I received a call recently from a client to whom I had provided a Home Staging consultation report.
For those not familiar, a consultation involves touring an occupied house for sale, assessing it’s flaws and possible buyer turn-offs, and providing a complete DIY to-do list to the seller. For sellers who have the time and energy, it’s a great low-cost alternative to having the house professionally staged.
A quick note about this client … his regular travels back and forth from Ohio to his elderly mother’s Oakland County house to help her prepare it for market surely put him in the running for “Son of the Year”!
So, in following my list of recommendations, he had one question for me:
“We’re going to replace the carpet, but there is hardwood underneath. Should we recarpet or refinish the hardwoods?”
After giving an enthusiastic “YAY!!!”, I told him that refinishing the hardwoods was DEFINITELY the way to go. He was a bit surprised, and offered the theory that buyers would prefer carpet because it looks “cozier”.
NO!
Carpeting may look warmer, but it also can deter buyers who worry about allergies, previous 4-legged residents and water/mold issues. Even the smell of new carpet can be troublesome. Carpet just isn’t as hygienic (or beautiful) as hardwood flooring, and resale value reflects that.
Today’s buyers want hardwoods. If your property is blessed with hardwood floors under the carpet, sand them down and shine them up! It’s a no-brainer.
Written by Marianne Sweet
Home Sweet Home Staging, (586) 212-8400
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Minnesota MLS 06.16.09 at 2:52 am
Hi Marianne,
Hardwoods are beautiful and they are IN (I don’t know if it is mostly because of the green revolution). But anyway, yeah I agree you on this one. Carpets are sometimes used to hide defects as well. Let buyers see how good the floor is and let them think about how it would be nice to put a carpet to complement the hardwood.
Cheers!
Nicole
Minnesota MLS’s last blog post..Search for Homes $500k-up
Florida 06.22.09 at 1:13 pm
I agree! Hardwood floors are low maintenance and give the home an old fashion elegant look.