20 Best Books For New Homeowners (2023 Update)

You’ll make informed decisions, avoid frustrations and save thousands over the life of your home.the family handyman’s 100 things every homeowner must know gives you the knowledge you need to be a better homeowner. you’ll make informed decisions, avoid frustrations and save thousands over the life of your home. here’s just a small sample of what’s inside: the smartest thing you can do before going on vacation push a button and save $100 be ready for any natural disaster make burglars bypass your house the most effective way to cut heating and cooling costs clever shortcuts for home maintenance—indoors and out keep mice, ants and other invaders out of your house boost curb appeal without remodeling what to do when the power goes out the most common—and costly—homeowner mistakes eliminate noises, odors and other household irritations grow the best lawn on the block secret weapons pros use for easy, instant repairs make appliances last years longer the key to drip-free faucets make your mower start right up—every time cures for damp basements exterminate mold and mildew pick a paint color you’ll love get faster downloads and better tv quality stop peeling paint plus, incredibly easy repairs for appliances, plumbing, flooring, walls, furniture and more!

Your best guide to buying your first home.the first time you ride a bike, share a kiss, or drive a car–there's something thrilling about firsts. the adventure of buying your first home is no less memorable. and like most adventure, you'll face challenges, learn new skills, and have novel experiences along the way. ever explored six strangers' homes in a single day> get ready! every pay more than six figures for anything? take a deep breath! ever sign a hundred or so legal documents in a single sitting (and love every nerve-wracking minute of it)? limber up your writing hand–an incredible yet memorable journeys awaits.assembled from hundreds of interviews, in-depth research, and decades of experience, your first home: the proven path to homeownership is your trusted guide. your first home will help you: navigate the real estate buying process, from home search to closing day secure a real estate agent to advocate for you find a lender you can trust secure the lowest interest rate and monthly payments identify a home that's right for you craft a winning offer negotiate with sellers settle into homeownership with style this second edition is expanded to address new trends and share new tools to help you find, finance, and buy a home you'll be proud of for years to come.

#1 new york times bestsellerin homebody: a guide to creating spaces you never want to leave, joanna gaines walks you through how to create a home that reflects the personalities and stories of the people who live there. using examples from her own farmhouse as well as a range of other homes, this comprehensive guide will help you assess your priorities and instincts, as well as your likes and dislikes, with practical steps for navigating and embracing your authentic design style. room by room, homebody gives you an in-depth look at how these styles are implemented as well as how to blend the looks you're drawn to in order to create spaces that feel distinctly yours. a removable design template at the back of the book offers a step-by-step guide to planning and sketching out your own design plans. the insight shared in homebody will instill in you the confidence to thoughtfully create spaces you never want to leave.

For award-winning architect gil schafer, the most successful houses are the ones that celebrate the small moments of life—houses with timeless charm that are imbued with memory and anchored in a distinct sense of place. essentially, schafer believes a house is truly successful when the people who live there consider it home. it’s this belief—and schafer’s rare ability to translate his clients’ deeply personal visions of how they want to live into a physical home that reflects those dreams—that has established him as one of the most sought-after, highly-regarded architects of our time. in his new book, a place to call home schafer follows up his bestselling the great american house, by pulling the curtain back on his distinctive approach, sharing his process (complete with unexpected, accessible ideas readers can work into their own projects) and taking readers on a detailed tour of seven beautifully realized houses in a range of styles located around the country—each in a unique place, and each with a character all its own. 250 lush, full color photographs of these seven houses and other never-before-seen projects, including exterior, interior, and landscape details, invite readers into schafer’s world of comfortable classicism. opening with memories of the childhood homes and experiences that have shaped schafer’s own history, a place to call home gives the reader the sense that for schafer, architecture is not just a career but a way of life, a calling. he describes how the many varied houses of his youth were informed as much by their style as by their sense of place, and how these experiences of home informed his idea of classicism as a set of values that he applies to many different kinds of architecture in places as varied as the ones he grew up in. because while schafer is absolutely a classical architect, he is in fact a modern traditionalist, and a place to call home showcases how he effortlessly interprets traditional principles for a multiplicity of architectural styles within contemporary ways of living.sections in part i include the delicate balance of modern and traditional aesthetics, the juxtaposition of fancy and simple, and the details that make each project special and livable. schafer also delves into what he refers to as “the spaces in between,” those often overlooked spaces like closets, mudrooms, and laundry rooms, explaining their underappreciated value in the broader context of a home. part of schafer’s skill lies in the way he gives the minutiae of a project as much attention as the grand aesthetic gestures, and ultimately, it’s this combination that brings his homes to life. part ii of the book is the story of seven houses and the places they inhabit—each with a completely different character and soul: a charming cottage completely rebuilt into a casual but gracious house for a young family in bucolic mill valley, california; a reconstructed historic 1930s colonial house and gardens set in lush woodlands in connecticut; a new, adirondack camp-inspired house for an active family perched on the edge of lake placid with stunning views of nearby whiteface mountain; an elegant but family-friendly fifth avenue apartment with a panoramic view of central park; a new timber frame and stone barn situated to take advantage of the summer sun on a lovely, rambling property in new england; a new residence and outbuildings on a 6,000 acre hunting preserve in georgia, inspired by the historic 1920s and 1930s hunting plantation houses in the region; and schafer’s own, deeply personal, newly-renovated and surprisingly modern house located just a few feet from the atlantic ocean in coastal maine. in schafer’s hands, the stories of these houses are irresistibly readable. he guides the reader through each of the design decisions, sharing anecdotes about the process and fascinating historical background and contextual influences of the settings. ultimately, the houses featured in a place to call home are more than just beautiful buildings in beautiful places. in each of them, schafer has created a dialogue between past and present, a personalized world that people can inhabit gracefully, in sync with their own notions of home. because, as schafer writes in the book, he designs houses “not for an architect’s ego, but [for] the beauty of life, the joys of family, and, not least, a heartfelt celebration of place.”

New york times bestseller – there's decorating, and then there's organizing. from the instagram-sensation home experts (with a serious fan club that includes reese witherspoon, gwyneth paltrow, and mindy kaling), here is an accessible, room-by-room guide to establishing new order in your home. believe this: every single space in your house has the potential to function efficiently and look great. the mishmash of summer and winter clothes in the closet? yep. even the dreaded junk drawer? consider it done. and the best news: it's not hard to do–in fact, it's a lot of fun. from the home organizers who made their orderly eye candy the method that everyone swears by comes joanna and clea's signature approach to decluttering. the home edit walks you through paring down your belongings in every room, arranging them in a stunning and easy-to-find way (hello, labels ), and maintaining the system so you don't need another do-over in six months. when you're done, you'll not only know exactly where to find things, but you'll also love the way it looks. a masterclass and look book in one, the home edit is filled with bright photographs and detailed tips, from placing plastic dishware in a drawer where little hands can reach to categorizing pantry items by color (there's nothing like a little roygbiv to soothe the soul). above all, it's like having your best friends at your side to help you turn the chaos into calm.please note: the paperback includes a starter set of labels for your refrigerator; the ebook and audiobook include a link to download and print the labels from a computer (you will need 8-1/2 x 11-inch clear repositionable sticker project paper, such as avery 4397). featured in glamour's 10 books to help you live your best life

Smaller is big, says architect and author katie hutchison, whose book the new small house shows those looking to downsize how they can live smartly, economically and environmentally friendly in elegantly designed homes. with 275 gorgeous photographs and 30 detailed illustrations, the new small house takes the reader on a tour of north america and spotlights small houses in rural, coastal, and in-town locations. the book presents fundamental small-house design strategies, complete with whole-house case studies for homeowners eager to simplify. creating a great small house is illustrated in the opening chapter with 10 approaches, including: borrowed view and daylight multipurpose spaces privacy pockets using quality materials twenty-five stunning small houses are profiled in the second part of the book, organized by the nature of their locations.

For years, mobile homes have been the butt of jokes—and definitely under the radar of most real estate investors. yet for a small but growing group of savvy investors, they have become a tremendous asset. written by one of the top professionals in the business, mobile home wealth is an easy-to-understand book that can guide you to one of the most lucrative investments in real estate. the author begins by presenting the basic principles and practices of real estate investing. he then applies these principles to mobile homes, covering every step of the investment process from choosing a home to financing the purchase, negotiating the price, improving the property, and selling or renting for maximum gains.

Here, for the first time, is a completely authoritative guide on how to look after your old house – whether it's a timber framed medieval cottage, an eighteenth century urban terrace or an example of victorian or edwardian speculative development.ÿ taking their lead from the conservation approach of the society for the protection of ancient buildings (who have approved and authorised this volume), the approach is one of respect, restraint and repair rather than 'restoration' which can so easily and permanently destroy the rich historical legacy of any old building. – this book provides richly and deeply informed practical guidance, with sections including:breathability and damp – structural movementroofstimber and carpentry – windows doors and joinery. – it will be essential reading for anyone with an old house in need of any kind of repair or maintenance. kevin mc – cloud, presenter of grand designs, channel 4

Planning to buy a new home is an exciting time in your life! this purse-sized guided notebook makes life easier by keeping you on track as you compile the many details of your new home, from plumbers to electricians, to the big move-in day itself, and beyond. concise fill-in lists and charts provide the essential reference you need to stay organized as you plan for your new home. measures 5-3/4" wide x 8-1/4" high (14.6 cm wide x 21 cm high). 144 pages. hardcover with elastic band closure. inside back cover pocket.

The combined expertise of home depot–the nation's #1 home center retailer–and better homes and gardens books makes this a one-of-a-kind home improvement book. chapters cover all aspects of home remodeling, decorating and repair, with an emphasis on time-saving, do-it-yourself methods. features more than 2,000 color illustrations and 75 color photos.

Here's the updated and enlarged third edition of our classic reference on how to choose systems and materials for every part of a home. designed for do-it-yourself homeowners, as well as builders, contractors and architects, the visual handbook of building and remodeling is the authoritative, go-to reference manual for anyone involved in residential design and construction. in fact, earlier editions of this classic guide have sold over 250,000 copies. with its unique visual approach and over 1,600 full-color drawings, this new, expanded edition provides you with a clear, detailed look at every aspect of home construction– and built-in systems. so you can visualize exactly how to tackle any building project or construction challenge. and, in addition to its user-friendly graphic presentation, you'll also appreciate the clear, straightforward language that gives you everything you need to get going. here are just a few reasons why you'll want to pick up a copy of this new edition. it's chock full of new material with lots of essential information not included in earlier versions over 400 new full-color drawings shed light on a wide range of additional materials, systems and details new chapters on energy-efficient green building practices and innovative storage solutions over 1,600 drawings — in total — cover every aspect of home building and remodeling over 300 tables offer quick access to critical data

All home improvements don’t require a contractor. installing a smoke detector, painting a room, and unclogging a sink are all home improvements. in fact, doing the job yourself is often cheaper and always more rewarding. there’s no mystery to home repair. the most important tool you need to make home repairs is know-how—to fix the problem at hand and to buy the other tools and hardware you’ll need! home improvement for dummies is a whole-house repair manual for everyone from fledgling do-it-yourselfers to seasoned handymen and women. this anybody-can-do-it approach will help you with a repair that needs fixing right away or get you started on a project you’ve been planning. this book is for you if you need advice on these topics and more: painting and decorating carpentry plumbing and electrical outside repairs building shelves tiling insulating calculate how much a repair will cost you, and know when to hire a pro. with clear illustrations that walk you, step by step, through projects, home improvement for dummies helps you: refinish and stain wood repair squeaky stairs install floor tiles improve your home’s energy efficiency maintain and upgrade plumbing install an outdoor sprinkler system install a ceiling fan maintain central air conditioning and heating whether you just have a few pesky projects you want to fix quickly or you want to become a home-improvement expert, this easy-to-follow guide gives you everything you will ever need to know. a helpful appendix is packed with online resources that let you network with other do-it-yourselfers.

"guide to new custom home ownership" is a complete and insightful publication on residential construction. designed for the person wishing to own a new custom home. it walks the reader through the process of finding how to decide on custom plans, finding your builder as well as property. it helps the reader understand zoning boards and financing the project. this book helps prevent problems and issues with your builder as well as tradesmen and shows you how to keep your project site safe from injuries while also maintaining the quality and design choices you have in mind for your new dream home. this book is not only for people wishing to be a new homeowner. real estate agents, material supply reps, sub-contractors and fellow builders will all walk away with a new understanding toward custom residential homes. this book makes for a great gift for anyone considering a new home anywhere and/or anytime in the future.

850 things every homeowner should know is an all-purpose diy guide from the editors at family handyman that details how new home buyers should maintain, repair and care for their living space. packed to the brim with useful tidbits & tips, this resourceful book will help you navigate everything from pest control, to learning how your electrical system works, to deciding when to call a pro and when to do repairs yourself. plus, you’ll appreciate handy hints from industry pros on how to solve problems, save money and improve your home! 850 resourceful ideas, repairs & projects are featured inside and divided among 100+ sections. “voice of experience” sections offer advice from the experts, with professionals and family handyman field editors sharing their knowledge about a variety of home care topics. special sections scattered throughout the book are devoted to storage, home hints, problem-solvers, easy fixes and great goofs, and offer a wealth of information on useful homeownership topics. useful projects & precautions for your whole house, including inside the home, outside the home, the garage and even the basement. helpful tips throughout from experienced electricians, plumbers, carpenters & more. easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions, how-to photos and detailed illustrations that will help you understand and complete tasks correctly. perfect for every level of diyer—from beginners and pros!

Owning a home should be exciting, not terrifying. get a crash course on what new homeowners can expect, from the good to the bad and the ugly.for many new homeowners, the euphoria that comes with buying the perfect new house can soon turn into total panic. first-time buyers often feel overwhelmed by the amount of maintenance their new home requiresnot to mention the nasty problems and surprises that seem to be lurking around every corner (and in every wall). real estate guru sid davis provides the antidote for the common worries that plague every new owner. from easy repairs to seemingly insurmountable projects, you will discover sanity-saving advice on: improving roofing, siding, walkways, and drivewaysfixing or replacing appliances and fixturesrefinancing tips and trapsreducing the costs of home ownership and maintenancelowering property taxesworking with contractors and not getting takeninsurance tipsbudgeting for the unexpectedwith the first-time homeowner's survival guide, novice homeowners can experience all the joy, and none of the trepidation, that comes with having a place of their own.

#1 new york times bestseller – the authors of the home edit and stars of the netflix series get organized with the home edit teach you how to apply their genius, holistic approach to your work life, on-the-go necessities, and technology.at home or on the go, you don't have to live like a minimalist to feel happy and calm. the home edit mentality is all about embracing your life—whether you’re a busy mom, a roommate living with three, or someone who’s always traveling for work. you just need to know how to set up a system that works for you. in the next phase of the home organizing craze, clea shearer and joanna teplin go beyond the pantry and bookshelf to show you how to contain the chaos in all aspects of your life, from office space and holiday storage to luggage and pet supplies. get to know your organizing style, tailor it to your family’s lifestyle, and lead the low-guilt life as you apply more genius ideas to every aspect of your life.clea and joanna are here to remind you that “it’s okay to own things” in the quest for pretty and smart spaces. with the home edit life, you’ll soon be corralling phone cords, archiving old photos, arranging your phone apps by color, and packing your suitcase like a pro.

Keep construction on track with helpful checklists turn your dream of a custom home into reality! thinking about building your own home? this easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. from acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely — and staying sane during the process! discover how to: find the best homesite navigate the plan approval process obtain financing hire the right contractor cut design and construction costs avoid common mistakes

Keep construction on track with helpful checklists turn your dream of a custom home into reality! thinking about building your own home? this easy-to-follow guide shows you how to plan and build a beautiful home on any budget. from acquiring land to finding the best architect to overseeing the construction, you get lots of savvy tips on managing your new investment wisely — and staying sane during the process! discover how to: find the best homesite navigate the plan approval process obtain financing hire the right contractor cut design and construction costs avoid common mistakes

Your home is the biggest financial commitment you'll ever make. it just makes plain sense to take care of it. it's never been truer – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – especially with your home. home construction audit's home owner's guide to maintenance is a collection of two decades worth of suggestions to ensure your home is always in tip-top condition. just remember – the things you don't see in your home are often more important to maintain than the things you do see. additionally, our tips will extend the functionality and longevity of your home while protecting its value.

Your home is the biggest financial commitment you'll ever make. it just makes plain sense to take care of it. it's never been truer – an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure – especially with your home. home construction audit's home owner's guide to maintenance is a collection of two decades worth of suggestions to ensure your home is always in tip-top condition. just remember – the things you don't see in your home are often more important to maintain than the things you do see. additionally, our tips will extend the functionality and longevity of your home while protecting its value.