Whether you’re a first-time homeowner or have been down that road before, knowing the best way to handle an update or repair can be challenging.

Should you paint the exposed wood trim or sand and stain it instead? Should you attempt to bring that vintage claw-foot tub back to life or replace it with a luxurious walk-in shower with all the bells and whistles?

And then there are all the things you should never do under the guise of home improvement.  Here are several examples to keep in mind:

Eliminate your only bathtub. If resale isn’t important to you, do as you wish. But if you plan on selling in the relatively near future, getting rid of the only tub will lessen resale value or at least reduce the number of interested parties.

Leave doors on while painting cabinets. No matter how tempting it might be to take this short cut, you’re bound to regret it.

Toss starchy foods down the garbage disposal. Starchy foods like rice, oatmeal, pasta, and potatoes clump together when doused with water. That mixture can clog your garbage disposal and drainpipes.  Instead, place starchy foods in the garbage or compost pile.

Plant a tree near your home. Plant trees at least 10 feet from your foundation, especially those expected to grow 30 feet or more.  Over time, the roots can invade underground sewer lines and result in big drainage issues. Tree roots also can negatively impact your home’s foundation.

Flush wipes down the toilet. Unlike toilet paper which typically disintegrates after a few seconds, most flushable wipes don’t begin to break up until at least 10 minutes. And that’s if they break up at all.

Update exterior brick with paint. While it might look better, paint does not allow brick to breathe. If you can’t live with the look of plain brick any longer, try using brick or white stain instead.

Tear out original or architectural features. Unless they are in bad shape, don’t be so quick to rip out architectural features when renovating. Not only do most add character, certain detailing could help your home sell faster and at a higher-than-expected purchase price.

Lastly, even if you no longer use your home security system and are tempted to uninstall it, our suggestion is either to leave it alone or, better yet, replace it. Home burglaries are on the rise, not the decline. Plus, home security systems help reduce homeowner’s insurance premiums while increasing resale value.