Not just for home owners!
354276
I always take a risk buying construction books on line.  Half the time they are written for the first timer, or home owner, and I get a bunch of info that I already know.  This book, however, was labeled for the home owner type, but turned out to be on a builders level!  I learned several new techniqes that I did not know, this has saved me untold thousands of dollars on my up coming projects.  I would like to see a book from the same guy that would go into even more detail, like an advanced level of the same.  The author had to do this first one to appeal to the most people, but I know he has tons of more detail he could put in a book twice as thick as this one.  Still, this is a great help in building a good house cheep!
2974540
I loved this book, granted you could really think of many of these ideas yourself, but truly not everyone is savvy on the internet to research. Finding a home based business is a tough task, you may want to read and re-read many of the ideas that spark an interest with you!  If you do not like dogs, don't be a pet sitter.  Take notes at every opportunity.
4136132
This expert review comes from my lovely wife:

"If you are not facing foreclosure, you might think this book would just be a waste of time.  But the first few pages really caught my interest.  It was easy to read and understand and the format makes it simple to look for something specific if you want only certain information.

"This book is something any homeowner would benefit from in these uncertain economic times.  There is great information about what to do to avoid foreclosure and how to make the process work to your advantage if it should come to that.

"It seems that the increasing number of foreclosures may have changed the way foreclosure works  and  it never hurts to be well informed about something which could impact anyone.  I was very surprised to learn that there is so much you can do to effect how you experience foreclosure, it doesn't have to run you down like a freight train.  You can have some control.  For that insight alone, this is a very valuable book."

We have already recommended this book to others. In these troubled times (and what times aren't?), it's a handy volume to keep nearby either for yourself or to share with someone who faces this issue.
867513
I think that considering the elements of an investment or property that will give you joy, and being motivated by the desire do something good for your community or the people around you is as important as anything when analyzing a real estate investment and I really appreciated affirmation of that. I already have investment properties; I was looking for a way to live on that passive income and spend less time making money at my job. I'm a realtor with property management as part of my office, LOL, and I thought her advice was all really good. I also think I'm closer to being to able to retire on passive income than I realized. The startup advice was very practical and useful I thought too. I couldn't agree more with her assessment of more traditional retirement plans.
697742
This book is a wonderful edition to any library. My husband and I purchased a home in a standard subdivision with standard grassed lawns. We were very fortunate to be able to apply the principals of this book to our small grassed yard with the help of the author himself. Today our yard is absolutely beautiful and has a blend of trees, shrubs, perrenials, and we have much less lawn to mow. What lawn is left, defines the property and enhances the home. In addition, our yard has now become a safe haven to all kinds of birds and other animals.

If you would like to see before and after pictures, go to facebook.com and look up Chris Colburn. We have posted our pictures of the yard there.

If you are willing to step out of suburban America and try something that will not only make your property a unique and beautiful asset to you and the environment, and provide hours of enjoyment, than buy this book. It's great!
1006667
This is not another "quick clean" type of book! Melissa guides you though learning how to rethink "stuff" and how it impacts your home and your life. As she says in the book, "You deserve to have spaces that inspire you."

The last part of the book is a "Make Room Challenge" and gives you steps to start taking to make room for the various areas in your life (instead of just organizing space). From "Arrivals and Departures" and "Feasting and Gathering" - you'll be sure to find that this book gives you the push you need to rethink your stuff - and just not move it somewhere else (like a closet!!!)
2481128
Simple living, as defined by the author, is "living holistically with your life's purpose."  In other words, figure out what kind of life you want to live, and what kind of home atmosphere you want to live in, and use that as the foundation for simplifying and organizing both.

I enjoyed reading this book not only because of the lovely photos at the beginning of each chapter, but because of the thoughtful content that takes the reader beyond the usual checklists of organization to reflect upon the process so it has meaning and promotes intentional living.

For example, the chapter on organizing the kitchen asks the reader to consider what is the main purpose of their kitchen and what can she do to make this space work better for each member of the family instead of just organizing so everything looks tidy.  The most beautifully organized room does little good if it doesn't work for those who live there. The author encourages us to make the kitchen an enjoyable place to cook as the most useful room in the house instead of letting it become the biggest clutter trap.  Other chapters follow suit with reflections, tips, and encouragement to define what one wants the room to represent.

On the practical side, each chapter includes a checklist of supplies needed to clean, sort, and organize each room or space, plus a plan for each step of the process which is itself simple and uncomplicated.
2397025
This book is not just about an adventure in an RV across the United States. It is also about how one can discover what is his/her true passion in your life . There is an increase in the number of people who want to get out of the drudgery of a 9-to-5 job, and they want more meaning from their lives. I think this is why people are discovering the tiny house movement ... and RV life is the ultimate mobile tiny house lifestyle. Like many people, I learned about Joe and Kait's adventure from their YouTube channel: We're the Russo's. This is definitely worth the read and Joe has made it entertaining.
1551719
I'm extremely systematized and like organizing, so I really enjoyed this book. If you are searching for another tactic to organize and clean your house, I highly recommend this book! With this book Ive managed to release the things that has no value to me anymore. The book is not just a storage solution, It's a book about re- estimating your things and will make you realize that a fresh, mess -free and tidy place is the way to a better and healthier life. If your house is a chaos, possibilities are some part of your life are doing the same.
3157034
This book is fabulous - it really is an easy, straight-forward approach to running a home (and doing so with a smile! :).  It offers excellent ideas on maintaining a schedule, caring for children and including the whole family in the business of running the home.  It asks that the wife/mother be willing to embrace her duties of state and as such, initiate the efforts necessary to keep a house maintained by doing the tasks it demands all the while offering much spiritual encouragement along the way.  I found it inspiring in that I wanted to do better in my duties of state - not just for the sake of doing better, but because it is what God expects of me.  I joyfully accepted the vocation of being a wife, I joyfully welcomed children into the world, and therefore, I willingly took on the task of being a homemaker, wife and mother.  With it comes great responsibility (as with any job)... and it's a big job!  Keeping up with regular house-hold tasks as well as raising children (regardless of how many) and being a happy wife... It requires effort, some days more than others.  But the payoff... no other job offers such rewards.  Thank you Mrs. Brenneman for your wonderfully written and inspiring book.
3885441
This isn't just a book about Decluttering your house and home, oh, no. This is a book that goes way beyond that.

Declutter Now! starts off small, hitting the physical, and then it takes you into the spiritual and emotional side of the psyche.

At the moment of this review, I am only halfway through this book. It's that good and that well written that I had to write a review for it. Taken in small steps, I am slowly doing away with the baggage of the "extras" in my life that is leaving me burdened and un-joyful.

Declutter Now! offers insights into the authors' lives, giving examples and testimonies. This isn't just a self-help book. This is a "we'll help you" book.

Lindon and Sherry Gareis not only takes the reader step by step through the decluttering process of the home and life, but shows how and what is the most important in life...and it isn't possessions and material goods. The accumulation of things and bad habits and loss of focus drowns most people in this world, tying them down. With Declutter Now! the reader learns how to do without the extra load and how to free oneself from that worldly hold.

Truly, less is more.
3497429
Very informative, straight forward, and enjoyable to read.  Anyone thinking of buying an old home to restore, or a "modern" home that may need occasional repairs, especially in Tuscany, this is the book for you.  It also give you a realistic view of how things are done in Italy, and he does it with a nice touch of humor.  This not only covers that Villa you have been dreaming of restoring, but also discusses the advantages of buying a small apartment in a city or small town.  He also addresses, I think appropriately, the responsibility foreigners have to care for the land, as well as just buying the home that is on it.

I recommend this book, not only for those who are seriously considering a permanent move to Italy, but for those who would like to dream a bit, but through a lens of reality.
113139
Really enjoyed this read.  I am very interested in tiny house living and this book has given me an inside look at several different families and their stories/life styles on how they make their choices work.  There are lots of tips and tricks on how to help the rest of us declutter, organize, get more use out of our space...well just a ton of excellent ideas.  And the stories Kerri shares are heart warming....a few tearjerkers too. I love that she has completely welcomed us into her home and been so open.  This is a must read in my book!  :-)
3735796
Excellent compendium of ideas to make your family's living space, wherever it may be, into a real home, and to grow your family into a loving unit, ready to serve God and others.  The book is arranged in a monthly format, which should keep it from overwhelming those who are new at truly "homemaking".  It's as if an older Christian wife and mother is setting you down for a cozy chat, giving you a cup of warm tea, and sharing with you all of the secrets that she discovered in successfully raising her children into godly, loving adults.  Many of the ideas and techniques she offers are ones I also used successfully as my children were growing, including the book "Our 24 Family Ways",&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Our-24-Family-Ways-A-Family-Devotional-Guide/dp/1888692154/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Our 24 Family Ways: A Family Devotional Guide</a>&nbsp;written by the husband and father of the authors, so I can testify as to the effectiveness!
1044328
Your home will never be profiled in Town & Country. Your house isn't grand enough, which you couldn't afford and wouldn't want anyway. Turning away from the architectural glossies and their emphasis on intriguing design, Susan Susanka instead examines what makes a house a home--what arrangements of space lead to the comfort and familiarity that we all treasure.
The book is not a cheap do-it-yourself manual. "Not enormous" does not mean "thrifty." If, however, you are interested in building your own home, you cannot afford to ignore this book.
1198746
New homeowners here. I really appreciate the well - thought out project ideas and tutorials from Handyman. This book is not just for catastrophic fixes, but for lots of fun DIY projects too!
2135801
The Nesting Place, subtitled It Doesnt Have To Be Perfect To Be Beautiful, is a book about making your house a home no matter what your circumstances are.  I have read Myquillyns (The Nester) blog for many years.  This book is a compilation of all of her experience and stories about how she arrived at the conclusion that it doesnt have to be perfect to be beautiful.  Whether you live in a rental home, an apartment, a home that isn't everything you dreamed, or even if you ARE living in your dream home, she gives tips and tricks for creating an atmosphere that reflects the people who live there.

I will admit that I only started recently believing her philosophy myself and I must say that I am having fun.  It is very freeing to put objects in your home because YOU like them and they bring YOU joy; not because of what other people will think.  I admire her choices and her quirkiness in decorating.  Im not quite to her level yet, but Im getting braver!

In the book she proves that you don't need a lot of money to make your house beautiful and a place that is welcoming for your family.  She uses tree stumps for tables, but she might very well change those out for something else later.  Nothing is static, nor should it be.  She shows that your house should be a reflection of your tastes and your personality, and as those things can change, we can be free to change our decor to reflect our changing tastes.

I found this book enjoyable and informative, and maybe  just maybe  Ill feel a little more comfortable putting those nail holes in the walls!