Guest Author - Paula Petrie

"Invest In Your Nest" is a straightforward read offering some great suggestions and insights to someone considering buying a home, or to someone wondering where and how to start remodeling, or redecorating.

This three-part book shows women the ins and outs of buying a home; including the important element of knowing your credit score. Selling real estate, with the three D’s; declutter, depersonalize, and deoderize, (if I do that I just may keep the house.) And the three R’s, repairing, replacing, and repainting.

“If you want to increase your property’s value, attending to the plumbing, heating, and cooling, windows, and doors, flooring, and all other building basics is where to begin.” says Barbara K.

Barbara covers the updating of major elements in a home, as well as room-by-room renovations you can do on your own or with the help of a pro. She suggests the three most important areas of the home are the kitchen, bathrooms, and landscaping. You can increase the value of any home by giving some time and attention to any one of these areas.

Did you know that a well tended exterior, along with an attractive outdoor living space and landscaping, can add as much as 20% to the asking price, when it comes to resale. I guess a little fresh air and gardening exercise can add spice to your bank account as well as your daily life.

This book offers dozens of ideas for enhancing the value, comfort, and style of your home, and is filled with do-it-yourself suggestions for the budget minded.

Barbara also advises which jobs you could tackle on your own and when to call a professional. With recommendations for saving money, like creating your own kitchen island by converting a second hand dresser or table by adding a countertop. Or, how you could spend wisely by for instance, adding a luxury item such as a marble surface for rolling pastry, etc. to your kitchen to not only create a space that you will love but chances are someone else will love it too, when it comes to resale.

You will also find helpful advice on how to find the right professional and guidance for dealing with contracts. I would say from reading this book that, there is no excuse for not taking on at least one small home project every year to protect your investment and, “Invest in Your Nest.”

As Barbara states, “Unless you try you will never know what you can be.”