Removing a fireplace?

[Steven Torrez]

Hello BP,

I am looking at houses in Salem Oregon and all the houses in my price range have a fireplace. These are smaller 2 or 3 bedroom houses, so the fireplace takes up a huge chunk of area in the living room and makes it virtually impossible to use my entertainment center. I believe taking it out would dramatically increase the value of the home, or at least make it easier to sell/more attractive. Most of these homes were built in the 70's and the fireplace dates it.

So my question is, How hard would it be to remove a fireplace? Could the bricks in the room be removed and that area walled over? Or would I need to completely gut the whole thing chimney and all? About half of them are not on an exterior wall. And finally, I know the roof would need to be redone in that spot as well.

Thanks, Steve