Today's housing market offers exceptional opportunities and incentives to achieve the American dream. "Your Key to a Successful Home Financing" presents unique resources that will help you understand and simplify the loan process, identify available mortgage programs to meet your goals, and enjoy the advantages of being a homeowner. This book will also prepare you with the essentials for a loan approval and tips on how to improve your credit. I will describe fundamental benefits of using government loans, such as buying with no money down or getting additional funds to repair your home, and options to receive down payment assistance from your city, county or state. I'll show you how to save money by obtaining a seller credit towards closing costs, reduce your interest rate and its cost, and obtain federal and state tax credits. In addition, you will learn ways to buy foreclosures with low down payment. As a mortgage consultant, I strongly believe in full disclosure to my clients; I'll describe important key documents that need to be reviewed before looking for a house and at the closing of your transaction. I was motivated to write this book because I frequently witness loan officers failing to provide existing programs and resources to homebuyers. Ultimately, this lack of expertise or ability can be detrimental at the moment of purchasing your home. Throughout "Your Key to a Successful Home Financing" outstanding online support for homebuyers and homeowners will be listed, and you will discover secrets banks may not necessarily want you to know. Its chapters were designed for readers that don't have time to study vague and lengthy narratives about financing. It provides direct, current and crucial advice to find the most appropriate home loan program to fit your needs, because now it's a great time to take action

Wiring and Lighting provides a comprehensive guide to DIY wiring around the home. It sets out the regulations and legal requirements surrounding electrical installation work, giving clear guidelines that will enable the reader to understand what electrical work they are able to carry out, and what the testing and certification requirements are once the work is completed. Through step-by-step diagrams and photos, the book covers wiring for a wide range of tasks by examining the components of electrical systems and installations, including: different types of circuits; types of cables and cable installation under floors and through joists; isolating, earthing and bonding; accessory boxes and fixings; voltage bands; detailed advice on safety such as manual handling, working at height and electrical shock risk. Finally, schedules for inspection, testing and certification, and relevant sections of the Building Regulations are covered. Wiring and Lighting is fully updated in line with the 18th edition wiring regulations.

This book describes the architecture and protocols for interconnecting media devices in home networks. The architecture and protocols described in this book have been developed during the last 10 years by R&D teams from several companies working jointly in two industry organizations known as UPnP and DLNA. This book mainly deals with the DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) protocol. This text is especially relevant for the design and development of smart homes, where media devices, communication devices, appliances, and sensors are all integrated in an intelligent network.

Repairing, even just painting, an old house with some of today's conventional building materials could begin processes leading to decay, or bring about changes that erode interest and value. Old house owners have a big investment to protect and many will want to do this as economically and sustainably as possible.

Ships in November 2011. Watch the DIY series Million Dollar Contractor with Stephen Fanuka. In What's a Homeowner to Do?, Stephen Fanuka and Edward Lewine explain the basics of home repair and maintenance. From assembling a tool kit to understanding the pros and cons of casement and double-hung windows, from the ins and outs of moldings, faucets, and electrical outlets to the best way to maintain appliances and driveways, you'll find out everything you'll need to know to keep your home in fine working order. With hundreds of clear, helpful illustrations, this essential reference covers such topics as how to install a ceiling fan; determining the right amount of paint to buy; how to repair a loose stair tread; choosing the proper child safety gate; and many more. Most important, you'll get expert advice on when a repair is something you can do yourself and when it's best executed by a professional. In the process, you'll learn more than enough to speak knowledgeably about any problem with a hardware store clerk, a repairman, or a contractor. What's a Homeowner to Do? is the best home improvement guide ever!

The debut book from social media sensation @tanyahomeinspo!

Easy and Essential Tips and Inspiration for Cleaning, Organising and Improving Your Space from social media’s best-loved home hacks inspo account!

Do you often find yourself scrolling through social media wishing your home looked more like the ones you see on there? Have you assumed it's too expensive to buy an array of cleaning products that you simply don't have enough space to store? Do you struggle with keeping your home tidy and organised? If any of this sounds familiar, this book is perfect for you!

Offering hacks to organise your home without breaking the bank; ways to increase your storage; easy cleaning hacks using common household items; schedules for day-to-day plus deep cleans and spring cleans; recipes for homemade products using natural ingredients; interior DIY hacks; and even party planning tips and tricks to make the most of your space! Tanya Mukendi will show you how to make your home beautiful and tidy in the shortest time possible, freeing you up to do other things.

Whether you’ve just moved into a new place and want to make it feel like home; need help with organisation; or want a magic cure for those inevitable spills and stains, Hack Your Home is your new one-stop go-to guide for keeping your home beautiful, clean and organised! Packed with tips to help you be more efficient with your cleaning routine, saving you time and money; plus ideas to reduce energy bills and environmental impact through simple hacks, this book will help you create a beautiful, calming home, that you will love spending time in.

For those looking to raise a family in a storybook American town, or a change of pace from hectic city life, this book is the answer. It includes information on: the cost of the home, recreation facilities, cost of electricity, schools, sales tax rates, per capita income, geography and climate, and a host of other pertinent information about the nicest, most affordable, cosiest towns in the US Even includes interviews with town officials, librarians, teachers, shop owners, and other residents. An excellent resource that will never be out of style.

Go green with this rollicking guide to eco-friendly cleaning alternatives that will help you save your health, your money, and your planet.How many times have you said you're killing yourself trying to keep your house clean? You might have been joking, but you're closer to the truth than you think if you're using expensive commercial cleansers. Karen Logan, an environmentalist with years of experience developing and selling her own line of eco-friendly cleaning products, reveals the secret of using simple, ordinary ingredients--like baking soda, vinegar, soap, lemon juice, and salt--to make safe, inexpensive cleaners. For instance, did you know: -Olive oil is not only good as a salad dressing, but also as a furniture polish. -Plain club soda works great as a window cleaner. -You can make your copper-bottomed pots sparkle with just lemon juice and salt. -Ordinary liquid soap and water will clean up those ants marching through your kitchen.

Marge Jones has mastered an alternative slip-covering technique to help people with all levels of sewing skills create their own snug-fitting covers for chairs, benches, sofas, and more. With detailed instructions and photos, Marge guides you through the process of refurbishing and customizing virtually all your living room, dining room, bedroom, and even patio furniture. Her method eliminates the muslin or paper pattern-making process, saving precious time and energy, while achieving a tighter, more attractive fit. This edition includes special sections on how to install essential components such as zippers and decking, and tips on how to add height to and restyle arms on furniture. Snug-fit, easy-to-make custom slipcovers fit so well that the furniture looks brand new. Home furnishings of all shapes and sizes are restored in this indispensable manual, proving that almost all furniture can be custom-slip-covered.

This expert guide walks you through the practice of cost segregation analysis, which enables property owners to defer taxes and benefit from "accelerated cost recovery" through depreciation deductions on assets that are properly identified and classified. A relatively new practice that evolved from various court decisions and Internal Revenue Service rulings, cost segregation can be applied to new buildings under construction, renovations of existing buildings, leasehold improvements, and purchased real estate - going back as far as 1987.

Cost segregation practice requires knowledge of both tax law and the construction process. In this book, the authors share their expertise in these areas with tax and accounting professionals, cost segregation consultants, facility owners, architects and general contractors - providing guidance on major aspects of a professional, defensible cost segregation study, including: The legal framework for cost segregation, as defined by the IRS, tax courts, and federal agenciesReview of key IRS cases, court rulings, and revenue proceduresClassification and depreciation methodsUnderstanding construction plans and specificationsProfessional takeoff and cost estimating proceduresOptimizing cost segregation in new construction - from design choices to proper project documentation

With a glossary of terms, sample cost segregation estimates for various building types, key information resources, and updates via a dedicated website, "The Practice of Cost Segregation Analysis" is a must-have resource.

The classic bestselling resource for every American home. Choosing fabrics, cleaning china, keeping the piano in tune, making a good fire, folding a fitted sheet, setting the dining room table, keeping surfaces free of food pathogens, watering plants, removing stains -- "Home Comforts" addresses the meanings as well as the methods of hands -- on housekeeping to help you manage everyday chores, find creative solutions to modern domestic dilemmas, and enhance the experience of life at home.
Further topics include: Making up a bed with hospital corners, Expert recommendations for safe food storage, Reading care labels (and sometimes carefully disregarding them), Keeping your home free of dust mites and other allergens, Home safety and security, A summary of laws applicable to the home, including privacy, accident liability, contracts, and domestic employees and more in this practical, good-humored, historic, philosophical, even romantic, guidebook to the art of household management.

A detailed guide to installing high performance felt and torch on roofs, for both DIY enthusiasts and professional roofers. From safety precautions, to the tips and tricks to keep a flat roof water-tight for many years, Felt and Torch on Roofing will teach the novice how to successfully complete their first felt roof to a high standard, and provide the professional with new techniques to undertaking the best quality work on felt and torch on roofing.

"The author, George A. Martin, knows his subject, not only fence building but the farm and its requirements. He knows the stock: the unconfinable pig, the dexterous cow. He knows his materials, especially wood. I count twenty-one species of tree in the text, each especially suited for a particular application. He knows the value of work well done, done to last, and he aims to give value himself, in authorship as in the building of simple necessary structures."
from the Foreword by Castle Freeman

Architectural solutions & designs to optimize the spaces in your home without spending a fortune. Architect Laura Jane Clark, from the BBC and Netflix smash-hit series Your Home Made Perfect, has spent over 15 years designing, remodelling, and building homes with budgets that range from modest to enormous. THE HANDBOOK OF HOME DESIGN distils Laura's wealth of experience and enthusiasm giving you an accessible yet detailed guide to design, empowering you with the tools and knowledge to shape your home how you want. Throughout your home design journey, whether large or small, Laura takes you each step of the way from understanding your home, reading a plan and writing a brief, right through to sketching your own design and having the confidence to get what you want on the building site. Packed full of tips and tricks, inspiration and technical know-how, THE HANDBOOK OF HOME DESIGN is like having Laura by your side, showing you how to design practical yet beautiful spaces, get more storage into your life and create the home of your dreams. Laura Jane Clark wants to democratize the whole concept of residential architectural design and empower you to redesign your spaces by giving you the language and ability to confidently communicate your vision, get the most out of your design and ultimately love your finished home. Whether you are a long-term homeowner, first-time buyer or simply visualising your dream space, no matter what your budget is, this unique insight into Laura's process allows you to achieve both the design you want and the home you need. www.lamparchitects.co.uk Instagram: @laurajaneclark_

A guide to tackling the problems experienced in a project of this nature relevant to planning and building control procedures.

Find Success in the Real Estate Market "Tracy has nailed all the critical check-offs for successful buying or selling. It's a game changer for our industry." -Mauricio Umansky, founder/CEO of The Agency #1 Bestseller in Moving & Relocation Top residential real estate agent Tracy McLaughlin reveals how buyers and sellers can get the best price possible-by understanding how the real estate market really works. Buying and selling houses. Because most people only enter the real estate market once a decade or less, few really know how it works. The housing market elicits a lot of emotions, from excitement to anxiety. Oftentimes, this blinds us to the realities of how the market actually works. Tracy McLaughlin is here to help. From those buying their first home to sellers with some experience, this book is packed with essential advice. A roadmap for buyers and sellers. In nearly all real estate sales, buyers and sellers leave behind thousands or even hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars on the table. As frightening as this reality is, it continually happens because one simple decision, among the countless made during the entire process, can greatly impact the outcome of the transaction. Bridging the gap between information and expertise. Buyers and sellers have greater access to information and even the ability to direct the sales process, but most people still lack a key aspect: expertise. By presenting an inside view on sales, McLaughlin provides a guide for optimizing the sale and purchase of homes. Inside find: Detailed guidelines for how to save money and make money Advice for finding the right real estate agent The real estate for dummies book every home buyer or seller needs If you've looked for guidance in books such as Dream Home, Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, or Home Buying Kit For Dummies, then you'll find more of what you're looking for in Real Estate Rescue by Tracy McLaughlin.

E-Myth \ 'e-,'mith\ n 1: the entrepreneurial myth: the myth that most people who start small businesses are entrepreneurs 2: the fatal assumption that an individual who understands the technical work of a business can successfully run a business that does that technical work

In The E-Myth Contractor, bestselling author Michael Gerber reveals a radical mind-set that will free contractors from the tyranny of the unprofitable, unproductive, and perpetual routine -- doing everything that needs to get done, themselves.

The E-Myth Contractor will teach you how to:

• implement the ingenious turn-key system, a means of creating a business model that produces consistent, predictable results
• recognize, understand, and manage the four factors of money -- income, profit, flow, and equity -- and understand the impact of each in your business
• transform your company and your people while enabling the firm to grow exponentially without your having to be there all the time.

Drawing on thirty years of experience working with tens of thousands of small-business owners, Gerber provides revolutionary, practical, and enlightening insights on how to produce the best real-world results on the job, in the field, and in a contractor's life.

This book explains the nature of dampness in buildings, how to diagnose a dampness problem before it gets out of hand and how to deal with it. It covers the problems of rising dampness and condensation (and how to distinguish them), which are generally
not fully understood, even by many professional surveyors.
The book stresses the need to use a moisture meter to obtain reliable and comprehensive information. Dampness in Buildings will be of immediate practical use to surveyors, architects, builders, housing managers and health inspectors. It will be equally valuable to house owners and potential purchasers.
* Answers common problems in a simple way
* Immediate practical use to professionals
* Immediate practical use to house owners and potential purchasers

Pure Deck-adence: A Guide to Beautiful Decks is a fantasy collection of real-life deck photos from all over the United States. From the humblest of condo balcony walkouts to the most elaborate sprawling wood structures, Pure Deck-adence explores the many possibilities of add-on outdoor home improvements. This pictorial essay explores America's fascination with outdoor living, from barbecue-centered constructions to the new immersion in hot tub culture. More than 240 full-color photographs provide a rich resource of ideas for those who dream of expanding their homes, and their horizons, with wood decks.

Recipes for natural cleaning products from green living blogger Wendy Graham.

Learn how to make your home smell as fresh as a daisy with these eco-friendly, money-saving, germ-busting recipes. Using a base of essential oils and natural ingredients, these cleaning products are easy to make, are kinder to your skin and to the environment, while being as effective as any shop-bought solution. The recipes use simple, inexpensive ingredients that are widely available such as bicarbonate of soda, vinegar, salt and citrus fruit, and will leave your home sparkling clean. You can even customise the fragrances to make your home smell crisp, time and time again.

Fresh Clean Home guides the reader from the kitchen to laundry and the bathroom, and also includes a section of recipes for specific household cleaning products, such as window and mirror cleaner, carpet and upholstery spot cleaner and sticky stuff remover. Clean every nook and cranny, with surface cleaners and bathroom shiners, laundry powder and fabric conditioner, kettle descaler and more, for a beautiful, fresh clean home.

Before you drive that first nail, this is the guide you need--thousands of hints, tips, and professional tricks of the trade

Authoritative, detailed, and fully illustrated, Rules of Thumb for Home Building, Improvement, and Repair gives you all the inside information you need to make your home improvement project go faster and easier. For this all-in-one volume, do-it-yourself experts Gene and Katie Hamilton, founders of the online service HouseNet, have distilled the best professional home repair and remodeling information.

Rules of Thumb will help you avoid the costly headaches that can result from using the wrong materials, amounts, or measurements. Here in plain English are all the technical standards and specifications for lumber, fasteners and adhesives, carpentry, plumbing, electrical wiring, painting, walls, ceilings and floors, doors and windows, weatherizing and climate control, exteriors, asphalt, concrete, masonry, and more. Plus, you'll discover time-tested procedures that get you the results you want every time.

Whatever project you're about to begin, Rules of Thumb for Home Building, Improvement, and Repair is the first place to look for professional advice.

Acclaimed do-it-yourself experts Gene and Katie Hamilton are the authors of many successful books and magazine articles on remodeling and repair. In addition to their nationally syndicated newspaper column, "Do It Yourself--Or Not?" they are the creators of HouseNet, an online home improvement service on America Online (keyword: housenet) and on the Internet (www.housenet.com). They have been on the Today show, Dateline, and CNN and have been written about in Newsweek and other national publications. TheHamiltons live in Maryland.