How To...

by Steven Diegel

by Steven Diegel

SBJ Contributing Writer

Remodeling may not always ensure a greater resale price for a home, but there are a number of improvement projects that can be undertaken to help increase its overall value and appearance.

Area builders and contractors said that homeowners have a number of options to consider which might enhance a home, especially when looking at the common rooms.

"Updating your kitchens and bathrooms is the best investment you can make as far as remodeling goes," said Bill Hoey, supervisor at Cowherd Construction Inc. "Redoing the cabinet doors, face-lifting the kitchen ... all of that is important."

Hoey said that the kitchen and bathroom date the home more than any other areas, and a change to these can often make the whole interior look different.

"There are architectural periods that date a home," Hoey said, as each decade has offered different colors and features common throughout the house.

More recent homes feature new styles in walls, countertops, sinks, and cabinet doors than those from earlier decades. An emphasis has also been placed on appliances and space-saving devices.

Bathrooms have also evolved to keep up with changing times, featuring larger showers, vanity cabinets, whirlpool tubs, lighting fixtures with multiple settings, and even appliances like radios and televisions.

"The biggest change in bathrooms is that they are going from being just a utility room or basic function room to a room that people will actually spend some time in," Hoey said.

A number of things can be done to improve the exterior of a home, according to Russel Caldwell, owner of Caldwell Construction.

Adding soffitt and fascia to protect overhangs, vinyl siding or brick applications, and higher quality windows can often be cost-effective and easier to maintain.

"These are often good values from the standpoint of resale or as far as the consumer spending money on future maintenance," Caldwell said.

Electrical work, including redoing the lighting, can also make a difference, allowing for different options and moods throughout the entire house.

"I think one of the biggest things in remodeling that is often overlooked is the lighting," Hoey said. "People are becoming more aware of their options ÐÐ different lighting (settings), indirect lighting, and the placement of lights."

On the other hand, remodelers said that a homeowner will rarely break even when building an addition onto a home because of the expense involved.

"Room additions are fairly rare because they are expensive to do," Hoey said. "It is almost like building a small home because everything is involved in it ÐÐ from the excavation to the roofing.

While all these efforts can certainly make a difference in the overall value of the home, Caldwell cautioned homeowners that remodeling does not always guarantee a 100 percent return.

"You don't always get 100 percent return on the investment," Caldwell said. "You just have to ask yourself what the home is currently worth, what it will cost to do this project, and what the potential value will be."

Hoey agreed with that assessment. "It is hard to do because you are trying to guess what the buyers' tastes are going to be," Hoey said. "Of course, if you are really outdated, you might want to invest some money and modernize the home."

They encouraged homeowners not to remodel with the intent to sell the home at a higher value, but for their own benefit.

"The best bet is if you are remodeling for yourself and you are going to stay in the home," Hoey said. "If you are fixing it up to sell, you are not going to get as good a return on it."

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