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What's Under the Carpet?" Is An often asked question.

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 311291

"What's Under the Carpet?" is an often asked question. How would you know?  Unless you have X-Ray vision, please don't answer or assume what you don't know for sure. X-Ray HomeRome Realty

 

What's Under the Carpet HomeRome Realty 

Of course, many home owners 'know' what is in their house... 'unless' they have forgotten. What's Under the Carpet HomeRome RealtyWhat's Under the Carpet HomeRome RealtyWhat's under the carpet HomeRome Realty

Buyers have bought, thinking there was hardwood under all the carpet, only to find out later that several rooms had something else such as subflooring, linoleum or concrete. Knowing what's under the carpet, does not mean you know the condition unless the entire floor is exposed.

Other purchasers have been pleasantly surprised to find hardwoods in a home with newish carpet.  As a listing agent, confirm what is under those carpets. As a buyer's agent confirm what is under those carpets.

 

In a recent post It's in the Bag! What's in Yours? I showed this pair of pliers.

Mini pliers HomeRome Realty

These mini pliers are always with me...at a listing to confirm what is under the carpet and when showing a property to confirm when asked. You can pick this handy tool up for a couple of dollars and this can save big bucks and big aggravation down the line.

What's Under the Carpet?" is an often asked question.

Posted by

Margaret Rome
HomeRome Realty
Broker/Owner/Realtor®

Baltimore, Maryland


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Comments (27)

FN LN
Toronto, ON

Margaret - The pliers are a great tip to help see what is under the carpet.

Sep 11, 2010 01:09 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Margaret - great post, and we do need to add pliers to "our bag".   I also bring a black night on occasion for those pet smells!

Sep 11, 2010 06:02 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Joan, After being asked so many times the same question, Tell me more about the black light and pets.

Marc, Yes, they are.

Lori, In your area, tile makes sense.

Karen, Sometimes there is wood in the closets and people assume that is also under the carpet.

Sally, That is the exact reason for having the pliers!

Ellie, The pliers are less expensive than a manicure.

Jeff, Love seeing you here. Sometimes sellers just don't remember.

Richard, Go put those needle nose pliers in now.

Susan, You are a true professional. Thanks for being my first comment.

Sep 11, 2010 06:24 AM
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Hi Margaret we don't run into this too much in Phoenix as most homes have slab floors - on occasion I did see this when I lived up north. And it was a pleasant surprise.  As a buyer myself in MN I always used to find out if there were wood floors - it was a big deal to me at the time.  Now - I can't imagine covering up my gorgeous wood floors!  Why?

 

Sep 11, 2010 06:30 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Anna, The one good thing about carpeting , the wood floors have been protected and many times, are as good or better than new!

 

Sep 11, 2010 06:40 AM
Charles Edwards Bentonville
Coldwell Banker Harris McHaney & Faucette 479-253-3796 - Bentonville, AR
AR REALTOR, Bentonville Real Estate Agent and Broker

Great post. Don't you just love the question? Seems everyone loves the hardwood floors. Seems crazy now when you see some of the choices made years ago to hide good wood floors.

Sep 11, 2010 08:47 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Charles, It is the lucky buyers who find a home with that outdated carpet covering those good wood floors.

Thanks for stopping by.

 

Sep 11, 2010 08:53 AM
Jack Mossman - The Nines Team at Keller Williams in Stockton
The Nines Team At Keller Williams - Stockton, CA
The Nines Team at Keller Williams in Stockton

Margaret - Thanks for bringing this up.  Watching the comments, i think I'll start answering this question in my MLS listing information. 

Sep 11, 2010 01:02 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Jack, We are able to place the type of flooring for each room,  along with the room sizes, in our MLS.

Sep 11, 2010 02:34 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Hi Margaret!  You're too funny--I have a blue pair of needle nose pliers too--also used to see what's under the carpet (the biggest question is on stairways here)!!  It only takes a second to find out and the men love that I carry my pliers with me--the women make fun of me but, the men love it!  LOL

Sep 11, 2010 02:56 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Debe, More than once, I have impressed someone for having those pliers in that relatively small bag.  Love that we have that in common. Now what else is in your bag?

 

Sep 11, 2010 03:18 PM
Dr. Stacey-Ann Baugh
Century 21 New Millennium - Upper Marlboro, MD
A doctor who makes house calls.

I have to get pliers because I've been using Ellie's method of destroying perfectly good finger nails.

Sep 12, 2010 02:45 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Dr. Stacey, Can you hear me smiling?

Will you be able to join us Sunday, 19th for a get together?

Sep 12, 2010 02:52 AM
Karen Kruschka
RE/MAX Executives - Woodbridge, VA
- "My Experience Isn't Expensive - It's PRICELESS"

Margaret No self respecting real estate liceensee would be caught without a pair of needle nose pliars.  I also stock a screwdriver with several different heads  :)

Sep 14, 2010 03:40 AM
Damon Gettier
Damon Gettier & Associates, REALTORS- Roanoke Va Short Sale Expert - Roanoke, VA
Broker/Owner ABRM, GRI, CDPE

Margaret, this is what I found when I looked under one carpet!

Margaret, that is a piece of plywood under the carpet......$6,600.00 later.....it was repaired.  $5600.00 to the structure and $1,000.00 to treat!  Yes, I am a huge fan of seeing what is under the carpet!

Sep 14, 2010 07:11 AM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Karen, Yep they come in handy! So are you  calling me self respecting because of my pliers?

Damon, Yikes, termite damage. Your sellers were lucky you found the damage before it was sold. Good job. good photo. I have to go find a termite picture now.

 

Sep 14, 2010 08:26 AM
1~Judi Barrett
Integrity Real Estate Services 116 SE AVE N, Idabel, OK 74745 - Idabel, OK
BS Ed, Integrity Real Estate Services -IDABEL OK

Margaret,

You are so right on, on this post. I have been asked numerous times what was under the carpet and do not dare guess. :)

Sometimes it's better to let the buyer investigate, within reason that is. ;)

Sep 27, 2010 04:41 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Judi, I seem to use this tool on almost every listing appointment and when showing homes for sale. Did a listing yesterday and they had no idea what was under the carpet. They thought it was parquet..not, it was concrete. Good to have checked.

Sep 27, 2010 04:46 PM
Bruce McCallum
DFH Real Estate, Victoria, BC 800-668-2272 - Victoria, BC
Homes In Victoria BC
I used to check by lifting up the vents if the home has forced air, but now I'm off to get some pliers. Thanks for the tip.
Nov 17, 2010 01:55 PM
Margaret Rome Baltimore 410-530-2400
HomeRome Realty 410-530-2400 - Pikesville, MD
Sell Your Home With Margaret Rome

Bruce, I still check that way when vents are in place...otherwise out come the pliers.

 

Nov 17, 2010 02:04 PM