Be sure to read this before you renovate

If you are even remotely considering renovating your house or condominium, first read “Home Renovation Checklist.” Should you plunge enthusiastically ahead, you will at least realize how much work is involved, even if you plan to hire a professional contractor.

Author Robert Irwin, who has written dozens of real estate books, obviously has extensive experience with home renovations. In his latest book, written in question-and-answer format, Irwin raises just about every possible issue that might be involved in small and big home remodeling projects.

Don’t be discouraged by the book’s slow beginning. The early emphasis is on hiring a remodeling contractor and all the things that might go wrong. Then the focus progresses to signing the contract, obtaining plans and building permits and financing the renovations. These are all essential parts of a home renovation, whether just one room or the entire residence. But putting these chapters at the book’s beginning may stifle your excitement by placing the possible pitfalls before the benefits.

Around the sixth chapter, Irwin shifts to explaining the various components involved in typical home renovations. Although probably not all aspects will be involved in your project, it’s good to know the many considerations before deciding to go ahead.

Saving money is a constant theme throughout the book. Irwin always suggests asking for discounts, whether from suppliers or from a general contractor who might have access to special trade discounts.

This book should be read cover to cover, then reread by chapter for topics of special interest. For example, you might not be especially interested in the chapter about paint if you plan to hire a professional painter. But that chapter explains how to hire a quality painter and whether you should buy the paint yourself or let the painter purchase it using his professional discount.

The question-and-answer format, with check boxes for questions that often can’t be answered just yes or no, may seem baffling. But the questions are to be asked of the remodeling contractor, equipment suppliers and others; they are just reminder questions so the homeowner won’t forget important topics.

The checklist is really a summary of considerations home remodelers should not overlook. Many of the same types of questions are repeated, such as asking the contractor if he or she carries workers’ compensation insurance. That question is extremely important when hiring anyone who has employees.

This is not a typical home remodeling book. Instead, it contains sage advice from a real estate writer who has remodeled many houses.