Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful book!!!
Review: Love this book! I have other books on owner-building but this is the one I carry with me in case I have a few minutes to read. The authors recommend a year of planning, trying to do it in a few weeks or months is a crash course so it's truly nice to have found such a great study guide. (it would be less stressful to spend a year!) Financially very inspiring, tells how to save a fortune by doing a great job of managing the home building project, and also how to make a life's fortune owner-building. Tips for getting the Owner-builder construction loan. Also has an extensive list of similar books by other authors; the Smiths don't presume to be the end all/be all in DIY contracting, which I find very refreshing. Very useful book, a real gem.
Rating: 
Summary: Please stop repeating yourself
Review: Okay, maybe I am the odd ball, but this author drove me crazy! He should have made a pamplet instead of a book. I felt as though it was written by a Amway sales person. To me, the book read like they were trying to motivate you to go ahead and build your house. I needed factual information, and I got 90% "You can do it" and 10% "This is the stuff you need". If you are two years away from building, you might like it, but I was two weeks away and already had most of the information provided. I am sending mine back.
Rating: 
Summary: SUBSTANCE
Review: Our home in New Mexico will be the first and last we build. I reviewed several books at the library before purchasing one as a guide to this project. The "Owner-Builder Book" and the accompanying CD I received after purchasing the book solidified our approach to organizing to build. Its step by step approach, the ideas presented by the author and the side bars from other owner-builders caused us to re-evaluate many of our preconceived concepts on how to build a home. Three items of significant importance were driven home when we followed the approach:
1)Its easy to design a home! However, to then build it for a reasonable price is a real challenge. The ideas for a cost down approach in the book are invaluable in focusing the owner-builder with a budget and big ideas. Of particular interest was the admonition to get multiple bids! We have found price differences of over 100% from the same bill of material. We would never have realized the importance of multiple bids without using "Owner-Builder" as a guide.
2) Our research and experience since purchasing the book last March are right on with the observations of the Smiths. General contractors spend little time at any individual project. The quality of work is up to the lead worker. The quality we have found is variable depending on which house we visited.
3) You cannot do too much planning and we needed a guide for the planning process. We plan to build next March and taking a year to plan the task is not too much time. We will easily spend more than 1000 hours before the first shovel hits the site. We will know what is in the home from top to bottom. The book drove this point home and its organizational steps were invaluable.
Rating:
Summary: SUBSTANCE
Review: Our home in New Mexico will be the first and last we build. I reviewed several books at the library before purchasing one as a guide to this project. The "Owner-Builder Book" and the accompanying CD I received after purchasing the book solidified our approach to organizing to build. Its step by step approach, the ideas presented by the author and the side bars from other owner-builders caused us to re-evaluate many of our preconceived concepts on how to build a home. Three items of significant importance were driven home when we followed the approach:
1)Its easy to design a home! However, to then build it for a reasonable price is a real challenge. The ideas for a cost down approach in the book are invaluable in focusing the owner-builder with a budget and big ideas. Of particular interest was the admonition to get multiple bids! We have found price differences of over 100% from the same bill of material. We would never have realized the importance of multiple bids without using "Owner-Builder" as a guide.
2) Our research and experience since purchasing the book last March are right on with the observations of the Smiths. General contractors spend little time at any individual project. The quality of work is up to the lead worker. The quality we have found is variable depending on which house we visited.
3) You cannot do too much planning and we needed a guide for the planning process. We plan to build next March and taking a year to plan the task is not too much time. We will easily spend more than 1000 hours before the first shovel hits the site. We will know what is in the home from top to bottom. The book drove this point home and its organizational steps were invaluable.
Rating:
Summary: Great overview of a complicated process
Review: Owning your own home has long been considered the American Dream. For many, that includes designing and building the homes themselves. But building a home is a complex project filled with pitfalls and traps, and unwary budding homeowners can find their dreams turning into nightmares. Enter Mark Smith, who has built several houses of his own. Written by a man who acted as his own general contractor, "The Owner-Builder Book" is crammed with useful advice on how to oversee your own project, from planning to construction. But be warned: it's unflinchingly honest about the amount of work and stress involved. While Mark Smith writes that it's possible to build a house in six months, first will come at least a year of planning and organizing. Once construction begins, you'll have to deal with ensuring that subcontractors appear on time and finish their work on time before the next group of workers appears. You may also have to deal with problems such as late deliveries of materials, subcontractors who don't show up, or who demand advances before working, threatened lawsuits, Reading this book will give you a better appreciation of what the general contractor goes through. It will either fire your desire to run the show yourself and pocket the savings, or gratefully turn over the work to someone who does it for a living. But what it will also do is give you the information needed to make informed decisions that, even if you work with a contractor, will save you money.
Rating:
Summary: Pass on this one...
Review: The authors must certainly be experienced in building and the various trades but this book just didn't help me at all. A total flop for me, really. The book to get for the first time Owner-Builder is the Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home, by McGuerty & Lester. A wonderful step-by-step guide with TONS of useful information.
Rating:
Summary: Pass on this one...
Review: The authors must certainly be experienced in building and the various trades but this book just didn't help me at all. A total flop for me, really. The book to get for the first time Owner-Builder is the Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home, by McGuerty & Lester. A wonderful step-by-step guide with TONS of useful information.
Rating: 
Summary: One major problem....
Review: The main part of this book contains some useful information and some helpful hints for owner-builders. However, beware a major problem that nearly destroyed the reading experience for me. The writing goes until page 272. But the book contains 314 pages. So what do pages 272-314 contain? Look at the cover of the book, where it says "Valuable Coupons Inside! $100 Value". Most of the 42 pages contain full-page ads for the author's seminars, audiotapes, workshops and special reports. To see this for yourself, go to the "Look Inside" feature (click on book picture) and look at the last page of the table of contents. I found these ads irritating, because although this is supposedly a reference book in and of itself, it asks you to shell out $6.00-$99.00 each item for more information. Excuse me, but shouldn't information like "Staying on Schedule" be included in the "Owner-Builder" book? The author offers the explanation that he couldn't "fit" all of this info into the book. He sure didn't have a problem tacking on 42 extra pages of shameless bids for more money. Get a book that doesn't reach into your wallet, like the excellent "Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home".
Rating:
Summary: When Lenders Listen to Owner-Builders
Review: The Owner-Builder world is here. When the cost of buying a home in the local subdivision is priced out of the hands of 50% of the local population it is time to look for alternatives. The title of this book states it all. The Owner-Builder book is the first purchase (must have it) for those considering building their next home to meet family needs. The Author takes an on hands approach listing subject matter in easy to find sections. I like the way he relays this information. The book will guide you to understanding many of the areas you are expected to know prior to talking seriously to a lender when securing a construction loan. I recommend this book to anyone approaching me for a construction loan. If they can complete the exercises and follow thru with the recommendations, they will have my ear for considering them for a loan. As a Construction Lender and Construction Site Supervisor this book is a must read for my clients. It saves money, time and enhances communication for all involved. Thank You for a great tool I can add to my professional arsenal. I recommend this book daily.
Rating:
Summary: When Lenders Listen to Owner-Builders
Review: The Owner-Builder world is here. When the cost of buying a home in the local subdivision is priced out of the hands of 50% of the local population it is time to look for alternatives. The title of this book states it all. The Owner-Builder book is the first purchase (must have it) for those considering building their next home to meet family needs. The Author takes an on hands approach listing subject matter in easy to find sections. I like the way he relays this information. The book will guide you to understanding many of the areas you are expected to know prior to talking seriously to a lender when securing a construction loan. I recommend this book to anyone approaching me for a construction loan. If they can complete the exercises and follow thru with the recommendations, they will have my ear for considering them for a loan. As a Construction Lender and Construction Site Supervisor this book is a must read for my clients. It saves money, time and enhances communication for all involved. Thank You for a great tool I can add to my professional arsenal. I recommend this book daily.
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