Remodeling Dos and Don'ts

(Editor's note: To return to Eric Gillin's story about home improvements that pay you back, click here.

Don't overspend. Adding expensive granite countertops may seem like a good idea, but if everyone else has Formica, you probably won't recoup the cost. Homeowners looking at moderately priced homes likely won't fork over a premium for luxurious perks. Also, "if they're in a small community without a lot of appreciation, they won't see the value," says Jim Neidner, president of Neidner Construction & Remodeling in Houston.

Don't be too unique. Your uncommon tastes could work against you when it comes time to sell. Adding a tennis court in the backyard is great, but prepare to remove it if the next homeowner is a gardening aficionado. "I had a neighbor who had a custom-built house with floor-to-ceiling marble," says Sharon Hanby-Robie, author of My Name Isn't Martha, but I Can Renovate My Home. "You couldn't paint over it. You couldn't carpet it. It took three years to sell that house." ...