Fact: Hardwood floors sell houses
Fact: According to the National Association of Realtors, hardwood floors are one of the best home improvements to make for getting a good return on your investment.
Fact: Hardwood flooring can add 6% to the value of your sale price.
So, now that we have established that hardwood flooring is great for creating perceived and actual value in your house, what do we do with that information? If you have wood floors already, then, you are in great shape. Make sure that they are in beautiful condition for your sale and you will make buyers swoon, for sure! If you don’t have hardwood flooring and you are considering whether you should add it, what are the most desired floors now? And, where should you add it?
The good news, not every room needs hardwood flooring. Bedrooms are a great place to keep carpet—make sure it is clean–if you already have it. If you need to replace your wall-to-wall because of its condition, stick to neutral tan, beige or gray.
Before we dive in, it’s important to remember that your choice of flooring whether it is hardwood, tile, or carpeting needs to be chosen in the context of where you live. If you are in Florida, you may be better off with tile in your main living areas, for example. But, for the purposes of this post, I am just going to focus on hardwood flooring options so we can get REEEAAALLY deep ; )
Handscraped Hot
Buyers love handscraped floors for their authenticity and historical charm. In a world that is moving at a ridiculous pace, homeowners are looking for a refuge and the choice of handscraped floors can remind us of slower times. The new versions of these vintage planks come in a variety of beautiful woods and finishes. And, the cool thing about handscraped floors is that they play well with others. They work incredibly well with traditional, industrial, and contemporary design and everything in between.
Wider The Better
Wide plank floors are super popular right now for the same reasons that handscraped floors are so in. They harken back to history and yet work beautifully with modern interiors.
Distressed Wood Floors
This trend actually took root in the 1990’s when old warehouses and factories were converted to living and retail spaces. Reclaiming the wood flooring and other products from those vintage commercial spaces became a super hot niche market and their appeal endures today.
Does Color Matter?
This question was asked of the Realtors on Trulia and the answers were as varied as the the geography of the respondents. And, there are pros and cons to both dark and light flooring that buyers can easily Google if they really want to. The bottom line, in my opinion, is that as long as your flooring appears to be in good condition, makes sense with your color scheme, and your house is staged effectively, it won’t really matter what the color of the stain is.
What do you think? What kind of flooring do you find irresistible?
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