Fix it Before it Breaks

This book will save you thousands and thousands of dollars. The information about termites, damp rot, and mold is hair raising. Home owners are never given an instruction manual --- even maintenance people don't know what they are doing. The photos are superb, the author really knows his stuff. Whether you fix it or hire someone, you finally gain control of your house. Keep your money in your estate not in the termite man's pocket. Grab this book while it's on the shelf !

Fix it Before it Breaks tells you how to take care of your home and prevent costly repairs. It also teaches you the vocabulary and the fundamentals so that when you need to call in a professional you can ask the right questions and make informed decisions. I appreciated the many illustrations/photographs that further explained the straightforward text. I also liked the pointers, text boxes sprinkled throughout the book, calling out the most important points. The last chapter, "Developing your Personal Maintenance Plan" succinctly summarizes the main ideas, the major threats to the integrity of each part of your home's structure. It made me so enthusiastic that after reading it I got started on my first checklist for my home's greatest vulnerability, doors and windows.

"Fix it Before it Breaks" is a great primer for homeowners and would-be buyers. I wish I'd had it when I bought my condo. The checklists and illustrations describe typical problems and how to deal with them. The author also makes it clear when it's time to call in a professional to fix things. I've learned a few things from the book and now see my condo and maintaining it in a new light -- it's not such a mystery anymore.