One factor that many buyers consider when looking at a prospective home are the floors. The quality and type of flooring in a home is something that can make a world of difference in selecting a property. While it may not seem as attention grabbing as bedroom space or kitchen countertops, flooring is a major way that a home can stand out as a choice home.
According to a 2013 USA Today article, hardwood floors ranked fifth in a listing of the most desired traits for a prospective home to have, with 54 percent of those surveyed saying they would be willing to pay a premium for a house with hardwood flooring. In fact, the same article says that buyers would be willing to spend more than $2,000 more for a property with hardwood flooring.
This is a trend that has been advancing for the past few decades. As the Massachusetts Real Estate News noted in a 2014 blog post, the preference for hardwood flooring has been growing since the 1980s, reversing decades of dominance by carpeting. The common trend is hardwood floors in common rooms and spaces, like the kitchen, living room and dining room, but many buyers also prefer hardwood in bedrooms as well.
Many older construction homes and even some more recent builds that may currently have carpeting often hide great hardwood floors beneath. Forbes recommended in a 2013 article that buyers or sellers look beneath a home’s carpeting to see if there is hardwood flooring. If so, restoring a carpet-covered hardwood floor is surprisingly affordable and, with some sanding and polishing, represents a great way to add value and appeal to a home before a sale.
With so many buyers looking for hardwood flooring – and willing to pay a premium for homes with it – adding or restoring hardwood floors is an unbeatable way to quickly and affordably add appeal and selling strength to your home.