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As Safe as Houses
- Taking the Gamble Out of Your Home Improvement Project
- Narrated by: Barry Fike
- Length: 2 hrs and 53 mins
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As Safe as Houses
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Summary
Your home is probably your largest monthly expense and ultimately you want it to become an asset, perhaps to pass on to your kids when you’re gone. Why then do homeowners put so little value in the people they hire to work on their homes?
If you own an expensive car, you’re not likely to take it to the cheapest garage you can find. If you want a nice smile, you seek out an expensive, private dentist to give you that smile. No one goes to a cheap plastic surgeon or a cheap tattoo artist. Going to court? “Better find myself the cheapest lawyer I can” – said no one ever.
So why do people seek out the poorly paid, unqualified and uninsured to work on their home?
I have no clue, but it happens and if you’re considering building a house extension or new house, I suspect perhaps you’re already thinking of ways to do just that.
This book gives you some insight into the reality of hiring cheap professionals and why it may not be wise.
If you enjoy the book and want a little more of the same, I have a facebook page and an Instagram account you can take a look at.
Both of these are called – Ask the Structural Engineer.
My consulting engineering practices can be found at www.starkstructures.com, where you will also find a link to our google reviews as well as to the Instagram and facebook pages.
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What listeners say about As Safe as Houses
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Mr. A. Whiffin
- 09-07-24
Great listen
This is my favourite Audio book of Chris’s. It really is the idiots guide to structural engineering, and a good listen for an avid DIY’er, or someone who just wants more knowledge to help them choose the right contractor. If you want to know why there is a crack in the wall, how to get an insurance claim through. Having done an attic conversion, that chapter was particularly interesting. If you need to know something about the structure of your house, it’s in here, in nice and simple terms.
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- Nick
- 16-07-24
Roll the dice on this!
Chris has such a great suite of books to help guide anyone, and I mean anyone, through the murky waters of structural upgrades, leading you to a crystal clear paradise of indispensable information for any structural project you have in mind. This book has helped me navigate planning, contractor selection and so much more. You won't regret this one if you have some projects you want to kick-start and get moving. It's a win-win.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Alex
- 16-08-24
Useful advice
It covers quite a lot of ground, some of it fairly obvious for those in the trade but there's also some really clever ideas and hacks that I'll be using in future projects. Well worth a listen.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- M
- 27-07-24
Must listen
Great book, should listen. Great knowledge on the topic subject very in depth detail and overall experience.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Anonymous User
- 14-07-24
So much information
Information overload
Everything you could ever want to know about working on your house.
Interesting info on why your engineer might be overdesigning everything as my contractor repeatedly told me! No clue id hired the wrong engineer until it was too late- dont make the same mistake
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 25-07-24
Good guide
Really enjoyed part 5 of this book fell like I learned a lot in a short space of time very interesting overall
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- Paul Langton
- 10-07-24
The Real Price of Hiring Cheap Professionals
"Safe as Houses" provides a look into the true cost of hiring cheap, unqualified professionals for home repairs and renovations. The author draws insightful parallels to other industries, emphasising why skimping on quality for your largest investment (your home) can be a costly mistake. It's a must-listen for anyone considering building or renovating their home, offering advice on choosing the right professionals for your project. Highly recommended!
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- Wullie Laidlaw
- 14-07-24
Literally everything you need to know
This is an amazing book. It has everything you could want to know if youre altering your house. Right down to how to find a cheap but great contractor
Well worth a listen
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- Jason Horne
- 17-07-24
a must read if your doing any home improvement
If your planning a project of any size there's always the worry that your doing it the wrong way (and plenty people who claim to be experts!), all the people you hire seem to contradict each other and then charge you a fortune!
I only read (listened) to this book as I am planning a large attic, I'm glad I did, the author clearly knows his subject as well as the type of people you'll meet along the way, its like an insiders guide to building projects, its an easy read
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