Product Description

More and more people aspire to build their dream home - this practical handbook provides valuable, stage-by-stage advice on turning those dreams into reality.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #217288 in Books
• Published on: 2003-07-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

About the Author
Tony Booth is an experienced estate-agent, letting-agent and property developer who has overseen the rebuilding and refurbishment of his own portfolio of investment property over many years. He was the founding editor of 'The LETter' and has written two books on property investment and management. He is based in Manchester. Mike Dyson is an experienced architect of over 20 years, who has designed and supervised a variety of building projects with contract values of up to [pound]18 million. He has considerable practical insight into the process of building your own home, having recently built his own dream house in a wooded valley in West Yorkshire. He is based in Todmorden, near Manchester.

Customer Reviews

All talk, no info
If you want a good overview of how to go about managing a self-build project then this is most definitely NOT the best book on the market. Each chapter glosses over it's subject and manages to do so in a patronising tone. While there is some useful info (if you can bear to read), my advice would be to steer clear of this one - there are far more comprehensive and a far less irritating books on the subject that I wish I had bought it first.

A reasonable introduction
I didn't get what I wanted from this book. If you are completely new to the subject it gives you a fair introduction, and covers the ground well - in fact too well. It spends a lot of time talking about how to find a plot, buying the site, raising finance, all of which were not relevant to me. On the other hand, it said almost nothing about differing construction methods, underfloor heating, heat recovery systems etc. In general, it was too short on technical detail.

A rather different view
My experience of the book is somewhat different to that of 'a reader'. The version I read was helpful, clear and concise. I found it took nothing for granted - perhaps just as well, as I am a beginner - and it explained things in a way that I could understand without making me feel stupid for needing that level of detail.
I like the step by step approach that Booth & Dyson take; it could almost be used as a generic project plan. I also find the wealth of internet links and contact details really useful. this book is definitely worth much more than a single star.