On Thu, 14 Sep 2006 19:34:31 -0400, "S C Holt"
wrote:

Our 50's era house is currently equipped with 100 amp electrical service.
We're considering upgrading the service to either 150amp or 200amp. There
aren't really any electrical problems right now, but we know that if we
wanted to replace some of our gas appliances with electric or do any
significant lighting enhancements (installing exterior lighting) we would
need the extra juice.

I'll let others more qualified than I answer your first question
[cut].

2) Does an electrical service upgrade have any impact on home value?

I do think that it's one of those things that just enhances a house's
saleability without necessarily increasing the house price. In other
words, it could move the house faster toward a sale contract.

3) What is a reasonable price to expect? When we bought the house our agent
recently had similar work done in his home and paid about $3000 (including
the fees the power company charged), we got a $6000 estimate but only got
one estimate because other priorities presented themselves. We're located in
a major metro area (Atlanta) if that matters.

Whoa. $3,000??? $6,000???? I paid $1,000 to upgrade my 60 amp
breaker box to 200 amp service in my 1930 house three years ago, and I
am in western New York. Keep looking around for electricians who
might have full time jobs with big companies, but who like doing jobs
like this on the side for extra money. They're out there; talk to all
your friends and associates.