The Virgin Homeowner: The Essential Guide to Owning, Maintaining, and Surviving Your First Home
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The Virgin Homeowner is Janice Papolos's answer to the house buyer's blues. Using her own experience, Papolos initiates readers into all the workings of a house. She moves from the initial terror of home inspection to the mysteries of plumbing and electricity, stopping at all points along the way—including septic systems, roofing problems, insect infestations, environmental issues, childproofing, ventilation, and fire safety. In addition, Papolos offers clear instructions on how to handle minor household repairs and helps the new homeowner to understand the quirky vocabulary essential for having an intelligent conversation with a repair person or contractor. Best of all, The Virgin Homeowner provides readers with the confidence and piece of mind they need to make owning a home more of a dream and less of a nightmare. Library Journal While some readers may not like her title, Papolos has produced an excellent owners' manual for the first-time homeowner. After buying her first house, Papolos realized that there were many things she should have done differently or instances when she should have paid more attention to experts. By writing this book, she is giving the reader the opportunity to learn from her mistakes. Beginning with how to get the most out of the initial home inspection, Papolos takes the reader through a house, describing each system, its quirks, and its potential problems. Later, she covers pest control, security, and safety. This highly readable book will prove useful to both new homeowners and those just thinking of making a purchase, and veteran homeowners will undoubtedly learn something, too. Recommended for all public libraries.Jonathan N. Hershey, Akron-Summit Cty. P.L., Ohio
Preface11Acknowledgments15But First, a Word About Money...191Ground Zero; or What I Should Have Learned from the Home Inspection252The Inner Mysteries, Part I: Plumbing and Electricity513The Inner Mysteries, Part II: Heating and Cooling1004To Rid-X or Not to Rid-X: You and Your Septic System1405Creosote Is a Dirty Word1586The Sorcerer's Apprentice; or Water, Water Everywhere1727The Uninvited Guest, Part I: Insects and Other Pests1948The Uninvited Guest, Part II: Physical and Electronic Security2249The Healthy House26410Ventilation Is the Name of the Game32611The Age of Innocence: Childproofing Inside and Out35012The Great Escape: Protecting Yourself, Your Family, and Your Property from Fire37813Finally Home396The "On-Track" Calendar411House Doctors Directory412Paint Palette Directory414Bibliography417Index427
