Affordable Remodel: How To Get Custom Results On Any Budget, by Fernando Pages Ruiz

One of the most notable aspects of remodels is that they tend to cost more and take far longer than expected, as those who have engaged in the process are well aware of. Budgets are always optimistic, and schedules are too, and the author comes to this subject as someone who is keen on helping to guide people through the process of remodeling with an eye towards balancing a variety of concerns together, including the enjoyment of a home by the people who live in it. Given that home remodeling is a huge part of the economy when it comes to housing value and expenses, and is often so confusing to people engaged in it, this book provides tips that are based on allowing the homeowner’s knowledge to help overcome the tensions of short-term and long-term budgeting and gain a realistic appraisal for how to navigate the trade-offs of different options by providing the point of view of a skilled practitioner. Unlike some books that are wildly optimistic about the capabilities of homeowners, this book is written with a fairly typical homeowner in mind who is looking for knowledge in what kind of remodels make the most sense given the budget and goals that one has in mind, and that is certainly an approach that is worthwhile.

This book is a bit more than 200 pages long and it is divided into eight chapters that provide the author’s viewpoint on the complexities of home remodeling. The author begins with a short introduction and then examines the strategic planning that goes into a successful home remodel, including aspects of green remodeling and careful budgeting (1). After this the author discusses how to keep remodels affordable (2) through looking at the existing home, drawing plans, and finding out what works. This leads to the author’s discussion of getting dirty (3) in taking away what is not working in a present house and dealing with floors, structural supports, foundations, stairs, and ceilings. After this the author discusses tailoring systems to the needs of the homeowner (4), including ductwork, water heaters, electrical systems, as well as how to save on heating and cooling and engaging in profitable weather-proofing. After this the author discusses doors and windows (5), the interior canvas, including walls and lighting (6), affordable kitchens and baths (7), and high-impact and low-budget exteriors (8), which even use gardening as a means to spruce up a home’s appeal. The book then ends with a short index.

While this book is full of helpful designs and pictures and photographs, there were at least a few aspects of the book that were particularly worthwhile to me as a reader. One of them was the author’s distinctive and somewhat quirky voice throughout the book, which carried the voice of experience as well as an appreciation for often-neglected options to reduce cost or increase the aesthetic appeal of a remodel, or to use the potential of negotiating with utilities and code enforcement as a means of offsetting the costs or opening up the freedom in a remodel to defray costs or increase income by virtue of obtaining credits or favorable variances. This is the sort of real-life skill in dealing with remodels that can drastically overcome concerns about paying more for historically sensitive remodels or purchasing new appliances. When one can defray costs through making agreements with utilities and cities that are interested in preserving history while also preserving economic value, there are some major win-win opportunities that can make a house a lot more profitable or less expensive for upkeep for a homeowner as well. Being able to think of a remodel in the context of one’s neighborhood or in one’s relationship with one’s city or one’s business goals can help a home remodel fit into a larger context that can make it a more appealing home on a variety of levels, and that is something worth keeping in mind as one works to improve one’s property.