Product Description

For home buyers and home sellers.

Here is the first how-to that addresses the needs of both buyers and sellers, making it the perfect companion to the bestselling The Complete Idiot's Guide to Buying and Selling a Home. The buyer will depend on this guide to determine whether a house is worth buying. The seller will need it to determine which repairs are necessary before listing or signing anything. Readers will learn to troubleshoot all areas of a home, including its structure and foundation, windows and doors, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, insulation, electrical systems, and the roof, just to name a few.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #133131 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-04
• Released on: 2004-06-01
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 192 pages

About the Author
Mike Kuhn is director of technical services at HouseMaster, a home inspection firm with 380 offices across the U.S. and Canada.

Bobbi Dempsey is an author and freelance writer for major publications, including Family Circle, Redbook, Good Housekeeping, Ladies' Home Journal, and more. Her article on how home inspections can prevent carbon monoxide

Customer Reviews

Add to your library!
I ordered this book because I'm in the process of purchasing a home. Yes, I'll get a certified inspector. Yes, my realtor will accompany me on the inspection. I wanted some additional knowledge prior to the inspection, so I knew what to expect (and not expect). The book is very clear in its language and makes for a quick read. My only complaint is that it lacks color pictures. With black/white photos, sometimes its hard to see the damage to which the author is referring. I'd recommend this book to someone either purchasing or selling a home.

Nearly perfect and certainly excellent for the average person
This is NOT designed to make you, the homeowner or potential buyer, a home inspection expert. It takes years on the job to become a true pro.

However, this book WILL put you way ahead of the curve, prepared to make the most of the time you have with the home inspector who is generally required to do a thorough job before the home sale.

Some inspectors are better than others and if you know what to ask about basements, foundations, bathrooms, kitchen and other key areas of your home, your inspector may be more inclined to do a better job.

Also, the book contains several key bits of info including:

1. Quick little tips and info like the fact that water flow wil usually be lower from wells than municipal systems...or that gurgling pipes and drains may indicate improper venting of the drainage system.

2. Definitions of important terms which make you sound "in the know". Do you know what a "service drop" is? Reading this book, I discovered it was the line running from an electrical pole to my house. Other key terms are also noted.

3. Warnings about potentially dangerous situations. For instance, if your home inspector walks on a tile or slate roof, GET ANOTHER INSPECTOR. This is a no-no, a way to damage a roof even if it was fine before.

4. Interesting facts you might not know about such as the fact that about 1 in 10 roofs are covered in wood.

I was fascinated by the home schematic at the front of the book which described nearly every major part of a home, from the ridge boards to the collar ties.

Pocket Idiot's Guide to Home Inspections
Whether you are buying or selling a home, this wonderful pocket size guide will show you how to get what you want out of the home buying and home inspection process. Don't waste your time on thick manuals with expert language, this easy-to-read and comprehend book is the only guide you'll need.