Before You Buy the House: a First-Time Homebuyer's Guide to Smarter Decisions, Fewer Surprises, and Home You'll Love

Buying a house is exciting. It can also be one of the most expensive learning experiences of your life. Before You Buy the House is the practical guide Chris Ware wishes he'd had before buying and building his first home. Drawing on firsthand experience building two homes, purchasing and renovating another, and renovating and managing two rental properties, Ware shares the lessons that usually come after you have spent the money. You will learn how to spot things other buyers overlook, ask better questions, understand the real costs hiding behind seemingly small decisions, stay involved during construction and renovation, and recognize when it is time to bring in a professional. Inside, you will discover why you should: - Look beyond the house and evaluate the lot.- Open it. Close it. Turn it on.- Calculate a fixer-upper in weekends as well as dollars.- Pay attention when normally hidden parts of a house are exposed.- Document conversations and decisions.- Understand what you are agreeing to before signing.- Use the included Master Checklist to stay organized.This is not a textbook written from the sidelines. It is one homeowner telling another: Here is what happened to us. Here is what we learned. And here is what I want you to know before it happens to you. Anticipate. Ask. Document. Verify. Buy smart. Build smart. Live better.