Will remodeling make your house more marketable?

AKRON, Ohio (CNS) - The prospect of putting a "For Sale" sign on the front lawn prompts many homeowners to wonder if remodeling would make their house sell more quickly and for a higher price.

Isabelle Maglione Gale, an Akron, Ohio, realtor, says that even if a house needs repair, the seller does not necessarily have to make major improvements. "Some buyers have a garage-sale mentality and are looking for a bargain that they can fix up," Gale says. "Others, of course, look for a house that's decorated in neutral colors that they can move right into," she adds. "People will put money into things like roofing and siding, thinking it will help sell the house, but that's considered general maintenance and seldom affects a sale," Gale says. "The remodeling that really pays off is what's done in the kitchen and bathrooms." Ray Mrksich, a 29-year-old self-employed building contractor who just sold his home in Fairlawn, Ohio, agrees. "I changed everything in my house, all the way down to the doors and electrical outlets because I intended to stay in the house," he says. But a recent decision to relocate to Apollo Beach, Fla., changed that. Had he known he would be reselling so soon, he'd have worked only on the kitchen and bathrooms, he says. For a quick fix in the kitchen, Mrksich says new lights, fresh paint, new faucets and nice-looking appliances can all make a big difference. "If you're replacing a countertop, there's not much price difference between granite and Corian, but going with the higher-end product will set off the room." In the bathroom, Mrksich suggests removing any carpeting, adding a new shower-curtain rod or faucets. "For around $200 you can even have that old pink bathtub sealed and recoated," he says, "and a new toilet is cheap, looks good and is more sanitary." Another cosmetic tune-up involves updating kitchen cabinets by replacing them, refacing existing ones with solid wood doors and drawer fronts, using laminate cover-ups or - the least expensive - stripping and restaining or simply repainting. Do-it-yourselfers can cover unattractive or poor quality tile with bathtub or shower surrounds, available at stores home improvement and hardware stores. A basic toilet can often be purchased for $70 to $95. For those daunted by the plumbing, an installer's charge may be only $130 or so. The Yellow Pages can point you to people who will do the work once you purchase replacement surrounds or other fixtures or who will restore existing surfaces. People like Tom Sweitzer, owner of Akron's American Multi-Surface Restoration Inc., can resurface a built-in bathtub - inside and out - in five to seven hours. Pricing starts at $269. If it's just a matter of a scratched surface on the bottom of a tub, he says, "for $20 I can put in an anti-slip bottom which will cover a lot of imperfections." Whether a fix-up is major or minor, most people need to hire a contractor at some point. To choose one, Gwen Biasi at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry gives the following guidelines.
1. "Since professional organizations hold members to a code of ethics, the homeowner has a better chance of getting a reputable contractor if that person is a member of a trade organization," Biasi says.
2. "If there is licensing in the state, make sure the contractor is licensed."
3. "Be sure the contractor carries the proper insurance." If a contractor will be doing a large job, Biasi says it is also important to interview potential contractors. "Because a remodeler isn't in and out of your house in a day like a repairman, you must be comfortable with him. Price isn't everything when someone will be in your home for an extended period," she concludes. More information on remodeling can be found on the NARI Web site: http://www.nari.org. Or, to request their "How to Select a Remodeling Contractor" brochure by mail, call 1-800-611-NARI (6274). For specific information on kitchen and bathroom contractors, consult the Web site of the National Kitchen and Bath Association: http://www.nkba.org. - - - McNulty is a freelance writer from Akron, Ohio.

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