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Thornton Publishing, Inc. 2005 ISBN #0-9774761-0-3 This book stopped me in my tracks practically on the first page. I am planning on buying a home within the next two years, and part of my sense of "security" in making this purchase was my ability to get a pre-inspection. I assumed that home inspectors were licensed by each state, and that all I had to do was interview inspectors until I found one that I felt comfortable with. Home Inspectors are not licensed by the state, and their backgrounds can vary widely. Now I certainly have not only more questions to ask of a potential home inspector, but a wider range of questions. There was absolutely nothing mystical about any of that - just hard fact. However, this is indeed a very mystical book! Ranoli's background includes over thirty years of experience in the construction industry, expertise in Geobiology and Earth Acupuncture, and over thirty years experience as a spiritual minister and speaker. Ranoli works with Real Estate Brokers, individuals interested in buying a home, and individuals interested in selling their home. She does this in a very unique manner - she helps people find the "soul" of their home, while balancing the Earth as it relates to the home. "The Mystical Guide To Home Inspection" is broken down into four parts - (1) how to interview a prospective home inspector, (2) valuable advice on home maintenance, (3) home safety, and (4) money and energy saving tips. Her best tip - if your energy and thoughts are clear, the right house or buyer will be energetically drawn to you. Place your intent, and you will draw your wishes to you. Ranoli does an excellent job of defining the role of the Home Inspector in the process of buying or selling a home. She also explains what to expect from a home inspection, and how often they should be done (more often than I thought!). She talks about where to find a Home Inspector, how to evaluate their experience, what insurance he or she should be carrying, how long the inspection should take, and what to expect the inspection to cost. Ranoli also advises that you ask about what type of report you will be receiving, and when you will receive it before signing on the dotted line. A side issue that can turn out to be very important are professional organizations that the inspector may belong to. The explanation of the inspection process was of great interest to me, as it is well broken down into exterior and interior systems, and various additional services. Some items, such as pools, hot tubs, septic systems, wells (and more) will require inspections by professionals licensed in those specific fields. This certainly gave me some new thoughts on what type of home would be best for me (as well as what to look for myself on a home tour). There is also a discussion of how to interpret the report, and the that it may contain recommendations for further inspections/evaluations by specifically trained individuals, such as industrial hygienists, roofing contractors, electricians and plumbers. Special note needs to be made for those wishing to pursue FHA or VA financing, as specific repairs will be needed to bring a home up to the code mandated by these authorities. The section on home maintenance is applicable for those who are staying in their homes, as well as those selling their home, or moving into a new (or new to them) home. I learned a lot of new terms here - most of which I have no clue about! This section is divided into exterior versus interior, paying attention to such things as cleaning gutters, inspecting roof tar flashings, paint and wood damage, changing batteries in things such as smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and changing furnace filters. This section also contains a great deal of information about septic tank systems, which does give one pause for thought! The preparation for buying and selling property certainly increased my admiration for Ranoli which was already well set by this point in the book! One of the major reasons for this is that she understands that there is an emotional element to buying or selling a house, and that we are working with energies that have been left behind, and for whatever reason not been cleared (or have not been willing to leave). The coverage here is extensive, from how to present the house and yard, to baking cookies before a walk-through (and then leaving the house so that the Realtor and prospective buyer have only their own energies to worry about). Making the process easier on yourself, timing inspections so that there is enough time to comfortably make corrections, actively clearing the house with white sage or water and Epsom salts, and working with essential oils are all included here. (I was impressed with this idea - adding essential oils to the paint before painting a room!) The final chapter deals with viewing your home as a living entity. This is where Geobiology comes in. Geobiology is the science of balancing the impact that the environment has n your home, your body's aura (energy field), and on your own physical health. Here Ranoli looks at issues such as ley lines, the type of material used in building the house, and the orientation of the home (which should be either north or west). Working with numerology, pendulums, and creating simple energy grids are all addressed. There are also charts of essential oils, and various crystals, listing their essential nature and how they can be used to create a more harmonious space within the home. (Symbols, Colors, Angels, and Deities sneak their way in here too!) This is such a gentle book that requests the reader to take charge of their own life, while at the same time giving them enormous amounts of information on how to life that life well. There is a well done Internet site that backs up the material in this book - www.faithranoli.com. Ranoli indicates in her book (and on her site) that much of the work that she does with clients can be done over distance (i.e. over the phone). This is a must read book for anyone who owns a home - or thinks that they want to own a home!
Bonnie Cehovet
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