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by: Lawrence Thomas, Robert Batcheller
Topics include: homebuilding process, your builder, production builders, your inspector, features sheet, synthetic stucco, large builders, your salesperson, your architect, your warranty, custom builder, home inspector, one builder, model home, most builders
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Book Description:
If you already live in the general area of where you are going to build your new home, this section may not be as relevant as others for you.
From Library Journal Building one's dream house should be a pleasurable experience, but all too often it ends in disappointment. Thomas, who spent many years in the home-building industry, including a stint managing the warranty department of one of the nation's largest builders, offers readers plenty of inside information in this indictment of the new home industry. After perusing this title, some readers may give up on building a new home, but others will find valuable advice for dealing with aggressive sales people, seeing through deceptive model home presentations, choosing options, and monitoring their construction's progress. Readers learn how to protect themselves from contract loopholes that favor the builder and could force buyers to take possession before their home is completed. Although the price seems excessive for a fairly slight paperback, this book contains enough helpful information to justify its purchase for comprehensive public library collections. Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc. Sonia Mayrath, National Secretary, HADD, Inc. "Lawrence Thomas expertly iterates items that should be part of every home buyer's arsenal."
Reviews:
A "Must Read" before you walk into a model home! Our new house is nearly complete and we used the book to guide us through the entire process. The book is laid out logically and very well mirrored our experience. The most helpful information came from the chapters informing us of the missteps that can be made before construction even begins, especially from a legal standpoint. Even though we used a reputable builder, we still had several occasions where our sales person and the construction supervisor tried to pull "fast ones" on us. You can tell the author knows his stuff. The real life examples of other people's mistakes clearly reinforce the reasoning behind the advice he offers. The only thing lacking was illustrations, but they weren't really necessary. I thought the book served its purpose well and kept our builder honest.