The Virgin Homeowner: The Essential Guide to Owning, Maintaining, and Surviving Your First Home
Author: Janice Papolos
List Price: $27.50
Our Price: Click to see the latest and low price
ISBN: 0393040356
Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company (May, 1997)
Sales Rank: 21,223
Average Customer Rating: 4.09 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Get up to speed on all ownership issues in a flash
If you're busy--like everyone--but you want to take the purchase and upkeep of your new home (first home or otherwise) seriously, this book is a must read. It reads quickly and efficiently and yet packs your head with much needed big picture and detail work to consider when buying, upgrading or maintaining your house. Read this book and stand confidently before contractors and other estimators--knowing their language, the terms, dimensions and practice of home repair. Protect yourself from getting gouged. Ensure that the work done for you is done properly. You could even do some of the work yourself after learnging how. Regardless, you're sure to establish solid ground between you and the serviceman or company your about to hire when you let them know that you know exactly how certain functions and systems in your home work. No longer stand bewildered when the toilet lid or sump pump in the basement goes down (before reading this book I didn't even know what a sump pump was or how important it was to the integrity of my home). In sum, you must buy this wonderful collection of information on home ownership. It beats most other guides, hands down.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Not very helpful at all
My husband and I recently bought our first home, so I ordered this book in the hopes that it would give us helpful details on how to maintain it, make minor repairs, and accurately troubleshoot. I am very, very, VERY disappointed in the book. While it gives decent descriptions of the various aspects of your home, such as heating and cooling systems, it does no more than that. I thought I was getting something more in-depth than just descriptions. For instance, how do I MAINTAIN my air conditioner properly? I've heard that you should hose down the outside unit every so often, for example - yet there's nothing about that in the book. I don't feel any more educated about my home and how to keep it safe and well-maintained than before I got this book. This was almost a complete waste of money and I don't recommend it.
Rating: 5 out of 5
This is a great gift for a first-time homebuyer
I am a Realtor, and find that this is the perfect gift for a young couple purchasing their first home. It can answer many of the questions that come up about the inner workings of a house, and also alleviates much of the anxiety which can arise when something comes up and they live far away from Mom and Dad. It is also a great reference for people searching for their first home. No longer will they stare at a pressure tank or a septid drainfield without knowing what it is or what it does. Saves many a frazzled nerve, a few anxious phone calls, and is reassuring. If you, a friend, or a family member are buying or thinking of buying a home, run out (or log on) and get this book right away. You will never regret it.
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