The Buzzettis’ house was built in 1964 by Mildred Hankin, a friend of Frank’s mother who was so close to the family that Frank always knew her as Aunt Millie. As I recounted in the earlier story, the McCormick house was partly demolished in 1953 and a portion of it, complete with the hanging stairway, was moved to Burnstead Drive on the North Side.

Evidently there was a salvage sale before the demolition, and somehow Hankin came into possession of one of the fireplaces. When she built her house, the fireplace became its central feature, and she constructed big display cases on either side of it to show off her antique glass collection.

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If you’re getting ready to put your house on the market, you have my condolences. It’s no secret that the real estate market is extremely tough right now, particularly for sellers. Because the U.S. housing market is flooded with unsold inventory, homebuyers have countless choices available to them – which gives them all the power. If your home doesn’t suit their fancy, they’ll simply move along to next house on their mile-long property list. (Read Selling Your Home In A Down Market and Closing A Real Estate Deal In A Down Market for some tips on how to make it easier to sell your house.)

With this in mind, you’re probably thinking about making some home upgrades that are certain to attract flocks of admiring buyers. While it’s certainly a smart move to make a few improvements, don’t overdo it. If you spend stacks of cash on remodeling expenses, you’ll probably never recoup your investment – especially in this buyer’s market.

So how do you know which upgrades are worth the hassle and which ones aren’t? For the most part, real estate experts agree that new kitchen countertops and appliances, bathroom remodels and energy-saving improvements will pay off in the long run. On the other hand, pros point out that these four upgrades aren’t worth your time and money.

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