plumbing---never get your plumber mad

leaky pipes---there could be 100's of reasons but some you might not think of include that those leaks are there on purpose!
remember that plumber you insulted, did'nt pay fully, the one you thumbed your nose up at--well he could have revenge after all.
that pipe he replaced---it looks fine and works fine when you tried it but he intentionally left off the glue that would hold that new pipe together with the old pipe. It didn't fail for 2 months but when it did the damage was enormus.
new pipes needed, new drywall,new carpets,new paint etc.
you must know who you hire and treat them with respect if not you could havethose leaky pipes!

www.remodelinghellthebook.com will save you $1,000's potentially!

review from a reader 1-10

I have been buying, remodeling and selling homes for the better part of thirty years. A friend of mine told me to read "Remodeling Hell" by Charles Irion. I have thanked that friend on numerous occassions and I thank Irion for writing the book. I wish he would have written it a long time ago. I'd have had a lot fewer headaches that came from dealing with contractors and sub-contractors. Irion writes from his own remodeling experiences and couldn't have told this story and the truth any better. It was informative and yet entertaining. If you, or anyone you know has plans to remodel, whether it's one room or an entire house, has to read "Remodeling Hell" first. You'll be glad and then you'll thank me for telling you about it ...oh, and you'll thank Charles Irion for writing it too. GREAT READ! Sincerely, Raymond (avid Irion fan) Cardi

what a nightmare i had with our home---2 years and lots of money--I learned lots of ways the trades can get you and try to reveal as many of them in the book as i could!
chuck

There are no cheap repairs

Boy did I find that out!-- You get what you paid for! www.remodelinghellthebook.com

Read my true story----Well most is true ---except the astonishing ending!

Chaeles Irion

Hellish Lesson #7

Be nice to your workers but not a buddy. Be respectful but stay distant, except as it relates to the job at hand. I wasted thousands of dollars buying needless lunches and making loans to workers. I wasted countless hours and lost a measure of emotional contentment listening to an endless stream of sob stories. Anticipate that your sources for material will not deal with you honestly or in a timely manner. Not everyone needs to like you especially when you're the one writing all the checks.

Salvation!

It had occured to me that no one needs to lose as much sleep or money as I did when I remodeling my home. An extensive remodeling guide, "Salvation" is located in the back of Remodeling Hell. Thirty seven pages of sound avice and suggestions to cutting the crap and keeping on track.
To create my dream house I both remodeled an existing home and constructed a signifigant new additon. I took away many lessons that apply to both experiences. When I began, I had no resources or no book I could consult. I learned every lesson the hard, and usually, the expensive way. These lessons/ideas can save you money, grief and time. They can make the process, if not exactly enjoyable, then at least not miserable! You will be able to check the quality of constuction and hopefully recognize mistakes when you see them. Follow these lessons and you will end up with a better house. Even if you have no previous experience in construction or remodeling, these can be enormously useful. I don't pretend I learned every lesson, but it's a handy collection.
Happy building!

More Hell with Remodeling

It seemed like a good idea at the time, thought that gave me no comfort during the hell that followed.
The plan was simple enough. I'd just bought a very nice, though dated, house situated beside a prestine expanse of Southwestern desert on the sunny slope of a mountain preserve. I'd have no new, or even old, neighbors obstructing my view, and could enjoy the striking scenery as well as the myriad wildlife that populated the area. My plan was to take what was already a basically sound house design, expand on it, and landscape and remodel the remainder, turning the totality into my dream home....
Sounds like a wonderful venture right? Wrong! I spent the next two years with bumbling contractors, plumbers, electricians and loafs and ended up with a lovely home and a pool that still doesn't work as it should. Talk about touching the burner. But for those of the adventerous mind or the valiant DIY-ers much like myself there's something to be said for making your own dreams. Or perhaps in my case building my dream. Following these funny annectodal stories is my "Salvation" guide, an assemeblance of FAQs and common problems with all the right answers. Trust me when I say I could have only wished and hoped for this information during my own remodeling hell.
Read and enjoy!