What type of flooring do home buyers prefer?

Author: Lorine Yundt  |  Last update: Thursday, December 14, 2023

Buyers tend to prefer hard surface floors over carpet. If you choose a quality laminate, you'll likely get a decent return on your investment.

What type of flooring has highest resale value?

No one wants to spend thousands of dollars on new floors only to find out later they could have gotten more value out of their project. Luckily, we did the research for you! Our Top Pick: You may have already guessed it, but the floor with the highest resale value is hardwood.

Is laminate or vinyl flooring better for resale?

Even so, vinyl flooring generally will bring in a lower resale value than laminate flooring. High-quality laminate floor ranks below solid hardwood and engineered wood for resale value. But laminate flooring still commands a higher resale value than most types of vinyl flooring.

Do buyers prefer carpet or hardwood floors?

It's a smart idea; hardwood flooring is preferred by home buyers and renters across the United States so it could improve the resale value of your home when it comes time to sell.. But consider all your options carefully. Here's more about flooring made from hardwood and why you might prefer it to wall-to-wall carpet.

What is the best color flooring for resale?

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.

How To: Choose the right flooring for your home

What color flooring never goes out of style?

Neutral shades such as light brown, gray, and black are timeless classics that will look good for years to come. These hues make a great backdrop for any room in your home, so you can easily accessorize the space without worrying about the color clashing with your floors.

Does luxury vinyl plank devalue a home?

Its durability and water resistance makes it a great material to increase value in rental properties, kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms. However, we don't always choose luxury vinyl for our properties. While the material is durable and stands up to water well, it's softer than hardwood and tile.

Do buyers prefer carpet in bedrooms?

“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.

Do laminate floors increase home value?

If your old floors are in bad shape, any new flooring will help. While solid hardwood flooring would add more value, laminate will give your home the look of hardwood at a much lower cost, will look good for years, and your return on investment should be solid.

Does carpet devalue your home?

Well-maintained, high-quality carpet can add value to your home. Here's how to get your carpeting to stand out, according to experts. When you're looking to sell your home, certain home improvements can potentially increase its resale value—a fresh coat of paint, kitchen and bathroom updates, and the floors, too.

What is the disadvantage of vinyl flooring?

Con: LVP May Dent

Luxury vinyl flooring can dent and even scratch or scuff, especially from heavy appliances, furniture, or other weighty objects. Just because it's resistant to something doesn't mean it's impervious to it. However, do know that LVP resists scratches better than real hardwood.

Which is better luxury vinyl or laminate?

While costs are similar, the value of premium vinyl far exceeds that of laminate based on quality and value. Unlike laminate, premium vinyl is durable and stable, resistant to moisture and climate, and is easy to install and maintain. Laminate is restricted to light traffic and low moisture applications.

How much does vinyl flooring increase home value?

New flooring can increase the value of a home by nearly 10 to 54 percent. Potential homebuyers say that they will put in a higher offer if a home has new flooring. Potential buyers also said they would reconsider putting in an offer if the flooring is outdated, dirty, or worn.

What is #1 common flooring?

No. 1 Common Grade – Characterized by prominent color variation as well as prominent (but limited in size) character marks such as knots and open checks, as well as variations resulting from drying and machining processes. This grade results in a tasteful floor where prominent variation is to be expected.

What flooring wears the best?

Pros: Vinyl flooring is especially good at fending off wear, dents, scratches, discoloration from sunlight, and stains. It's also waterproof, so it's a great alternative to tile in wet rooms such as baths and kitchens, where it provides a forgiving surface underfoot.

Does flooring type affect appraisal?

Overall Look and Feel

The main way that flooring affects your home appraisal in this way is by means of consistency. Contrasting floor colors and textures butted up against each other can detract from your home's overall style, and thus it's value.

Why not to buy laminate flooring?

Cannot be refinished: Due to its composite construction and wear layer, a laminate floor can never be refinished. Once it has been damaged or worn out, laminate flooring must be replaced.

What is the disadvantage of laminate flooring?

Not moisture-proof

Being made of wood, laminate flooring is not impervious to the effects of moisture. Therefore, it's not suitable as a hard flooring for bathrooms and should be used with caution in kitchens or laundries. Light surface water for cleaning shouldn't cause issues, but saturation must be avoided.

Is laminate flooring high end?

Affordability. For homeowners who want durable and attractive flooring, laminate flooring is a great and affordable option. The cost of laminate flooring varies depending on factors like the quality of the material, the brand and the location. It is also significantly less expensive than hardwood flooring.

What is the best carpet color to sell a house?

Choose carpet that is cream, tan, beige, pale gold, caramel or cafe au lait. Lighter colored carpet makes a room feel larger and a neutral color is more likely to match existing tile or flooring already installed in the house. Additionally, neutral colored carpet is more likely to go with a potential buyer's furniture.

When did they stop putting hardwood floors in homes?

Hardwood floors were the norm in most homes before WWII. The design of the home didn't matter—Victorian, Colonial, Cape Cod, Tudor, Craftsman, and even early Ranches—they all featured wood floors throughout. Then starting in the 1950s, homeowners started to favor wall-to-wall carpet instead.

Is it better to have carpet or hard floor in bedrooms?

Due to the softness, carpet can help to reduce the amount of noise in a bedroom. It is much harder for sounds to 'bounce' off carpeted floors. Depending on the subflooring you choose, you can make your bedroom so quiet you could barely hear a pin drop!

What are the negatives of luxury vinyl flooring?

Vinyl is a soft material: One of its advantages is also its greatest weakness: its lightness. Heavy furniture can dent and mark vinyl floors, while sharp objects can pierce the upper layers. Discolouration: LVT flooring can suffer from sun damage if laid in conservatories or near south-facing doors/windows.

Is luxury vinyl flooring going out of style?

“Luxury vinyl plank is making a major comeback in vacation homes and commercial properties,” Connell says. “The look of wood has come a long way.”

Is luxury vinyl flooring cheap looking?

LVT will never look “cheap” — it will make your life easier and enhance the look and comfort of your home.

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