Homeowners not afraid to splurge for remodels

Inventory stack-ups in new and used homes are causing sweat beads on the foreheads of many Realtors, builders and sellers, even in Oklahoma’s relatively chipper housing market.

In one sector, though, things are looking decidedly up:

Renovations and remodels.

Slow home sales that have driven many would-be sellers to frustration have ignited the creative spark in others. New windows, doors, patios and decks — even redrawing the floor plan just a touch — might be just the ticket for offsetting the old-home blues.

The little things

Boral Brick, a supplier of bricks and other building materials and services, has been computing orders for smaller renovation projects at a promising rate in 2009.

"Our renovation side is way up,” said Ben Griswold, sales manager at Boral Brick, 2912 W Hefner Road. "Especially for outdoor projects, we’re up 20, 25 percent this year.”

Matt Durrett, sales manager at Four Seasons Sunrooms, 7701 Broadway Extension, told the story of a customer who placed his home on the market for more than a year without a bite. He decided to pull the listing and put money into what Durrett called "the kinds of improvements that historically offer a good return when a house finally does sell.”

Durrett reported that Four Seasons’ new-construction orders are slower than a year ago, but that much of that slack has been taken up by customers who are taking a second look at their current home and renovating.

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