1 “Staying Sane When You’re Buying or Selling Your Home”
By Pam Brodowsky and Evelyn Fazio (DaCapo Lifelong Books, $12.95)
The book chronicles real stories about house hunting, real estate agents, sales by owners, etc., so the reader learns from common experiences and even has a chance to laugh. The book is not meant to be a guide, but rather a little release for the reader who feels trapped while in the process of buying or selling a home.
It’s a quick, easy read with no complicated real estate terms or mortgage calculators. It’s more like a compilation of short stories from regular people with regular problems. And just in case you get caught up in the plot or the characters, there are survival hints at the end to remind you there are little lessons to be learned.
2 “All Real Estate Is Local”
By David Lereah (Currency, $21.95)
Lereah has tried to set his book apart by maintaining that focusing on the ins and outs of the local market is essential to making intelligent decisions about real estate investments.
The book starts with a personal story handed down to Lereah from his grandfather. It continues with first-person accounts and a conversational style. One chapter is devoted to defining the characteristics that make a town or city more or less desirable to live in.
Lereah stresses the importance of evaluating these characteristics to make a profitable sale or a wise investment.
Although some may look at the chapter as overkill because of the almost scientific analysis, he follows up with more relatable topics, with references to Oprah Winfrey, Bud Selig and the BlackBerry.
3 “JoAnne Liebeler’s Do It Herself: Everything You Need to Know to Fix, Maintain and Improve Your Home”
By JoAnne Liebeler (Sunset, $24.95)
Liebeler, a TV home-improvement personality, takes a wide approach, starting with the anatomy of a house before moving on to safety, tool selection and general repairs and tips. Ranging from unclogging a toilet to grouting to hanging heavy objects on walls, this book is loaded with practical advice for anyone new to home ownership or tenants with a lazy landlord.
4 “The Clutter Cure: Three Steps to Letting Go of Stuff, Organizing Your Space & Creating the Home of Your Dreams”
By Judi Culbertson (McGraw-Hill, $19.95)
Culbertson wants to help you get rid of the mess but, equally important, overcome the emotional bonds and mental processes that make you hang on to things well beyond their usefulness. She tackles such issues as hanging on to inherited collectibles, keeping bills from the 1950s and keeping small shoes around, having conned yourself into believing your feet will shrink.
5 “The Little Book of Quick Fixes for the Home Handywoman”
By Bridget Bodoano (Quadrille, $12.95)
Jam-packed with solid, practical tips on everything from replacing a floorboard to installing shelves, this book is a must for anyone, male or female, with little or no home-repair expertise.
Bodoano takes questions, such as how to determine how much wallpaper is needed for a job, and then thoroughly explains the steps, with illustrations, before moving on to the next question.
