Hillsborough, Burlingame Luxury Homes Real Estate

If you have an older home and are considering selling it within the next year or so, you are likely already considering what ROI's are best in preparing your home for that future sale.  I've talked previously about doing remodeling yourself or having it done, the importance of landscaping, and the basics you can do for a ROI.  There's one more thing to consider.  What's the best ROI on flooring?

The first question I have is do you have Hardwood floors?  If yes, what condition are they in or do you even know?  If you don't,
is your home carpeted?  What's under the carpet, hardwood,  plywood sub-flooring or cement slab?  How can you find out without yanking up the carpet?  Ah ha, that's simple.  If you happen to have heat registers in the floor, pull up the register plate and gently lift up the carpet and pad around the cutout.  What do you see?  If it's plywood then you know what you have.  If you don't have that, then pick a corner inside a closet and gently pull the carpet and pad back to see what's there.  Often closets are left uncarpeted as a cost savings so you will know that way. 

Today, people like hardwood floors and they like to see them in good condition, well cared for and shining bright.  Refinished floors are a great sales point and a good ROI if your home is also updated in some of the ways I've talked about previously.  Is it worth it to install them if you don't have them?  No, no, and no.  Refinishing floors runs in the low 4 figures.  Installing wood floors is two to three times that.  Unless your home is completely remodeled don't consider it for the entire house.  If you really like the idea do it in the Living Room and Dining Room only.  Otherwise, what should you do? 

Carpet must be clean and in good condition.  Nothing looks and makes a home appear more uncared for than dirty, worn carpeting.  Replace it with a neutral color.  Unless it's an expensive Burber avoid that kind of weave, as it looks cheap.  There are many place to go to for carpet from Lowes, to Home Depot, to Costco, to your local floor and carpet store, who often meets or beats the big discounters.  Shop carefully and work with you Realtor in selecting the best product for your home. 

What about Kitchen flooring?  What's there now?  Is it vinyl, tile or hardwood?  What's the condition?  If you've painted and replaced appliances then follow up with a new floor.  Neutral vinyl is best and most affordable proving the best ROI.  Bathrooms are either tile or vinyl and do show wear and tear.  Before replacing those floors make sure you have no issues with dry rot.  It's a good time to get that pest inspection, just to be sure.  If there are issues, the sub-floor will need replacement along with the flooring materials already there.  Replacing a tile bathroom floor is expensive so talk with your Realtor to decide the best way to go on that one.

The best ROI's in flooring are the things that you, too, want to see in the new home you'll be buying.  Clean floors, be they carpet or wood, tile or vinyl are immediately seen by prospective buyers.  They are one of the first things seen when someone enters your home.  By shopping carefully, you can find good solutions to your floors and enhance your property.  Do these things just prior to listing your home.  Floors scratch, carpet gets dirty, and buyers love "new", so do your floors last.

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