House Remodeling Tips

Increase Value and Marketability

• Two of the biggest areas of the home to tackle are the kitchen and baths. They help sell the home. The way to cost effectively update these rooms is to leave the plumbing in place if possible. If the cabinets are serviceable but dated, update doors or paint the cabinets and add new hardware. Update lighting. Add Energy Star appliances. Consider replacing the countertops if they are dated. Paint and, if necessary, retile. Update the curtains, shower curtains and towels.

  Throughout the home, consider updating lighting fixtures, paint and flooring. Add curb appeal by painting your home, if it needs it. Call attention to architectural features by painting them a different color than the rest of the house. Get rid of overgrown bushes. Update exterior lighting. Make the entrance open and inviting.

Reduce Energy Costs

• The good news is that the government is providing funds for families to reduce energy costs and go green. (The Reference section has a website on the tax credits available.) Weatherize the home by plugging leaks, adding insulation and updating windows and doors that are more than 15 years old.

  Updating heating and cooling systems will pay a return on investment. So will updating your hot water tank or installing a new tankless hot water system.

  Putting a white or reflective surface on the roof minimizes heat absorption. Adding shades on the windows, on the outside of the house, can lower your energy bills.

  Planting trees is important and adds more value if you locate them strategically. The Heat Island Group, a research group located at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and funded jointly by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, provides information about this. Plant coniferous trees on the north and west sides of the home to protect it from winter winds. Plant deciduous trees on the south side to permit winter sun and protect the home from summer sun. Shade your air conditioner with trees, shrubs or a nonvegetative source. Air conditioners work more efficiently when they are cool. Plant trees on the east and west sides of the home to help with the summer sun.

Redesigning to Meet Family's Needs

• In a bad real estate market, it may make better financial sense to redesign a home to meet your family's needs than to move. This may entail changing a den into a bedroom and adding a closet to make space for an expanding family. It may involve finding space in the basement or the attic and remodeling it. Adding a bath will add value to a home and may also make the family happier. Many people choose to add a home theater. A small project that many people appreciate is customizing a closet, which can maximize usable space.