How to buy & restore a country home - Joanna Simmons

Finding a country property with real character and history is a seductive fantasy. However, there are various questions you need to ask yourself before you make the step such as should you be moving to the country? Are you prepared for the change? Have you considered whether you want to be near a village, open fields, or a shop? Do you know how old you want your property to be and what style you like the best? Have you thought about how much work you are prepared to do, how long it is going to take and how much it is going to cost?

This book explains how to find the house of your dreams, how to research your property's history, how to get a survey done, how to renovate and restore, whom you need to contact, what materials to use, how to plan and manage your project, how to raise the finances and how to deal with listed properties and commissioning craftspeople. Simmons deals with the issues surrounding everything from renovating a wreck to converting a non-domestic property into a home. There are case studies from people who have renovated everything from a working windmill to a Georgian rectory.

You'll need plenty of inspiration on this adventure and this book will provide you with all the practical advice and expertise you need making the whole experience a more enjoyable one.