From buying equipment to mastering drywall to troubleshooting the causes of leaks, this useful book is the most compact, valuable tool one can stick in the toolbox. It includes offbeat cartoons, figures, easy-to-use bulleted lists, special warnings, tips, definitions sidebars, and advice from experts at a glance.

For home buyers and home sellers. Here is the first how-to that addresses the needs of both buyers and sellers, making it the perfect companion to the bestselling The Complete Idiot’s Guide® to Buying and Selling a Home. The buyer will depend on this guide to determine whether a house is worth buying. The seller will need it to determine which repairs are necessary before listing or signing anything. Readers will learn to troubleshoot all areas of a home, including its structure and foundation, windows and doors, plumbing, heating and air conditioning, insulation, electrical systems, and the roof, just to name a few. In this Pocket Idiot’s Guide®, you get: • What to look for when inspecting the electrical system, the roof, and other parts of the home. • Simple advice on what to do if the results of your inspections aren’t good. • Expert explanation of what you can expect during and after the inspection. • Easy ways to tell if a home is worth buying—or if it will need extensive repairs before you put it on the market.

How many readers does it take to change a light bulb? Only one . . . if he or she is armed with this book! Rather than focus on the big projects that most homeowners would wisely leave to professionals, it concentrates on the common repairs that everyone encounters and anyone can do—with the right instruction—including repairing holes and dents in drywall; fixing popped nails in walls; checking and replacing fuses; unclogging drains; replacing light fixtures; fixing squeaky floors; repairing cracked tile and damaged carpet; replacing screens; screening gutters; and much more. • Contains 250 to 300 step–by–step illustrations

Smart shopping in a buyer's market. It's a buyer's market out there. But with so many homes for sale, buyers can be overwhelmed by choice. How can they be certain they're making the right decision? The answers are here in this easy-to-use book of checklists focusing on every single aspect of the home buying procedure, from where to start looking to closing costs. *Finding affordable homes *Scoping out neighborhoods *Includes the questions that should be asked of agents, brokers, and sellers *For first-time buyers and experienced ones

Covers all the basics of home maintenance for average owners, offering money-saving tips for all the nuts and bolts, as well as cautions of when to call in the experts

Write it off, work it out, get it done. An eminently practical guide to getting unblocked and writing again, The Pocket Idiot’s Guide® to Beating Writer’s Block includes dozens and dozens of tips, exercises, prompts, and more that will get the creative juices flowing. From something as simple as finding or creating a more comfortable place to work, to assigning a week to strengthening one’s weak points, this is the book to get writers back on track. —Takes a practical, not psychological, approach. —Action-oriented tips. —Useful for all kinds of writing—fiction, poetry, screenplays, term papers, articles, and more.

Beyond Bonjour and Adieu! This third edition of The Pocket Idiot's GuideTM to French Phrases includes updated information on technology and transportation, shopping, dining, and dealing with emergencies, as well as a brand-new business travel section. Whether they're preparing for a vacation or a business trip, this must-have guide provides readers with all the phrases needed to communicate with native French speakers - and even sound like one. ? According to the World Tourism Organization, France is the world's top tourist destination ? As a foreign language, French is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English ? Beginning-level foreign language Complete Idiot's Guides® have been among the series' most consistently successful performers

Straight-shooting techniques for success with the ladies. Here, in this terrific, pocket-sized guide are all the tools needed to successfully approach and talk to a woman, get her phone number, and get a date. With tips on what to do and what not to do, this book covers everything from reading body language and using a wingman to learning what girls are looking for in terms of looks, money, and career. • Straightforward advice and practical tips for guys from the women they’re trying to meet. • Includes topics such as reading signals, moving in for the pick-up, starting a conversation, and keeping it going. • There are 100 million single adults in the US. • According to a recent It’s Just Lunch survey, 76% of men believe that a relationship is more important than their career.