nine were demolished. Each house starts on a spread with photos, floor plan and a brief description.
   
   This should have been an interesting editorial concept but I thought it had all the signs of a quickie production not helped by a rather bland design. The distribution of pages to each house varies quite a lot (most likely depending on what images were available). Philip Johnson's Glass House estate gets sixteen pages, Frank Lloyd Wright's Rayford House gets six pages but Marcel Breuer's demolished Mills house gets a spread with one photo. The book's title refers to the Harvard Five and they have the most houses but twelve architects are actually featured.
   
   Many of these houses are standing and occupied but there is no contemporary reference to them. The author rightly says that private homes are not open to the public but surely it would have been worthwhile to contact the owners and ask them what they thought of the house and were there any technical problems in living in a 'modern' house that is now some decades old. Some owners would probably have agreed to allow a photo of their house so the reader can see its contemporary look.
   
   Because the screen size is only 133dpi so many of the photos are grey and also much of the cropping does not bring out the best in these buildings. I wish more thought had gone into the design. Some photos have nearly unreadable text on them, captions are sometimes white out of a photo while others are placed (correctly) underneath the image.
   
   Certainly this is an interesting idea for a book but I don't think it really comes off.
   
   ***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.



3. I enjoyed this book and return to it often. The beautiful photos offer one a glimpse into the way it was (and should still be) along with excellent descriptions and floor plans of many of the houses. The only thing I would have loved to have is more current pictures of the best kept houses, along with more biographical information on some of the lesser known architects in the book, such as Christ-Janer, whose houses truly piqued my interest and left me wanting more. I took this book with me to New Canaan and it was very helpful in my meanderings through the town. If you live in the NYC area or plan to visit, I wholeheartedly encourage you to buy this book, take a day to drive to New Canaan, drive around the town, and take a tour of Philip Johnson's Glass House (buy tickets in advance).

5 comments about Commercial Refrigeration for Air Conditioning Technicians.

1. this book i a very comprehensive and well rounded in the real work workings of referation. I would recomend this book to anyone that is interested in furthing there knowledge in refrigeration field.



2. If you are looking to move from air-conditioning to refrigeration service,all the information you need is inside this book!!



3. If you've done some HVAC work but find yourself stumped the first time you work on a freezer or frig, then you need this book!. This is a world of oil losses, hard to know line pressures, strange refrigerant valves and controls and head masters, etc. And this book will explain them all to you with lots of plain talk, plain examples, great drawings, and even a cd-rom of animation. And best of all, it has a page of "Rules of Thumb", such as; High Efficieny (seer) condenser splits = 20 degrees and below. And since refrigerant recovery of freezers and frig's are far more common place than HVAC work, it covers several methods of evacuation and recovery. This book has lots of troubleshooting notes and lots of pictures and all the basics of refrigeration from motors, capillarys, TEV'S and defrosters through superheat and critical charging and so much more. I own many hvac books and this one absolutely stands out as a 'must have' book ! Another good book to have when you want to "master" the trade, is Technician's Guide to Refrigeration Systems'by Corinchock. And of course, Troubleshooting and Servicing Modern Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Systems by Tomczyk. Warning that Tomczyk's book is sold as several books, each with a few chapters, so only buy the complete book I mentioned above, else you will have duplicate text.



4. the book is well put together and provides well thought out information, as well as being in depth enough to help anyone serious about the HVAC/R trade. I hate spending money for bad books and am happy to recommend this book for purchase. Buy it.



5. book not what I anticipated, not much on refrigerated systems, good if you want to learn the overall operation on normal hvac systems. expected much on refrigeration systems, got disapointed, not worth the cost of book.

5 comments about PICNIC: 125 Recipes with 29 Seasonal Menus.

1. In Picnic, DeeDee Stovel draws upon her extensive experience and expertise as a cooking teacher and family chef to present 125 recipes with twenty-nine seasonal menus for creating that perfect picnicking experience. From Taco Salad; Sour Cream Chocolate Cake; and Thai Grilled Shrimp Appetizer; to Rice and Peanut Crispy Bars; Baked Chicken Fingers with Dipping Sauces; and Banana Frosty; Picnic has wonderful recipes for every possible outdoor outing from the mountain valley to the sandy beach, from the backyard to the National Forest. Planning to have a picnic? Then begin with browsing through the pages of DeeDee Stovel's Picnic!



2. First off, it is nigh impossible to find a decent cookbook for less than $..., but to find a great cookbook for under $... (Amazonýs price), is a true discovery.

   But we need to beg the question: even if it is a bargain, do you need another book just for picnics? I mean, picnics are simple, right? Chicken, potato salad, wine, salt, pepper and some napkins. Well, if you have picnic atrophy and go only once a year, then youýre fine with the ýColonel.ý However, if you, by chance, plan to cultivate the cultured outdoor dining side of you, Stovel is your mentor.

   Stovel breaks up the book into the four seasons, and within each season she gives multiple menus (Spring 6, Summer 12, Fall 7 and Winter 4 menus). Each menu normally has five items. For example: Stovelýs, ýSpring Day-Hike Picnicý menu has: grilled chicken fillets in a spinach wrap, artichoke salad, carrot sticks, gingerbread and fruit, with herbal iced tea. Her menus are thoughtful, flavorful, and balanced by having only one or two unique items out of the five. Her recipes are easy to follow and very tasty. This is a text only, there are no photos of the plates.

   I thought Picnics were fun, kinda fast, intimate (like for two) and cheap. But the recipes here are for eight people! I have never had a picnic with eight people. I have had a church gathering and a Super Bowl sporting event, but not a picnic with eight people. Perhaps Stovel comes from a large family and see her readers bringing mom, dad, grandma and the five kids along; but in todayýs world of virtual families, recipes for eight are an overkill. Thus, because my picnics are for two, every recipe has to be cut in half and then I still have a picnic basket of left overs.

   Also, sometimes, the ingredients for these recipes doubled my weekly grocery budget. For example, the ingredients for the ýArtichoke Saladý (pg.16) set me back $16 by the time I bought three jars of marinated artichoke hearts $9, six sun-dried tomatoes [you gotta buy the whole jar] $4, mushrooms, scallions, etc. Or consider the ýFresh Fruit Bowl Kaleidoscopeý costing more than $17 not counting the Grand Marnier Liqueurý which is a heart-stopping $4, just for 50ml.

   These points aired, this is a wonderful book that has recipes that can be used year round, picnic or not (Try ýTanteýs Coffee Cakeý and ýCurrant Oat Sconesý - Excellent). ýPicnicý is an excellent buy for the money. Recommended. 4 stars




3. I bought DeeDee's book mainly because of the price. I thought an inexpensive book on picnics: some good recipes and tips - forget it.

   On my first inspection only one or two recipes interested me. Well, maybe I just wasn't hungry. I put the book away and tried again later. Nope, nothing here.

   Most of the recipes, if not all, are for the wine and brie set picnicing in the Hamptons. If your picnic ideas include hummus with creamed cucumber dressing, garnished with figs that are stuffed with walnut and endive, this book is for you, otherwise look elsewhere.

   I really think this book was put through a marketing survey and they felt they could only get the ten dollars for it if they were lucky.




4. "A picnic evokes thoughts of leisure, relaxation, and enjoyment of the outdoors. It can be a still life in the open air or a boisterous frolic on the beach. Some picnics celebrate a special occasion, some offer the opportunity for friends to gather, and others provide an excuse for breaking the routine of daily life." ~DeeDee Stovel
   
   Are you dreaming of sipping hot chocolate out in the snow or nibbling on brownies after skiing, then there is a lot to offer even in the winter. DeeDee Stovel is a caterer and cooking teacher who is also the author of "Weekend! A Menu Cookbook for Relaxed Entertaining." The recipes in this cookbook are family favorites so most are for eight people. You can easily cut the recipes in half or plan to have leftovers. The picnics for Romantic outings are designed for smaller quantities.
   
   In this creative work, you can find picnic ideas for every season. This would be perfect as a gift with a basket filled with items needed for some of the recipes. The recipes are a reflection of the favorites on the East Coast, but they will appeal to anyone who loves to go on a picnic. You will find information on:
   
   Picnic Planning
   Spring Flings
   Summer Spreads
   Autumn Outings
   Winter Wanderings
   
   DeeDee Stovel loves art and introduces the reader to famous artists who loved to paint picnic scenes. She briefly introduces picnic history and includes information on portable meals from the past.
   
   The useful information includes ideas on how to keep food safe, how to prepare meals to go and how to keep food cold or hot. If you are looking to create "ambience" then she gives recommendations for flowers, mints, candy and other items to add to your checklist. There are two ready-to-go checklists for "Baskets at the Ready." This enables the picnic prone to be ready to travel at the hint of a picnic longing.
   
   Picnics of Interest:
   
   Breakfast in a Meadow
   Spring Day Hike
   Family Celebration in the Backyard
   Summer Canoe Picnic
   Beach Picnic
   Sunlight Through the Trees Picnic
   Music Festival Picnic
   Sports-Fan Picnic
   Moonlight on a Mountaintop Picnic
   Teddy Bear's Birthday Party Picnic
   Cross-Country Ski Picnic
   Workday Picnic
   
   Recipe Ideas are organized according to the Picnic, but you can even just take one new idea from your favorite chapters and create your own outdoor feast. There are tantalizing recipes for:
   
   Gingerbread
   Herbal Ice Tea
   Champagne Mimosas
   Bundt Cake
   Brownies
   Apricot Almond Bars
   Barbecued Chicken
   Red Potato Salad
   Grilled Salmon Fillets with Mustard Dill Sauce
   Frosty Fruit Salad
   Chocolate Zucchini Cake
   Tortellini Salad
   Fresh Peach Ice Cream
   Marinated Pasta Salad
   Sun Tea
   Petite Lobster Rolls
   Cucumber Sandwiches
   Gazpacho Madrileno
   Cold Rice Salad
   Strawberry Cookies
   Spicy Beans with Sausage
   
   If I had to choose one picnic book to keep in a basket for spontaneous outdoor feasts, this
   would be it. There are 125 recipes with seasonal appeal and lots of classic favorites and some intriguing surprises.
   
   ~The Rebecca Review



5. I love to have picnics and have many cookbooks on that subject. Out of my collection, this is the one I go to the most. No pictures, but easy and excellant tasting recipes.

No comments about Clean-Up Time (Toddler Tools Series).