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

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