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By JUDY STARK
© St. Petersburg Times, published July 14, 2001
Small House, Big Style (Better Homes & Gardens Books, $34.95): With hundreds of photographs, many of them "before" and "after" shots of the same room, this book offers dozens of ways to make the most out of small spaces. They include a 650-square-foot house built on a sliver of land overlooking the waterfront in San Diego, Calif., and a 520-square-foot cigar maker's cottage in Key West. Other homes are as large as 2,750 square feet, but most hover under 2,000. The book's strengths are its tips on building in storage space, using color to unify a small space, arranging furniture effectively, and creating the maximum "light, height and sight." Some of these houses were done on a budget, some were remodeled in stages over several years. A worthy and repeated note: Don't be afraid to get rid of furniture when your tastes change or when it no longer meets your needs.
The Homebuyer's Kit and The Homeseller's Kit, by Edith Lank with Dena Amoruso (Dearborn Trade, fifth edition, $15.95 each): Columnist, real-estate instructor, and radio and TV columnist Edith Lank has been writing about real estate for 20 years. These are the latest editions of her standbys that explain the basics of buying and selling homes. She includes mortgage amortization charts, sample contracts and closing statements, references to helpful Web sites, and definitions of terms. They're good basics for those getting into the market for the first time, or for the first time in many years.
Property Management for Dummies, by Robert Griswold (Hungry Minds Inc., $21.99): If you're thinking of becoming a landlord, or are seeking a career in property management, author Griswold offers advice drawn from his own experience, over 20 years of managing more than 600 properties and more than 35,000 rentals. He discusses setting the rent, showing the property, setting security deposits, keeping property rented in slow markets, and writing effective ads. There are sample forms, checklists and questions to ask. Griswold's stories of his own career in property management are enjoyable and may help you decide whether you want to get into the landlord business at all.