|
Browse categories
|
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris
Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book !
Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it.
Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris
Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book !
Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it.
Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea.
Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much.
Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money.
Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris
Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book !
Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it.
Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea.
Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much.
Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money.
Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated.
Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book!
Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though.
A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris
Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book !
Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it.
Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea.
Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much.
Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money.
Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated.
Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book!
Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though.
A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
helpful for DIY, 09 May 2008
Very useful for basic building materials and tools but really only for DIY use. If you're doing a complete refurb with French builders or setting up your trade in France then spend a bit more money on the "Concise Dictionary of House Building Terms", don't be frightened by the price, it's well worth it. I own both copies and this one stays on the bookshelf most of the time, and the other is on site or in the van.
New owner, 02 Jan 2008
Most helpful - a few french words can make you sound more experienced when dealing with workmen in France
We could have done with this book years ago!, 16 Nov 2006
This book even makes good bedtime reading. We have found it most useful and now even know the French names of building and decorating items we don't even need. I particularly liked the breakdown of terms into easily definable areas of renovation. Keep a copy in the car for handy reference, you never know when one needs a pied-de-biche.
Helpful.. if you have time on your hands., 09 Nov 2006
We purchased this before we moved to France to help us obtain quotations etc., on a property we own. The book is in ten sections of different trades - not in alphabetical order - so if you want a word, you have to hunt through all the ten sections to find the right one, if it is there at all. This may be OK going from English to French, but if you have a French word and you don't know which trade it comes under (because you don't know the word, right?) you are left hunting between the ten sections and your regular dictionary as well. If at the back there was a complete list of French to English, then English to French as well as the ten sections, It would be getting 5 stars, however it doesn't so it fails as a dictionary, as it's not in alphabetical order. Shame.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris
Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book !
Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it.
Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea.
Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much.
Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money.
Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated.
Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book!
Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though.
A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
helpful for DIY, 09 May 2008
Very useful for basic building materials and tools but really only for DIY use. If you're doing a complete refurb with French builders or setting up your trade in France then spend a bit more money on the "Concise Dictionary of House Building Terms", don't be frightened by the price, it's well worth it. I own both copies and this one stays on the bookshelf most of the time, and the other is on site or in the van.
New owner, 02 Jan 2008
Most helpful - a few french words can make you sound more experienced when dealing with workmen in France
We could have done with this book years ago!, 16 Nov 2006
This book even makes good bedtime reading. We have found it most useful and now even know the French names of building and decorating items we don't even need. I particularly liked the breakdown of terms into easily definable areas of renovation. Keep a copy in the car for handy reference, you never know when one needs a pied-de-biche.
Helpful.. if you have time on your hands., 09 Nov 2006
We purchased this before we moved to France to help us obtain quotations etc., on a property we own. The book is in ten sections of different trades - not in alphabetical order - so if you want a word, you have to hunt through all the ten sections to find the right one, if it is there at all. This may be OK going from English to French, but if you have a French word and you don't know which trade it comes under (because you don't know the word, right?) you are left hunting between the ten sections and your regular dictionary as well. If at the back there was a complete list of French to English, then English to French as well as the ten sections, It would be getting 5 stars, however it doesn't so it fails as a dictionary, as it's not in alphabetical order. Shame.
A Godsend...., 07 Nov 2007
I am new to investing in property and found the that book answered many of the questions that I had in relation to investing in the property market.
It is written in a clear and intelligent way with many helpful tips.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book ! Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it. Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea. Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much. Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money. Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated. Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book! Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though. A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
helpful for DIY, 09 May 2008
Very useful for basic building materials and tools but really only for DIY use. If you're doing a complete refurb with French builders or setting up your trade in France then spend a bit more money on the "Concise Dictionary of House Building Terms", don't be frightened by the price, it's well worth it. I own both copies and this one stays on the bookshelf most of the time, and the other is on site or in the van. New owner, 02 Jan 2008
Most helpful - a few french words can make you sound more experienced when dealing with workmen in France We could have done with this book years ago!, 16 Nov 2006
This book even makes good bedtime reading. We have found it most useful and now even know the French names of building and decorating items we don't even need. I particularly liked the breakdown of terms into easily definable areas of renovation. Keep a copy in the car for handy reference, you never know when one needs a pied-de-biche. Helpful.. if you have time on your hands., 09 Nov 2006
We purchased this before we moved to France to help us obtain quotations etc., on a property we own. The book is in ten sections of different trades - not in alphabetical order - so if you want a word, you have to hunt through all the ten sections to find the right one, if it is there at all. This may be OK going from English to French, but if you have a French word and you don't know which trade it comes under (because you don't know the word, right?) you are left hunting between the ten sections and your regular dictionary as well. If at the back there was a complete list of French to English, then English to French as well as the ten sections, It would be getting 5 stars, however it doesn't so it fails as a dictionary, as it's not in alphabetical order. Shame. A Godsend...., 07 Nov 2007
I am new to investing in property and found the that book answered many of the questions that I had in relation to investing in the property market.
It is written in a clear and intelligent way with many helpful tips. doing who a favour?, 02 Jun 2007
The problem with this book and the accompanying tv programme is that it encourages maybe too many people to try their hand at 'developing' property. As another reviewer pointed out, 'developing' is buying land and building on it from scratch - what property ladder is describing is 'property modernisation', nothing more.
There are a lot people out there who know what they are doing, they buy a property for the right price, they know what needs to be done to it for the market sector it is in, and sell the property on for a reasonable profit (note 'reasonable' being about 10% of resale value, dependant on the timescale). The key to all this is in the INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE.
Go to a property auction and for most properties there is always some hopeful who will pay just that little bit too much for a property because he or she thinks there is a killing to be made. That is the problem - too many people want to try this for a living and the net effect is that for those that DO know what they are doing there are far less properties to go around. Net result, a market flooded with amatuerish 'makeover' jobs at inflated prices as people try to recoup what they have unnecessarily spent on their new money making scheme.
The bottom line is - you need to buy sound properties at minimum 25-30 percent below their potential value. By sound properties I mean properties which do not have unseen structural problems, this means you have to know what you are looking at. You then do 5 things:
1. Replace or renew kitchen
2. Replace or renew bathrooms, preferably fully tiled.
3. Replace or renew Fuse board and electric system
4. Replace or renew Heating system
5. repair and repaint everything else including gardens.
(NB 1 and 2 include plumbing)
These books spend far too many column inches on how to 'dress' the property for sale and not enough on how to identify and rectify underlying problems which is where most people fall down and 'go over budget'
I must add to this that (having met her) Sarah Beeny is a very astute and knowledgeable businesswoman who knows her stuff. However please remember that Property ladder is a TV programme which needs ratings - To do this they select the programme applicants that have paid over the odds for problematic properties and either dont know what they are doing or have plans to spend far too much on the modernisation.
What this book should tell you is how not to do it. Thank you very much, Sarah!, 23 May 2004
I would like to say, that since we have seen the program Property Ladder, my husband and I have bought a property, which have made us a very healthy profit. As a result we are able now to open the business, that we've always wanted. I am ever so greatfull for this lovely program. Interesting, 30 Mar 2004
Maybe not the best guide, more of a transcript of the shows which i absolutely loved. good book from a good series. interesting read at the least. Good value for money, 24 Feb 2004
This is a very simple book, easy to read, clearly laid out and also cross-referenced well in case you want to follow a theme through the book instead of reading it through straight away. I would say that its' strengths lay in clear descriptions of the types of market and what different buyers are looking for in a property. It also pointed me to things like the Hometrack survey which allows you to see how property prices fare in your local area. Where there is less detail is in the mechanics of things like financing. While there were good descriptions of the various types of survey, I felt more time could have been spent on exploring different avenues of gaining the all-important money to start the project in the first place. Having said that, as a whole the book is a good way to focus your ideas before you start and I would definitely recommnend it to people contemplating property developing for the first time. Dangerous., 30 Jan 2004
While she does make some points about buying a property (in ENGLAND - different sstem in Scotland remember!!), she does little more than articulate what should be common sense. I suppose if you knew nothing about the property system this would be a helpful starting oint, but there its applicability would end. Surely no-one would buy a property to live in based on her reccommendations alone, and certainly would not try to profit from it. Incidentally, she is not a property developer as she asserts. A poperty developer buys land and builds on it, ie, develops. She is little more than an interior designer who has profited from property sales. To deal with property in anything like a sensible manner takes much more than her overly optimistic, get-rich-quick ethos. I wonder how many people have lost money as a result of hearing about her successes and those on her TV show? Even those who have made money (on her show, which are presumably her most successful followers) have made relativley little. Many have given up their careers to redesign the interior of their house, and made only £10,000 or £20,000. If money was as easy to earn as this book implies, why wouldn't everyone do it?
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book ! Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it. Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea. Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much. Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money. Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated. Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book! Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though. A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
helpful for DIY, 09 May 2008
Very useful for basic building materials and tools but really only for DIY use. If you're doing a complete refurb with French builders or setting up your trade in France then spend a bit more money on the "Concise Dictionary of House Building Terms", don't be frightened by the price, it's well worth it. I own both copies and this one stays on the bookshelf most of the time, and the other is on site or in the van. New owner, 02 Jan 2008
Most helpful - a few french words can make you sound more experienced when dealing with workmen in France We could have done with this book years ago!, 16 Nov 2006
This book even makes good bedtime reading. We have found it most useful and now even know the French names of building and decorating items we don't even need. I particularly liked the breakdown of terms into easily definable areas of renovation. Keep a copy in the car for handy reference, you never know when one needs a pied-de-biche. Helpful.. if you have time on your hands., 09 Nov 2006
We purchased this before we moved to France to help us obtain quotations etc., on a property we own. The book is in ten sections of different trades - not in alphabetical order - so if you want a word, you have to hunt through all the ten sections to find the right one, if it is there at all. This may be OK going from English to French, but if you have a French word and you don't know which trade it comes under (because you don't know the word, right?) you are left hunting between the ten sections and your regular dictionary as well. If at the back there was a complete list of French to English, then English to French as well as the ten sections, It would be getting 5 stars, however it doesn't so it fails as a dictionary, as it's not in alphabetical order. Shame. A Godsend...., 07 Nov 2007
I am new to investing in property and found the that book answered many of the questions that I had in relation to investing in the property market.
It is written in a clear and intelligent way with many helpful tips. doing who a favour?, 02 Jun 2007
The problem with this book and the accompanying tv programme is that it encourages maybe too many people to try their hand at 'developing' property. As another reviewer pointed out, 'developing' is buying land and building on it from scratch - what property ladder is describing is 'property modernisation', nothing more.
There are a lot people out there who know what they are doing, they buy a property for the right price, they know what needs to be done to it for the market sector it is in, and sell the property on for a reasonable profit (note 'reasonable' being about 10% of resale value, dependant on the timescale). The key to all this is in the INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE.
Go to a property auction and for most properties there is always some hopeful who will pay just that little bit too much for a property because he or she thinks there is a killing to be made. That is the problem - too many people want to try this for a living and the net effect is that for those that DO know what they are doing there are far less properties to go around. Net result, a market flooded with amatuerish 'makeover' jobs at inflated prices as people try to recoup what they have unnecessarily spent on their new money making scheme.
The bottom line is - you need to buy sound properties at minimum 25-30 percent below their potential value. By sound properties I mean properties which do not have unseen structural problems, this means you have to know what you are looking at. You then do 5 things:
1. Replace or renew kitchen
2. Replace or renew bathrooms, preferably fully tiled.
3. Replace or renew Fuse board and electric system
4. Replace or renew Heating system
5. repair and repaint everything else including gardens.
(NB 1 and 2 include plumbing)
These books spend far too many column inches on how to 'dress' the property for sale and not enough on how to identify and rectify underlying problems which is where most people fall down and 'go over budget'
I must add to this that (having met her) Sarah Beeny is a very astute and knowledgeable businesswoman who knows her stuff. However please remember that Property ladder is a TV programme which needs ratings - To do this they select the programme applicants that have paid over the odds for problematic properties and either dont know what they are doing or have plans to spend far too much on the modernisation.
What this book should tell you is how not to do it. Thank you very much, Sarah!, 23 May 2004
I would like to say, that since we have seen the program Property Ladder, my husband and I have bought a property, which have made us a very healthy profit. As a result we are able now to open the business, that we've always wanted. I am ever so greatfull for this lovely program. Interesting, 30 Mar 2004
Maybe not the best guide, more of a transcript of the shows which i absolutely loved. good book from a good series. interesting read at the least. Good value for money, 24 Feb 2004
This is a very simple book, easy to read, clearly laid out and also cross-referenced well in case you want to follow a theme through the book instead of reading it through straight away. I would say that its' strengths lay in clear descriptions of the types of market and what different buyers are looking for in a property. It also pointed me to things like the Hometrack survey which allows you to see how property prices fare in your local area. Where there is less detail is in the mechanics of things like financing. While there were good descriptions of the various types of survey, I felt more time could have been spent on exploring different avenues of gaining the all-important money to start the project in the first place. Having said that, as a whole the book is a good way to focus your ideas before you start and I would definitely recommnend it to people contemplating property developing for the first time. Dangerous., 30 Jan 2004
While she does make some points about buying a property (in ENGLAND - different sstem in Scotland remember!!), she does little more than articulate what should be common sense. I suppose if you knew nothing about the property system this would be a helpful starting oint, but there its applicability would end. Surely no-one would buy a property to live in based on her reccommendations alone, and certainly would not try to profit from it. Incidentally, she is not a property developer as she asserts. A poperty developer buys land and builds on it, ie, develops. She is little more than an interior designer who has profited from property sales. To deal with property in anything like a sensible manner takes much more than her overly optimistic, get-rich-quick ethos. I wonder how many people have lost money as a result of hearing about her successes and those on her TV show? Even those who have made money (on her show, which are presumably her most successful followers) have made relativley little. Many have given up their careers to redesign the interior of their house, and made only £10,000 or £20,000. If money was as easy to earn as this book implies, why wouldn't everyone do it?
Great first read, 23 Apr 2008
I'd highly recommend this no fuss introduction to the basics of what you need to know about property investment. It is realistic, doesn't encourage irresponsible behaviour, is cheap, yet covers all the fundamental topics you probably haven't thought about.
Nicely written, easy to read - great piece of work.
Research is the key, 11 Jan 2008
I like this book...it covers so much and explains everything clearly. It is well written and has life in it unlike other property books. It is easy to refer to as it is extremely well presented.Well worth the money!
Very Very Interesting., 02 Nov 2007
This is the kind of book everyone should read as it is concise, well written, well informed and very practical. Excellent!
One of the best, 25 Oct 2007
Great book. It is an excellent guide. It is clearly laid out and explains in detail how to build a property portfolio without falling into the traps. I think it is commendable how the authour started off from small beginnings and then used the equity in her own home to build such an empire. I admire the way she shares her mistakes but passes on valuable advice in helping others not to do so. Its more than just a book...its a bible!
disappointed in this book, 22 Oct 2007
I was quite disappointed in this book. Essentailly it's in the Property Investor for Dummies genre. Yes it's easy to follow and takes you through all the various aspects of property, however I was expecting to discover how the author managed to build her portfolio, from the perspective of each purchase made and the initial investment made, and the decisions taken. She does touch on a few investments made in the early 80/90 but that is hardly relevant for todays buyers with such a competitive market. So for me this book was very disappointing, and I'm none the wiser about the details of the how the author actually built her portfolio and accumulated her wealth. Not really a self help guide, more an encyclopedia of information.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Customer Reviews
brilliant, 06 Aug 2008
this is a great book, so much useful information in there. in my opinion theres already enough good reviews to convince one to buy it, so theres not really much to add.
although its important to know, this doesn't tell you practical skills, 'how-to's like roofing, plumbing etc. its more about prices of materials verses labour, explains the ins and outs of employing an architect to design for you, explains how to deal with building regulations, that kind of thing.
VERY useful
paris Remove any Donald Rumsfeld from your life, 06 Feb 2007
The ex-Secretary of Defense is now most famous for his quote about knowledge. "...as we know, there are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns -- the ones we don't know we don't know."
.
When I started thinking about renovating my house and building an extension I had very few known knowns. After using the Housebuilder's Bible as a guide I now have no unknown unknowns and very few known unknowns. I and know how to know those.
So, if you're building or thinking of building and you feel an outbreak of Donald Rumsfeld is imminent; buy this book ! Essential reading for self-builders and project managers, 05 Feb 2007
Despite having no previous building experience, we have been building and/or project managing the build of our house for the past 2 years: see www.timval.com for a diary of the build.
Mark Brinkley's Housebuilder's Bible has proven to be invaluable. It provided us with sufficient technical information to allow us to select, negotiate with, and manage our architect and tradesmen. It gives realistic estimates of the main costs incurred, and highlights the potential pitfalls of self-building or project managing a build.
There are many books available which delve further into the technical aspects of building, but none draw together the essential points from design to finishes in such a clear and practical way.
The Housebuilder's Bible is the most useful tool you can buy if you are thinking of self-building or managing the renovation or new build of your own house.
Easily the best self-build book I have read, 30 Jan 2007
I have been interested in building my own house for at least 20 years and in that time I have read many books and countless magazine articles on the subject. Initially, most of the stuff I could find was american - often inspiring and very much geared to hands on do-it-yorself types but so far removed from the reality of building in bureaucratic Britain as to be almost useless. I have read books recently, written in this country, of a much more sober sort. They are often written by architects and, although many contain excellent advice on planning and contracts and garantees, there is often surprisingly little about the actual building process.
Mark Brinkley's book is different. It is immediately clear that this is written by a man who really knows about house building, both as a professional and a self-builder. He explains simply how houses are built, what choices there are to be made and what follows from them. Even better he explains why bulders, developers and the various subcontractors behave the way they do.
Building is not rocket science but there are many things that need to come together for it to work. Even if you don't intend to lift so much as a shovel in the process of your house build, you need to know the information in this book. It is clearly presented and easy to follow and cuts through the spin that various intrest groups put 'facts' and figures leaving you in a good position to make informed decisions.
For a book that contains so much information and insight, it is very easy to read and even entertaining in places and on top of that it really gives you a feel for what it is like to build your own house. I am 60% through the process of building my own house and still refer to this book often - if you only buy one book on self-build this should be it. Top Notch, 30 Jan 2007
I have Mark's previous version of this book, all I can say is it is excellent. It gives all the information a prospective house builder will need. It is a real eye opener but like Mark says don't let the book put you off the idea. Building for Dummies, 11 Apr 2008
I did not find this book particularly useful. OK, it may be for people who have never ever done any building/renovation/fitting job in their house. If you have, this book will not help you much. Sarah Beeney Bounces Back..., 07 Oct 2007
Ok, so I am a simple chap and not very good at knowing if someone is diddling me so I bought this book to help me when I was recently getting in some people to do work at my house. It actually worked out really well and saved me a lot of time and money. Handy, Man, 21 Jun 2006
Now here's a book that could really come in useful. Admittedly you have to put up with the occasional picture of Ms Beeny scowling threateningly at the camera (implied message to dodgy tradesmen: mess with me and you'll be talking two octaves higher for the rest of your days). And, yes, some of her estimates manage to be simultaneously both vague and strangely precise ("doorknob: £5 to £44"). Nevertheless, this compact little book -- small enough to slip between a builder's arse cheeks -- is bristling with tips that could save you a small fortune. Or at any rate take a good deal of the stress out of dealing with plumbers, electricians, tilers, carpet-layers, glaziers and the like. With immaculate logic Ms Beeny dissects each project into its component elements and pins a time and a price on each. Costings, of course, will vary between different parts of the country. And a few years hence they might well be out-of-date. But hey, it's a start. Let's hope they keep it regularly updated. Very imformative and a must have!, 20 Mar 2008
After buying most of the book shelf of building plan books and being disappointed that most are American designs, I was surprised to find a truly British design book that gives you ideas for designs and costings. A fabulous book! Great book, 06 Mar 2008
This is a very nice book, and very good value for money at this price. A wide range of designs, and in full colour too. It lacks any technical or construction data that is essential when it comes to drawing proper designs, but I would not expect to find such information in a book like this. What let's this book down is the lack of side and rear elevations for each design (though you can work most of this information out from the plan), and a conspicuous lack of dimensions, inclusion of which would make the product far more useful. Still a very good book for what you're paying though. A self builders must have, 13 Dec 2007
When you are looking to build your own property, you can end up wasting a lot of money on plan books (especially when they are from America). This book however is fantastic, it is perfectly laid out, giving you price in ascending order for how many bedrooms etc you require (so you can build a four bedroom property for £140,000 or a two bedroom property for this price). The book is realistic it shows houses from a budget price and has traditional and contemporary designs.
It tells you step by step how to go about building your house, which some people think is simple, but it is not (I have learnt a hell of a lot from experiance that things have to be done in a certain order, or a lot of time is wasted and labourers are getting paid for sitting around).
My only fault with this book is......that I didn't want it to end, I have a coffee in one hand and this book in the other and realise that I to, can actually have quite an imposing property on a budget, this book takes you one step further towards your dream and makes you buzz with excitement.
helpful for DIY, 09 May 2008
Very useful for basic building materials and tools but really only for DIY use. If you're doing a complete refurb with French builders or setting up your trade in France then spend a bit more money on the "Concise Dictionary of House Building Terms", don't be frightened by the price, it's well worth it. I own both copies and this one stays on the bookshelf most of the time, and the other is on site or in the van. New owner, 02 Jan 2008
Most helpful - a few french words can make you sound more experienced when dealing with workmen in France We could have done with this book years ago!, 16 Nov 2006
This book even makes good bedtime reading. We have found it most useful and now even know the French names of building and decorating items we don't even need. I particularly liked the breakdown of terms into easily definable areas of renovation. Keep a copy in the car for handy reference, you never know when one needs a pied-de-biche. Helpful.. if you have time on your hands., 09 Nov 2006
We purchased this before we moved to France to help us obtain quotations etc., on a property we own. The book is in ten sections of different trades - not in alphabetical order - so if you want a word, you have to hunt through all the ten sections to find the right one, if it is there at all. This may be OK going from English to French, but if you have a French word and you don't know which trade it comes under (because you don't know the word, right?) you are left hunting between the ten sections and your regular dictionary as well. If at the back there was a complete list of French to English, then English to French as well as the ten sections, It would be getting 5 stars, however it doesn't so it fails as a dictionary, as it's not in alphabetical order. Shame. A Godsend...., 07 Nov 2007
I am new to investing in property and found the that book answered many of the questions that I had in relation to investing in the property market.
It is written in a clear and intelligent way with many helpful tips. doing who a favour?, 02 Jun 2007
The problem with this book and the accompanying tv programme is that it encourages maybe too many people to try their hand at 'developing' property. As another reviewer pointed out, 'developing' is buying land and building on it from scratch - what property ladder is describing is 'property modernisation', nothing more.
There are a lot people out there who know what they are doing, they buy a property for the right price, they know what needs to be done to it for the market sector it is in, and sell the property on for a reasonable profit (note 'reasonable' being about 10% of resale value, dependant on the timescale). The key to all this is in the INITIAL PURCHASE PRICE.
Go to a property auction and for most properties there is always some hopeful who will pay just that little bit too much for a property because he or she thinks there is a killing to be made. That is the problem - too many people want to try this for a living and the net effect is that for those that DO know what they are doing there are far less properties to go around. Net result, a market flooded with amatuerish 'makeover' jobs at inflated prices as people try to recoup what they have unnecessarily spent on their new money making scheme.
The bottom line is - you need to buy sound properties at minimum 25-30 percent below their potential value. By sound properties I mean properties which do not have unseen structural problems, this means you have to know what you are looking at. You then do 5 things:
1. Replace or renew kitchen
2. Replace or renew bathrooms, preferably fully tiled.
3. Replace or renew Fuse board and electric system
4. Replace or renew Heating system
5. repair and repaint everything else including gardens.
(NB 1 and 2 include plumbing)
These books spend far too many column inches on how to 'dress' the property for sale and not enough on how to identify and rectify underlying problems which is where most people fall down and 'go over budget'
I must add to this that (having met her) Sarah Beeny is a very astute and knowledgeable businesswoman who knows her stuff. However please remember that Property ladder is a TV programme which needs ratings - To do this they select the programme applicants that have paid over the odds for problematic properties and either dont know what they are doing or have plans to spend far too much on the modernisation.
What this book should tell you is how not to do it. Thank you very much, Sarah!, 23 May 2004
I would like to say, that since we have seen the program Property Ladder, my husband and I have bought a property, which have made us a very healthy profit. As a result we are able now to open the business, that we've always wanted. I am ever so greatfull for this lovely program. Interesting, 30 Mar 2004
Maybe not the best guide, more of a transcript of the shows which i absolutely loved. good book from a good series. interesting read at the least. Good value for money, 24 Feb 2004
This is a very simple book, easy to read, clearly laid out and also cross-referenced well in case you want to follow a theme through the book instead of reading it through straight away. I would say that its' strengths lay in clear descriptions of the types of market and what different buyers are looking for in a property. It also pointed me to things like the Hometrack survey which allows you to see how property prices fare in your local area. Where there is less detail is in the mechanics of things like financing. While there were good descriptions of the various types of survey, I felt more time could have been spent on exploring different avenues of gaining the all-important money to start the project in the first place. Having said that, as a whole the book is a good way to focus your ideas before you start and I would definitely recommnend it to people contemplating property developing for the first time. Dangerous., 30 Jan 2004
While she does make some points about buying a property (in ENGLAND - different sstem in Scotland remember!!), she does little more than articulate what should be common sense. I suppose if you knew nothing about the property system this would be a helpful starting oint, but there its applicability would end. Surely no-one would buy a property to live in based on her reccommendations alone, and certainly would not try to profit from it. Incidentally, she is not a property developer as she asserts. A poperty developer buys land and builds on it, ie, develops. She is little more than an interior designer who has profited from property sales. To deal with property in anything like a sensible manner takes much more than her overly optimistic, get-rich-quick ethos. I wonder how many people have lost money as a result of hearing about her successes and those on her TV show? Even those who have made money (on her show, which are presumably her most successful followers) have made relativley little. Many have given up their careers to redesign the interior of their house, and made only £10,000 or £20,000. If money was as easy to earn as this book implies, why wouldn't everyone do it?
Great first read, 23 Apr 2008
I'd highly recommend this no fuss introduction to the basics of what you need to know about property investment. It is realistic, doesn't encourage irresponsible behaviour, is cheap, yet covers all the fundamental topics you probably haven't thought about.
Nicely written, easy to read - great piece of work.
Research is the key, 11 Jan 2008
I like this book...it covers so much and explains everything clearly. It is well written and has life in it unlike other property books. It is easy to refer to as it is extremely well presented.Well worth the money!
Very Very Interesting., 02 Nov 2007
This is the kind of book everyone should read as it is concise, well written, well informed and very practical. Excellent!
One of the best, 25 Oct 2007
Great book. It is an excellent guide. It is clearly laid out and explains in detail how to build a property portfolio without falling into the traps. I think it is commendable how the authour started off from small beginnings and then used the equity in her own home to build such an empire. I admire the way she shares her mistakes but passes on valuable advice in helping others not to do so. Its more than just a book...its a bible!
disappointed in this book, 22 Oct 2007
I was quite disappointed in this book. Essentailly it's in the Property Investor for Dummies genre. Yes it's easy to follow and takes you through all the various aspects of property, however I was expecting to discover how the author managed to build her portfolio, from the perspective of each purchase made and the initial investment made, and the decisions taken. She does touch on a few investments made in the early 80/90 but that is hardly relevant for todays buyers with such a competitive market. So for me this book was very disappointing, and I'm none the wiser about the details of the how the author actually built her portfolio and accumulated her wealth. Not really a self help guide, more an encyclopedia of information.
doing who a favour?, 02 Jun 2007
The problem with this book and the accompanying tv programme is that it encourages maybe too many people to try their hand at 'developing' property. As another reviewer pointed out, 'developing' is buying land and building on it from scratch - what property ladder is des | | |