This book clearly lays out to a layperson how to have a successful remodel of your house. Professionals do this all the time, but most of us will do it only once or a few times. Having this as your handbook should make the process easier and hopefully mistake-free.

After needing to remodel the whole house after a flood, we did not know where to start. I needed a book to at least get me started and understand what steps to take and how to find the best deals. This was the perfect book. Everything was explained in language I could understand. Since reading this book, our rebuilding has been very successful. I highly recommend this book.

Even small tasks to spruce up your home can require planning in order to achieve the success you desire. Remodeling your home normally requires the help of professionals, and most people find themselves entering a realm they have never walked in before. Any miscommunication or mistake is bound to cost the homeowner more money, as well as a long-lasting memory of a bad experience. This is exactly what Monica D. Higgins is trying to prevent with her book “Remodel Success: Home Remodeling Done Right, On Time, and On Budget.”

Right from the start, Ms. Higgins advises us to plan, and pay close attention to the small stuff. Homeowners need to know exactly what they want, right down to the types of materials, finish, and fancy adornments. Other chapters provide necessary definitions and aid with the interview process (general contractors, sub-contractors, etc.). Money is a definite topic, and budgeting, bidding, and payment schedules are also given their fair share of time. Ms. Higgins also discusses what happens when a project is concluded, and what to do if you are not satisfied (both during or at the project’s end).

Very helpful are the checklists. The author explains that small items missed in the planning stage can turn into overruns costing hundreds or thousands of dollars, or that clauses not included in the written contracts could cause miscommunications and lead to change orders and more overruns. Meetings with those who will participate in the project are not forgotten, and sample agendas are provided. In fact, every type of list and form that one could think of are part of this book.

I have contracted to have one home built from scratch, and also had some remodeling done. While I got out relatively unscathed, I shudder to think what may have happened if the issues that arose could not have been worked out as amicably as they were. This book will definitely be on the top of my desk the next time I face a new build or a remodel. Five stars.

My thanks to NetGalley and Schiffer Publishing for an advance copy of this book.