There are plenty of do-it-yourself books on the market, but sound information about hiring and working with home improvement specialists is hard to come by. Written for homeowners who are hiring pros for large-scale home improvement, remodeling, and maintenance jobs, these titles feature visually appealing, easy-to-read layouts, and are packed with sidebars and callouts of special advice on how to hire a contractor. Written by an author who is a licensed Master Plumber as well as a licensed Class A Builder with almost three decades in the construction field, each title features: a focus on how to screen and hire home improvement pros; time and cost saving tips and techniques, including cost estimating charts for materials and labor; advantages/disadvantages of various materials; site, design, planning, and maintenance considerations; and explanations of different options, and the benefits and the drawbacks of each.