5 comments about Swimming Pool.

1. My review will be short and to the point. This book does not deliver what the title implies. If you just enjoy looking at pictures of pools in different settings -- then this book is for you. If you need what the title implies -- look elsewhere.



2. I saw this one in the bookstore and didn't buy it. Pretty pictures but way above the average person's spending budget. It lists styles of pools in the middle section and gives stars for levels of expense - 1 star was $10,000 or less, etc...I couldn't find any at all that were one star. Maybe there was one but I didn't see it. If you want waterfalls and fancy shapes and pools inthe $40,000 range this is the book for you. If you're not rich, get the Sunset book...at least it's practical.



3. this book is the least technical,yet, most informative book I have read concerning swimming pools. The quality of pictures and settings is second to none. As a matter of fact I used the idea of a post and beam cabana with a built in bar to incorporate into my own pool area. Pick up this book and enjoy.



4. This book does not contain the information necessary for building your own pool as it implies. This book contains only general inforomation on building and designing a pool. If you want someone else to design and build your pool and would like to have an understanding of what professionals are talking about, this book is good. This is by no means a "how to" book.



5. The title implies that there are sections that show HOW to build and Landscpe a pool..There are not. There a ton of beautiful pictures of other people's pools. The book tells you what to tell the person that is building your pool. It is the only book I have ever returned to Amazon.

No comments about Home, Health & Garden Problem Solver (Jerry Baker's Good Home series).

No comments about The Essential Bathroom Design Guide.

4 comments about The Irreverent Guide to Real Estate: Buying, Selling and Making Money.

1. You've got to read this book before buying or selling a house. It is today's most relevant and timely insider's view of what the real estate business is all about and how to turn transactions to your advantage. Pat's not only a pro in the business but she knows how to make a point through real stories.



2. Only some of us are old enough to remember the time before ever increasing value and just wanting to sell your house made it happen. It seems the "Buyer's Market" of olden times is returning and the decisions you make regarding the sale will influence your success in selling, the price you get, and the drama you will endure.
   
   The Irreverent Guide lays out your choices in both buying and selling with humor and clarity. It explains the unintended consequences of each choice and gives the reader a roadmap for pitfalls in the process. It is a very valuable tool in a market that demands a more careful process than we have been used to.



3. A insider's look at the real estate game presented in clear, succinct prose & with an irreverent sense of humor. A "must read" for first time buyers or sellers, Kennedy's sound advice can save them from expen$ive missteps. Experienced house-traders will smile - & wince - as they see their past sales reflected in this book. And by the end, both groups will want to keep that "marvelous agent we used the last time" on their Christmas card list.



4. The author's sense of humor and enjoyment of her career in home real estate carry the reader along through a subject that causes stress and anxiety when you are the buyer or seller. This is an excellent resource and fun to read.

3 comments about Homemade Money: How to Save Energy and Dollars in Your Home.

1. The advice in this book spans the gamut-- everything from "First, go after holes a cat could crawl through." to triple-paned windows that take decades to pay for themselves. Whether you're looking to save a few quick bucks, or you approach conservation from an aesthetic, save-the-planet viewpoint, there is plenty here to keep you busy. Some of the advice is controversial (vapor barriers in attics) and some is bogus (wrapping your hot water heater, which is probably well insulated already), but the treatment of the subject appears thorough and reasonably practical.



2. Like the previous critic, I advise the ever-present grain of salt when reading anything that has yet to be proven scientifically. . . Like the wrapping of the water heater has. You WILL save energy and in turn money by doing so. So much to the point that the state of California now provides Water Heater Blankets with installation, free of charge, to anyone that wants one. Soon it will be a requirement.



3. As with any book on making your home more efficient, a grain of salt must be held at the ready. Saving $50 a year may be a goldmine to some and may just be a private victory against oil corporations to others. Still, with all the info in this book, you'd have to be pretty wasteful to not recoup the purchase prise pretty quick!

   Like the previous critic, I advise the ever-present grain of salt when reading anything that has yet to be proven scientifically. . . Like the wrapping of the water heater HAS. You WILL save energy and in turn money by doing so. So much to the point that the state of California now provides Water Heater Blankets with installation, free of charge, to anyone that wants one. Soon it will be a requirement.

1 comments about Kitchens: Good Ideas.

1. This is a great source for minimalist/urban kitchen inspiration. It is solely a picture book. I was a little disappointed when I went to the websites listed in the manufacturer directory. All are located in Europe and didn't appear to have much in the way of sourcing in the US.

No comments about Bathrooms (Home Front).

5 comments about The Owner-Builder Book: How You Can Save More than $100,000 in the Construction of Your Custom Home, Third Edition.

1. I've just started in on this book, so my review may change after I've read the rest; but my initial opinion of this book is that while it contains a lot of useful information, it also contains information that is based on favorable chance events and optimism; these should be toned down or at least balanced with conservative planning. One instance shows how to "trade up" or "flip" houses to use the equity of the flipped house to get better properties at lower mortgage payments. This is an optimistic assumption, as is apparent in todays real estate market as of this review, there are a lot of home buyers who thought they could do this and are now stuck in expensive properties they don't want. Information presented like this reminds me of those "get rich" books. Many of the other reviewers have said the same thing: Too much junk information thrown in trying to make you feel good about the book and what you are doing. This space could have been eliminated, shrinking the book, or filled with more useful information.
   
   Optimisim and "can do" spirit is definitley necessary to build your own home, by all accounts it is a very trying process. When using this book as an element in your DIY homebuilding planning, I'd follow the author's suggestions, plan like crazy, plan for the worst and hope for the best. The information in the book is very good. I'd still recommend it.



2. I bought this book last year before I started my first building project and it was very useful. While I agree with some of the negative reviews that there are too many testimonials and some strange justifications discussed on why to build your own home, I think overall it's helpful.
   
   Here are the things you can get from this book: a plan showing you how to get started, understanding the different steps and trades to build, understanding the planning time required, an idea of the commitment that is required, a structure to set-up your budget, tips to secure your bank loan and ideas for some custom home features to consider.
   
   You will not get much information on the following: details on building techniques, detailed cost saving tips or useful price information.



3. While the book tries to convince you to be a owner-builder, it doesn't give you what you need to make the decision. A book that was far better and more closely resembles what you want to know about is Contracting your Home. I bought them both and was ready to discard this book and fell in love with that one.



4. well, i've read so many how to books, i've read tips and traps, the idot's guide, and the dummy's guide. the owner builder book surpases them all!
   
   it taught me so much about being my own contractor to build my house myself. i've had a lot of friends who custom built homes, and one thing i noticed about all of them is that the builder didn't really build. he just managed the building project but made $50,000 or more for his management!
   
   this book broke down everything you need to know to begin this process. it especially focuses on the planning stage which is the most important stage in building a custom home.
   
   if you are considering being an owner builder, this the book for you!



5. If you are contracting your own house, this book is a must. Read it, and also go to the website. I read this book through a few times, and feel more confident as I start my owner-builder process.

4 comments about Invest in Your Nest: Add Style, Comfort, and Value to Your Home.

1. Should you add a new bathroom or enlarge an existing bedroom? The kitchen needs a new range and dishwasher. Should you go cheap, drop a bucketful of cash, or is there a happy medium? Your significant other swears by his great-aunt's husband's cousin's daughter's grave that he can rewire the upstairs rooms by himself. When should you call in the pros?
   
   Most important: Can you afford to invest in that new or existing home? Can you afford NOT to?
   
   Barbara K introduces readers to the realities of buying and improving their homes. Showing why and how to go beyond price tags, she offers her experiences in real estate as a base for her collection of tips, resources, and more. Arranged in a logical format, the book is a step-by-step guide to buying and preparing to sell real estate through a room-by-room look at what updates are best bets in increasing a home's value.
   
   Overall, this book can be a great guide for someone going into home improvement. Most of the advice is solid. As someone who was a real estate agent, I can say a great deal of her information is great. Some of the financial/credit information will be confusing to readers not familiar with the process. (If you, the reader, are ever in doubt regarding financing and your eligibility, be sure to go to a professional for advice!)
   
   For homeowners who are considering updating their properties, this will be a good book to add to your reading list.
   
   Reviewed by Christina Wantz Fixemer
   8/23/2006



2. So who is Barbara K!? Note the exclamation point! Her liberal use of this punctuation mark was a bit distracting but I can only assume it was intentional... her product line of power tools is branded with an exclamation point.
   
   Obviously, Barbara is an enthusiastic and expressive woman. I have a feeling this translates better on HGTV but it wasn't working for me on the written page. That said, Barbara's message is one of empowerment and I can certainly appreciate when a woman wants to roar.
   
   Keep in mind that Barbara's examples are skewed towards remodeling her "house in the Hamptons" and 90% of America cannot relate to the summer or weekend home experience. She discusses The Indispensable Bathroom and writes, "I always add more bathrooms if there aren't enough (one for every bedroom) when I buy a new home." The only reason homeowners need a bathroom for every bedroom is when their New York friends are crashing there on the weekends. I've renovated five homes and none had equal parts bathroom to bedroom.
   
   This might be a petty observation, but Barbara is supposed to be writing for the common woman and Hamptons living is very uncommon for most people. But she has good intentions and for the most part the book has helpful advice. Personally, I think her strength is in the renovation sections: Part 2 and 3.
   
   She spends considerable time on the three most important areas of your home - the kitchen, baths and landscape. Barbara obviously knows a thing or two about remodeling and where to get the best bang for your buck. The further I got into the book, the more she surprised me and I ended up thinking she wasn't a Hamptons snob after all. Enjoy the book.



3. Ah, our lovely abode. For some it is a place to raise their family, and for some it is an investment opportunity. Either way, you should make sure that the book "Invest In Your Nest" is on your bookshelf as a reference in any home project. Part of the title on the cover of this book has the wording, "Add Style, Comfort, And Value To Your Home" Yes, you really should find ways to increase the eye candy of your home.
   
   This book is written by Barbara K, who is CEO of Barbara K!, a comprehensive lifestyle brand that offers solutions for women through innovative home enhancement/repair and automotive products. She is also the home improvement expert for AOL Coaches and author of the inspirational fix-it handbook "Room for Improvement". She has been featured in many large media outlets, television shows, and radio shows. She lives in New York with her son, Zachary.
   
   As I read this book, I couldn't help by think of how handy it would have been before I started some of our own projects around our home. But, I am glad I now have it to reference for the future. The book is nicely arranged with the topic and sections which cover "Go to the pros", "On your Own", and "Barbara's Best Bet". Each of those areas talk about time needed, project costs, how to do, and much more.
   
   ... My favorite parts ...
   
   1) On the topic of buying a home, one of Barbara's Best Bets: EXCELSIOR! (EVER UPWARD!) Don't forget the ceiling. Bumpy 'popcorn' acoustic ceilings are outdated and unattractive. I have two friends who walked away from two great houses because they were so turned off by the popcorn ceilings. That's too bad because they are easily removed with a scraper attached to a long pole (be sure to empty the room of furniture and cover the floor with a canvas drop cloth before you begin, and wear safety glasses). Yes, it's labor intensive and messy, but it's worth it.
   
   2) Another of Barbara's Best Bets: WINDOW FILM: In summer, bright sun streaming through uncovered windows makes air conditioning work two to three times harder. You could draw the shades, but who likes spending time in a dark room on a gorgeous, sunny day? Instead, you can install a reflective window film over clear glass. It reduces cooling costs by 5 to 15 percent. Look for high-tech, spectrally selective film that permits daylight to enter your rooms while blocking solar heat. Most window film manufacturers offer warranties only with professional installation, but you can apply the film yourself.
   
   Professionally installed window films range from $1 to $5 per square foot.
   
   3) I have a soapstone wood burning stove, so this was useful: Soapstone is extremely dense and only needs to be wiped with mineral oil every month or so. While it is heat resistant, cut marks will show and edges may chip if hit with pots and pans. The mineral oil brings out its natural coloring of black or dark gray with white veins.
   
   Barbara also includes some pages with lined columns and rows for planning.
   
   Overall this is a book packed full of good advice. There are time when it is geared towards someone who buys up homes and remodels them just to resell them. However, there are other practical things to be learned by any homeowner. It also mentions the training and certification you should look for when hiring professionals, as well as the steps to hire one and how to work with contracts.



4. I read a glowing review of this book in my local newspaper and decided to try it. It is a great book of information for any woman or man for that matter to look at their home/asset and plan how to make the most of it.
   I am thinking sale in a few years and this book made me take a close look at how to get the most from my years in my home.
   I have since bought the book for female friends to help them on the path of financial independence and wise use of their dollars. I have started my own home renovations/modernizing in a much wiser and profitable way. She has "been there, done that" and I appreciate that. She tells it like it is in clear, precise language that helped me start my planning.

No comments about Exterior Home Repairs & Improvements (Black & Decker Home Improvement Library).