Home Sweet Home

by John Little

Published 17 May 1991
The complete guide for all owner builders, ***Home sweet home should be read by anyone contemplating building a new home or adding to an existing one. John Little's step-by-step account of the pleasures and pitfalls of building a home draws on 25 years' experience in the building industry, as a practising tradesman and a masterbuilder. In clear, non-technical language, he offers advice on everything the owner builder is likely to encounter, from raising finance, planning the house, obtaining council permits through to putting on the roof. His practical advice ranges from the best times to telephone tradespeople and what to ask them, to extensive lists of equipment and materials that will be needed. Many people would like to be more directly involved in the construction of their own home, both to satisfy a desire for self-expression, and for the cost savings made possible by doing it themselves. But whether you can do it yourself competently while actually saving money will depend on your level of competence. It is for this reason this guide has been developed.
***Home sweet home is an indispensable guide to building in Australian conditions, whether you are adding a bathroom or building a 30 square home. John Little is a Melbourne-based builder who lives at Black Rock. He has had various spots on Melbourne radio. His book has the backing of Mitre 10, and will be promoted in their June 1991 catalogue in Victoria (distribution 1.3 million). He is also in the process of launching other products including videos and a step-by-step building organiser, and he will be running seminars and workshops based on this book. This book is intended for self-builders.