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As Safe as Houses

Taking the Gamble Out of Your Home Improvement Project

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About this listen

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.

©2021 Chris C Penman (P)2026 Chris C Penman
Architecture Engineering Home Design & Renovation House & Home
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Listener received this title free

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

Literally everything you need to know

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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.

Useful advice

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Listener received this title free

Really enjoyed part 5 of this book fell like I learned a lot in a short space of time very interesting overall

Good guide

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Listener received this title free

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.

Roll the dice on this!

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Listener received this title free

This book has so much information in it. it's surprising the author has managed to cram as much into only 3 hours of audio.

the author asks a simple question "Why then do homeowners put so little value in the people they hire to work on their homes?" and he's not wrong!

it's a no holes barred book on why being a cheapskate is a bad idea when you're doing up your house and how spending a fairly small amount of money on a good design team will literally save you a fortune in the long run. As an architect, who's qualified i wholeheartedly agree with every word

all my questions answered

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