THE FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE ................. 16426$ $$FM 05-07-07 11:13:12 PS PAGE i ................. 16426$ $$FM 05-07-07 11:13:13 PS PAGE ii THE FIRST-TIME HOMEOWNER’S SURVIVAL GUIDE A Crash Course in Dealing with Repairs, Renovations, Property Tax Issues, and Other Potential Disasters S I D D AV I S American Management Association New York • Atlanta • Brussels • Chicago • Mexico City • San Francisco Shanghai • Tokyo • Toronto • Washington, D.C. ................. 16426$ $$FM 05-07-07 11:13:14 PS PAGE iii Special discounts on bulk quantities of AMACOM books are available to corporations, professional associations, and other organizations. For details, contact Special Sales Department, AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 10019. Tel: 212-903-8316. Fax: 212-903-8083. E-mail:
[email protected] Website: www.amacombooks.org/go/specialsales To view all AMACOM titles go to: www.amacombooks.org This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought. REALTOR is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. AMACOM uses these names throughout this book in initial capital letters or ALL CAPITAL letters for editorial purposes only, with no intention of trademark violation. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Davis, Sid. The first-time homeowner’s survival guide : a crash course in dealing with repairs, renovations, property tax issues, and other potential disasters / Sid Davis. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8144-7372-6 ISBN-10: 0-8144-7372-5 1. Home ownership—United States. I. Title. HD7287.82.U6D38 2007 643—dc22 2007003725 2007 Sid Davis. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. This publication may not be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of AMACOM, a division of American Management Association, 1601 Broadway, New York, NY 1