When you purchase a home, you acquire much more than a dwelling to keep you safe, dry and
comfortable. You also get heating and cooling systems that need servicing. You get a roof that
may need to be repaired one day. You get appliances that need to be maintained. You even get the
inspiration for future decorating and home improvement projects. It's pretty clear that if you
don't keep organized records, you can also get a lot of annoyance and aggravation. Homeowner's
Record Keeper, by Christina Henry De Tessan, helps you solve that problem.
Appropriately subtitled "The Perfect Place to Keep Track of Home Repairs, Maintenance, Plans,
and Dreams," Homeowner's Record Keeper was designed to keep homeowners from being overwhelmed by
the paperwork and responsibility that accompanies home ownership. The book is divided into two
sections, "Records" and "Planning." "Records" provides a place for you to keep information for
important contacts, such as your mortgage company, utility companies, repair services and even your
firewood supplier. Important papers are identified and suggestions are provided for their storage.
There is space for you to keep comprehensive maintenance records for all the rooms, appliances,
equipment and materials in the interior and exterior of your home. A preventive maintenance
checklist and maintenance tips are also included throughout the "Records" section.
"Planning," the second section of Homeowner's Record Keeper, provides a
framework for preparing for your home's future. The author encourages you to dream about what you'd
like to do and includes a mini-lesson on honing your design skills. At the same time, she reminds
you that your home is an investment and provides guidance for prioritizing your projects. This
section includes some great worksheets to help you set goals, hire skilled professionals and
realistically plan do-it-yourself projects.
Overall, Homeowner's Record Keeper is extremely helpful and easy to use. This book is a
valuable resource for people who, like me, are not inherently organized and want to protect their
investments in their homes, as well as their sanity.
