If you’re thinking about putting your home up for sale in the future, it can be difficult to know what you should update before selling to present it in the best possible light. Of course, we always recommend calling your trusted real estate agent to conduct a full evaluation of your home, but in the meantime, here are 13 items you shouldn’t think about updating if you’re planning on selling your home anytime soon. A new roof “While buyers like to see a new roof, it doesn’t necessarily add value to the home. Appraisers don’t place an additional value on the age of the roof and when we provide an analysis to our clients, we don’t add any monetary value as it is part of maintaining a home. “Kelly Cahill Cahill & Miller Group, Ft. Mill, South Carolina Landscaping “Don’t spend a lot of money on extensive landscaping. A little personal effort is usually enough to spruce up most homes and get them ready to go on the market. Spend some time outdoors and trim back overgrown shrubs, edge your driveway, walkways and natural areas, and add mulch or pine needles where needed. Finally, put in some beautiful seasonal flowers and a new doormat at the front door. First impressions are lasting, make them memorable for all the right reasons.” Cindy Hope, Matthews, North Carolina Formal Dining Rooms “If you have a formal dining room, I wouldn’t renovate it, I would just simplify it. I would remove the table and chairs if they are large and obtrusive so that buyers have a flexible room and can determine the best use for this room. Buyers today need office space(s) and they need playrooms or homeschooling rooms for the kids, so create a blank palette and let the buyer decide what they want the space to be.”Pam Matthews, Winston-Salem, North Carolina Kitchen splashback “Everyone knows that a renovated kitchen helps sell, but I don’t recommend anyone change the backsplash before selling. It’s a very personal touch in a kitchen and, along with the hardware, is like a piece of jewelry for an outfit. Don’t do that if you haven’t already and let the buyer decide what’s best for their own taste.” –Kelly Ramsay, Cashiers, NC Air conditioning “Buyers expect a properly functioning HVAC system, but just because it’s old doesn’t mean it needs replacing. You won’t recoup the replacement cost when you sell. Any concerns that arise at the time of sale can usually be resolved with a loan or home warranty”. Chris Carlin Lake Norman, North Carolina Kitchens or bathrooms “While kitchen and bathroom renovations can be expensive, they also have the potential to yield the greatest return on investment. However, if the kitchen and bathroom are functional and in good condition, it is often better to simply clean them up and make any necessary cosmetic repairs, rather than embark on a full-scale remodel.” Michael Jones Charlotte, North Carolina Wallpaper or special paint “One thing I’ve seen people do that I wouldn’t recommend is adding special paint or wallpaper to a home before selling it. It’s really essential to accentuate the home as a whole and keep things simple. The simpler and more straightforward the decor, as well as the paint, the better!” Additionally, “many sellers believe they need to repaint the entire interior of their home before listing it for sale, which can be very costly if you don’t have the time or talent to do it yourself. However, if you feel like you need a fresh coat of paint, stick to neutrals. You don’t want to spend a lot of money on bold or “trendy” colors that you think look great. A buyer may see this as another expensive or time-consuming renovation they’ll have to do, but a neutral color palette is a blank canvas for buyers to visualize their own style. Also, avoid repainting altogether by simply cleaning and removing any small or large scratches with a magic eraser and maybe some touch-ups of paint. If your paint colors are on the darker side, maybe opt for some additional lamps in the room for more lighting to brighten things up. The main thing is that you don’t want your home to look unkempt.”Melissa Shelar, Oak Ridge, North Carolina Personalized items “One of the main general rules is “Will the renovation have universal appeal? and will the change increase the purchase price by at least what you paid for it? If you’re thinking about selling your home, now is not the time to install custom wallpaper, steam showers, solar panels, or hot tubs and pools. If you want to make extravagant improvements to your home, keep in mind that custom luxury home improvements typically only recoup a fraction of the project costs.” Ellen Suther Charlotte, North Carolina “Know the difference between investing in a novel renovation and a utility one. Solar panels, for example, may require maintenance that a buyer may be put off by and that can hinder future renovations, such as a new roof or home additions. Consider investing in updating kitchen appliances, worn or damaged flooring, or painting or replacing the front door.” Tammy Steele Summerfield, North Carolina Accessories “Typically, buyers will look for, depending on price, stainless steel appliances. If the price of the home is in line with comparable properties that have upgrades that include stainless steel appliances, we will suggest upgrading the appliance selection. However, we almost never recommend clients go for luxury, ultra-high-end appliances unless the price of the home requires it. Many times, sellers believe that if they get the most expensive appliance upgrade, they will get a return on their investment; however, our approach is to maximize the return on investment, align the home with comparable properties, and not over-upgrade to the point that the seller loses money because they chose appliances that are too high-end.” Jeremy Ordan The Ordan Reider Group, Charlotte, North Carolina The main bathroom “A master bathroom renovation would be something that would be of interest to the new owner. It is a

Checklist for preparing your home for sale Checklist for preparing your home for sale Are you preparing your home to sell? Here are some tips on what you can do to prepare. Focus on making it attractive, showing that it is cared for, and improving curb appeal. If you would like specific tips to help your home stand out in our local market, let us help. connect . Don't forget to check out our latest news. market reports! I'm Joe Peters, a real estate agent with over twenty years of experience with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage. I work with people looking to buy or sell a home (or both) in Hunterdon or Somerset County, NJ. Clients rely on me for detailed market and neighborhood information and to make real estate transactions seamless. My access to big data through Coldwell Banker, plus current technology and marketing knowledge, gives clients a unique advantage.

Metallic finishes impact the overall design of any home and ultimately unify the design. Every home has metal in it. From metal in door handles, cabinet hardware, light fixtures, plumbing finishes and more, metal seems to be everywhere. Choosing the right metal finish involves answering many questions: Do all metal finishes work with all home styles? Which metals are trendy and which are timeless? Which metals look better with darker interiors than with lighter interiors? And finally, the big question: can I mix or should I match metals in the house? Think of metal as the jewelry of the home. Just as the metal finish on a pair of earrings, a necklace, a bracelet, or a watch makes a statement about a person's outfit, metal finishes affect the overall design of any home. Choosing the metal finish may seem like one of the smallest decisions you'll need to make for your project, but ultimately, it's what ties the entire design together! Metals and house styles What metal works with what style of house? The style of the home you design will determine whether you choose a metal that is a fad or a more timeless one. Many home designs are traditional, so choosing a traditional metal will be more in keeping with the home and reduce the risk of the design looking dated. Remember, fads are fleeting, so if this is your home or a property you will keep for some time, then choosing a more timeless style will save you from having to remodel sooner than you would like. Let's take a look at some of the most common options. Matte black Matte black is a popular new option on the market today. Matte black is taking off in interior design along with the use of black windows in a home. Matte black works well in eclectic style homes and modern homes and can even make a difference in the design of a modern farmhouse. Satin and oil bronze finishes. They have a deep, rich color and are most often seen in Mediterranean, Tuscan, and rustic style homes. These finishes provide a more traditional look and feel. Copper It's sure to leave a bold impression! It's a fantastic metal to use in Tuscan, rustic, ranch, steampunk, and farmhouse style homes. The shine and warmth of copper gives these homes a more earthy feel. Polished Nickel It's more of a basic metal. It's a finish that anyone can feel confident working with because it works well in a long list of different style homes. Polished nickel is darker than chrome and can vary in color just by changing the lighting in a room. Chrome It is very durable and easy to maintain. It is usually the least expensive of all metals used in homes. Chrome is an ideal metal to use in beach houses, river houses, and lake houses, as it blends well with homes designed around water. The clean, shiny feel of chrome also blends well with the decor of these home styles. Brushed Nickel It's durable, to say the least. It doesn't leave fingerprints or water spots and works well in a long list of homes, condos, and apartments because of its durability. Polished brass and gold. Metals are back with a vengeance. But you either love them or hate them; honestly, there seems to be no middle ground. They work very well in traditional, vintage, and eclectic designs. Polished brass and gold are durable and are great for pairing with other finishes and accessories. Although some people think this style is “old-fashioned,” it's not the finish that makes the style dated, but the shape and design of the object. Flag Considering the colors used in the overall design of the home plays a big role in choosing metals. Brushed nickel, for example, tends to have a more grayish color, making it a great choice for use in homes with blue undertones. Chrome, on the other hand, has a more silvery feel to it. It's a great choice for homes with white painted cabinets and walls. The boldness of black and darker colors creates drama, creating the perfect backdrop for warmer metals like gold and polished brass. Mix and match? Although there is no rule stating that all metals must be combined, there are some guidelines to follow if you choose this option. Keep in mind that the overall design of the house should convey balance. The design needs rhythm and flow that create a feeling of “comfort.” As mentioned above, the finishes on plumbing fixtures, door hardware, cabinet hardware, and light fixtures act as the “jewelry” of the home’s interior. In fashion, you want to match your jewelry to the style of your outfit – delicate pieces to enhance formal wear, and statement jewelry to liven up casual wear. As is the same with home interiors, some people consider mixing and matching metals a big mistake. But the way the mixing and matching is achieved can change most naysayers and greatly affect most designs. If done right, it projects a sense of “cutting edge design.” Remember that in most investment properties, the goal of the design should be to make the home look new or modern. Large bathrooms and open spaces that are connected, even kitchens and dining rooms, are ideal places to mix and match metals. Here's how to get started: Choose a “feature metal,” or the metal that will dominate the final look. Use the dominant finish on the object that is the focal point of the room (e.g., the kitchen island with the sink and faucet). Use the same focal point finish on the sink faucet as on the cabinet hardware because both are “high touch” items. Choose a complementary metallic finish for the lighting. Please note that the metal finishes you select should all have the same shine. Also pay attention to the undertones of the metals. Keep warm undertones with warm colors and cool undertones with cool colors. By following these