Before you list your home for sale, you need to do some maintenance, fixing broken things and making it look more presentable to potential buyers. A few minor remodels can even help boost your resale value. Choosing the wrong projects, though, can hurt rather than help the sale process and may cost more than they're worth. What renovations should you make, when should you make them, and which ones should you avoid to make your house stand out from other North Conway homes for sale or Jackson homes for sale? Here are a few do's and don'ts for timing your pre-sale renovations.

• DON'T: Remodel the Kitchen. It may seem like a brand-new kitchen would be a selling point for a home, but it can often be the opposite. Different people have different wants and needs in the kitchen, so what you decide to put in may not be what they're looking for. Plus, many new homeowners enjoy doing their own kitchen remodeling to take the space and make it their own.
  
  
• DO: Paint. Both inside and outside, paint will fade, peel, and chip over time, which makes your home seem run down and unappealing to potential buyers. A fresh coat of paint, a few months before you list, can make things seem brighter, cleaner, and more inviting. And be sure to use light, neutral colors. This helps make your home a blank slate onto which potential buyers can project their ideas for decor. Additionally, those light, neutral colors can open up a room and make it seem bigger.
  
  
• DON'T: Install a Pool. A swimming pool can increase the resale value of your home. However, the return on investment is still fairly low compared to other renovations and upgrades—nowhere near what it will actually cost to install it. Don't install a pool unless you have at least a few more years in your home to enjoy it. Otherwise, it's just a major expense that you'll recoup only a fraction of.
  
  
• DO: Replace Flooring. Scratches, stains, and other damage to your floor can be a turnoff to potential buyers, so replacing the flooring is a good pre-sale renovation to undertake. For carpets, if it's mostly dirt and stains rather than actual damage, a professional carpet cleaner can often make it look like new. For both, especially if you have indoor pets, leave this project until the last minute, right before you list. The longer you have your new flooring, the more damage and dirt are likely to accrue.
  
  
• DON'T: Convert Spaces. Making your garage into a home gym or converting an extra bedroom into an office is a great idea if it's something you want and you're going to continue living there a while longer. However, doing it to appeal to potential homebuyers is inadvisable. They might prefer to park their car in the garage or use the extra bedroom as a guestroom. If they DO want a gym or a home office, they'll see there's space to make those conversions themselves, which adds to the home's appeal. If they don't want those things, though, it may make them reluctant to buy. The same goes for finishing an unfinished basement. Most buyers would prefer to do it themselves, reflecting their own decorative tastes. Remember, whenever possible, your home should be a blank slate for the buyer's visions, not a manifestation of yours.

Our real estate agents can help you find other ways to put your home in the best light and maximize resale value. Contact us, and we'll help you get started on the listing process.