Remodel home for self, not for resale value

Q: We plan a major remodeling of our home and have two different plans. One would produce a much larger kitchen and also extend the family room into a sizable addition. The other would improve the kitchen in its existing space and put a new family room in the addition. Which project would have better resale value?

A: There are surveys that purport to forecast the resale value of various home improvements, but it’s a tricky business. For example, there is an extensive annual survey by Remodeling Magazine that gives projected resale value of improvements, breaking them down into national and regional averages.

I believe these studies are valuable in revealing trends in consumer tastes, but I also firmly believe that homeowners should not make home improvements based on what they think the resale value will be. I believe that improvements should be made to satisfy the existing occupants of a house and not be based on what some future buyer might or might not like. Remodeling Magazine concedes that many variables, including the state of the housing market at the time of sale and the location of the home, can affect resale values. I have also discussed this issue with a number of veteran real-estate agents, and some feel that projected resale values have little meaning in an actual home sale.

According to Remodeling Magazine’s 2007 national averages, a “major kitchen remodel” costing about $55,500 is supposed to return about 78 percent of its cost at sale and a family-room addition costing about $79,000 would return about 68.6 percent. For more details, visit www.remodelingmagazine.com and click on Special Features, then on Cost vs. Value.

Q: We have a problem with moisture in the basement, but since we are only in the house part of the time we can’t run or empty a dehumidifier. Any ideas?

A: If you have a basement drain, the dehumidifier can be rigged to empty into the drain through a hose. Virtually all dehumidifiers are made to allow this type of drainage. If you don’t have a drain, most dehumidifiers also have an automatic switch that shuts them off when the water container is full. The dehumidifier won’t run again until the tank is emptied.

Q: We have a picnic table and some outdoor furniture made of cedar that has become very dark and dirty looking. How can we clean it up?

A: Renew the wood with a deck cleaner such as Olympic Deck Cleaner sold at many home centers. Apply the cleaner with a garden-type sprayer, let it work for about 10 minutes, then rinse. The wood should look fresh and clean again. To keep the wood in good condition, apply a deck stain or water-repellent. Spread a tablecloth on the picnic table before you use it for eating, of course.

QUICK TIP: Rechargeable batteries for tools are a great asset to do-it-yourselfers, eliminating electrical cords and shock hazards, but they pose a disposal problem when they wear out. Cellphones, laptop computers and camcorders are among other devices that use these batteries. Rechargeable batteries should not be placed in trash because they contain heavy metals that can contaminate soil. Some tool retailers, such as Home Depot, have special drop-off containers for rechargeable batteries which are collected and recycled. Radio Shack is another retailer that will generally accept the batteries. If you don’t know about a recycling place in your area, visit www.call2recycle.org. Don’t make a special trip to a listed drop-off site without calling ahead to verify that they accept batteries; I’ve found that a few listed sites don’t actually take them.

Ordinary flashlight-type batteries (those not rechargeable) usually should not be turned in for recycling. In many areas, they can be disposed of with trash. Duracell, a leading manufacturer, said it eliminated toxic materials from this type of battery years ago. However, in some areas, including California, they are treated as hazardous waste and should be disposed of in special hazardous waste sites. If in doubt, contact local government officials.