{"product_id":"2940013065888","title":"What you need to know before you REMODEL","description":"Today, more than ever, your money needs to go as far as it can. If your home improvement goals exceed your budget, you can save tens of thousands of dollars by simply understanding the process of successful home improvement from an honest, professional perspective. This might be a daunting concept, if you're not a veteran construction \"insider.\"  We'll explore exactly how any homeowner can approach any sized home improvement project with confidence, huge cost savings and how to eliminate the common headaches from delays and frustrations that far too often tarnish a successful result. This is in a practical language that any homeowner can easily understand. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCONTENT\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Preface\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e A note from the author\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1  Should you trust a General Contractor?\u003cbr\u003e2  What does a competent GC do and why should I think like one?\u003cbr\u003e3  How much do things really cost? \u003cbr\u003e4  I have a project in mind. Where do I start?\u003cbr\u003e5  How do I find the right subcontractors in terms of competence and price?\u003cbr\u003e6  How should I pay the subcontractors?\u003cbr\u003e7  What is the typical chronology of the construction process? \u003cbr\u003e8  How do I estimate the time to do the whole job?\u003cbr\u003e9  How do I check the quality of the work? \u003cbr\u003e10  What are some issues to be aware of when making finish selections? \u003cbr\u003e11  What about appliances?  \u003cbr\u003e12  What if I just want to hire a General Contractor? How do I pick the right one and not get taken for a ride?\u003cbr\u003e13  What are some common mistakes to avoid on the road to achieving excellence?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe'll cover exactly how to:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e* Size up a project\u003cbr\u003e* Estimate a realistic budget\u003cbr\u003e* Understand exactly how to hire only the best subcontractors\u003cbr\u003e* How to negotiate the best price with those subcontractors\u003cbr\u003e* How to manage them\u003cbr\u003e* How to pay them \u003cbr\u003e* How to keep everything effectively on track\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe'll also discuss how to protect your project from going over budget and the critical decisions that need to be made prior to even starting which so many people overlook, to their peril. In the end, you'll be ready to manage your own project, or if you choose, hire the very best General Contractor. You'll have a much more informed perspective of what a good contractor do in any successful renovation or new construction project and be able to easily distinguish the competent ones from the rest.","brand":"David M. Dillon","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47166863966448,"sku":"2940013065888","price":1.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0737\/7593\/9824\/files\/2940013065888_p0.jpg?v=1763576478","url":"https:\/\/shop-qa.barnesandnoble.com\/products\/2940013065888","provider":"Barnes \u0026 Noble (DEV)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}