If your current flooring is outdated, damaged, or worn, replacing it before selling can significantly boost your home's marketability. Buyers often prefer move-in-ready homes, and fresh, new flooring can make your property stand out.
Impact on property value
Real estate experts note that updated, modernized flooring can significantly increase the perceived value of a property. Additionally, the durability and aesthetic appeal of luxury vinyl make it an attractive selling point that could sway potential buyers.
Luxury vinyl looks like natural flooring, but it doesn't have the same resale value. While luxury vinyl is a durable, attractive flooring, it won't increase your resale value. Like carpet, installing new luxury vinyl can make your home look better, which can get buyers interested in your home.
Vinyl is easier to install, and it does not require as much care and maintenance. Vinyl is also more resistant to stains and spills, making it a better option for families with young children or pets. In addition, vinyl is often less expensive than carpet, making it a more budget-friendly option for many homeowners.
What Flooring Adds the Most Value? Hardwood flooring has long been the top choice for homebuyers and remains so today. According to Realtor.com, installing new hardwood floors may increase a home's value by as much as 2.5%, though some realtors place that figure at 6 to 10% or more.
Most experts believe you can expect a 50% to 80% ROI for installing new carpet. Potential buyers will notice the carpet and appreciate how clean it is. The quality of the carpet also determines its ROI. Hardwood floors appeal to buyers and have a high ROI.
LVP Flooring: Average ROI: 235% LVP stands for “luxury vinyl plank” flooring. It can provide the look of hardwood floors but with lower maintenance and less costs to install.
“Buyers like carpet in bedrooms, especially in basement bedrooms, for comfort and warmth.” Carpet is also much quieter to walk on than other types of flooring and can help absorb noise. It can mask sounds, such as footsteps and squeaky floors, Fisher adds.
Installing vinyl or laminate flooring doesn't take a long time. You can easily complete the floor of an average-sized room in a single afternoon.
One factor sustaining high end's momentum is the way carpet is used in the home. Most of the time carpet is reserved for the bedroom, common areas, basements and stairs.
Top 6 Most Popular Flooring in New Homes 2025. The most popular flooring in new homes is wood floors, including prefinished hardwood, unfinished hardwood, and engineered wood followed by laminate, luxury vinyl tiles, and luxury vinyl planks.
While specific types of carpet might be out of style—and its use has become reserved for certain areas of the home as opposed to the entire space—it remains a popular flooring option. "We still find carpet relative in our projects, especially in closets and bedrooms", says interior designer Maggie Griffin.
While marble, natural stone, bamboo, ceramic tile and luxury vinyl have been trending in recent years, hardwood is still the dominant choice of flooring for high-end homes.
Greige and white oak are two of the most popular choices for hardwood flooring when it comes to house resale. They provide timeless elegance and neutrality, making them ideal for any home. Greige is a mixture of gray and beige, creating a subtle tone that can fit into any color palette or design style.
Natural fibers are set to be a significant trend in carpets in 2024. Homeowners increasingly opt for carpets made from natural materials such as wool, sisal, jute, and seagrass. These natural fibers add a touch of luxury and sophistication to your space and come with a host of practical benefits.
Wall-to-Wall Carpeting
Not only will you not recoup the cost of wall-to-wall carpeting, but—if carpeting is the primary flooring throughout—it can actually lower the value of your home.
Buyers in every region of the country prefer hardwood floors; homebuyers say that this home feature even improves happiness, according to the National Association of REALTORS® 2022 Remodeling Impact Report. And it's not hard to see why: hardwood floors are beautiful, easy to clean, and durable.
Does vinyl flooring devalue a home? It's possible. While vinyl plank floors are affordable and versatile, they might not boost your home's resale value like hardwood or tile would.
The average cost to install 1,000 square feet of vinyl flooring is between $2,000 and $7,000 for standard vinyl planks and between $3,000 and $10,000 for luxury vinyl planks. Adding in labor costs brings the total to between $5,000 and $20,000.
Primary Suite Addition
Adding a primary suite that includes a large primary bathroom and walk-in closet is not only a functional and smart choice for day-to-day living, it's a good investment. This type of addition brings, on average, a 63% return.
The most overvalued markets to purchase a home tend to be located in high-priced vacation home markets in Hawaii, in both coastal and inland California markets, Seattle and New York City, as well as still-competitive “Zoomtowns,” including Greeley and Fort Collins in Colorado and Boise, Idaho.
Equip your home with ceiling fans throughout the main living areas to capitalize on their value. Adding updated fans with desirable features to bedrooms, living rooms, and family rooms will be a small, but compelling, asset for home buyers.