As Safe As Houses

Your home is probably your largest monthly expense and ultimately you want it to become an asset, perhaps to pass on to your kids when you're gone. Why then do homeowners put so little value in the people they hire to work on their homes?

If you own an expensive car, you're not likely to take it to the cheapest garage you can find. If you want a nice smile, you seek out an expensive, private dentist to give you that smile. No one goes to a cheap plastic surgeon or a cheap tattoo artist. Going to court? "Better find myself the cheapest lawyer I can" - said no one ever.

So why do people seek out the poorly paid, unqualified and uninsured to work on their home?

I have no clue, but it happens and if you're considering building a house extension or new house, I suspect perhaps you're already thinking of ways to pay less for your architect and engineer.

This book gives you some insight into the reality of hiring cheap professionals and why it will cost you more in the long run.

This book covers (among other things):

•How do you find a good structural engineer or architect? or rather how to spot a bad one - before you hire them
•How can you spot if your engineer or architect are over specifying at your expense? and why this happens
•How much will I increase my house value by if I convert my attic/garage or build an extension? (as a multiple of build cost)
•What home alterations actually devalue your house and make it impossible to sell?
•Are those cracks in the wall something to worry about?
•How do you find a good, cheap contractor? - it's surprisingly easy
•How can you have a stunning feature roof for no extra money?
•How can you successfully claim your buildings insurance?