A dilapidated, empty home might just be a gold mine in waiting.

Investing in a run-down property and resuscitating it through repairs and design additions is a good way to help improve a neighborhood — and turn a nice profit.

If you’d like to learn more about buying, fixing and selling and undervalued property, one of the following books might be a good place to start.

• “Fix and Flop It; Make Money Rehabilitating Real Estate Property for Profit” by Katie Hamilton and Gene Hamilton, McGraw-Hill, 2004 ($18.95). It covers how fixes and repairs increase a property’s value.
• “Investing in Fixer-Uppers” by Jay P. DeCima, McGraw-Hill, 2003 ($18.95). It provides a guide to turning a profit on a renovated property through equity accumulation repair measures.
• “Make Money With Fixer-Uppers and Renovations” by Gary W. Eldred, John Wiley & Sons, 2003 ($19.95). The book offers insights on how to make creative improvements to add value to a home.