{"id":15442,"date":"2020-03-31T13:29:21","date_gmt":"2020-03-31T20:29:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=15442"},"modified":"2023-03-27T09:49:52","modified_gmt":"2023-03-27T16:49:52","slug":"does-new-carpet-increase-home-value","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/does-new-carpet-increase-home-value\/","title":{"rendered":"Fresh Threads: Is Carpet a Value Booster or Always Second Best to Hardwood?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hardwood floors remain popular among homebuyers<\/a>, which seems to leave little room for beige polyester plush. However, carpeting still gives consumers a warm, fuzzy feeling, accounting for 48% of the total flooring market in the United States<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s less expensive to install than hardwood (think about $1,300 to $1,800 for 300 square feet<\/a> versus about $2,700 to $3,800 nationwide<\/a>). It\u2019s also more practical and cozier in certain rooms and climates, and it\u2019s not as noisy.<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of times you\u2019ll see people put a throw rug down on hardwood. It helps with acoustics,\u201d says Geoffrey Adams<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Phoenix, Arizona<\/a> who sells homes 62% faster than the average area agent. \u201cWe have a lot of homes with carpet here in Phoenix,\u201d he said, including his own. \u201cI like waking up in the morning and feeling carpet on my feet.\u201d<\/p>\n

But does new carpet increase home value? That depends on the style and condition of the carpeting you currently have\u2014as well as when you\u2019re planning to sell. Read on.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Artazum \/ Shutterstock)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clean, neutral carpet translates to perceived value<\/h2>\n

Agents like Adams don\u2019t often advertise \u201cnew carpet throughout\u201d because sometimes that makes buyers wonder: Is this a cheap flip? Was the carpet completely destroyed? \u201cThere\u2019s some school of thought where you don\u2019t want to say those things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

However, carpet that is clean and in good condition adds marketability, even if it\u2019s not brand-new. Carpet has an insulating effect up to 10 times higher than a hard floor covering such as concrete or plywood<\/a>, resulting in reduced heat and cooling costs, according to the Carpet Institute of Australia.<\/p>\n

It also feels toasty in colder climates, and depending on the finish, it can be luxurious<\/a> as well. Designers often use wall-to-wall carpeting in smaller spaces<\/a> such as bedrooms for this reason, Architectural Digest <\/i>notes.<\/p>\n

HomeAdvisor.com notes that new carpet in general tends not to affect resale value<\/a> either way (compared to hardwood, for which 54% of buyers in one study were willing to pay $2,080 more<\/a>). But stained or outdated carpeting<\/a> doesn\u2019t do you any favors.<\/p>\n

Appraisers are trained not to evaluate your home\u2019s value based on your style of decor<\/a> (or how neat your home is, for that matter). However, the Uniform Residential Appraisal Report<\/a> does ask them to specify the materials and condition of the floors.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s an expectation of some type of finished flooring,\u201d says Mike Ford<\/a>, a general certified real estate appraiser serving greater metropolitan Los Angeles and a member of the American Guild of Appraisers<\/a>. If he can see the carpeting tack strips<\/a>, for instance, \u201cI\u2019m certainly making some notes in regard to the flooring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Likewise, carpeting that is visibly worn or has a noticeable odor, such as from pets, mold, or smoking, \u201ccan be a real impediment to value,\u201d Ford said. Market conditions and your price point will determine by how much.<\/p>\n

Entry-level homes<\/a> \u2014 those at the lowest end of the price spectrum \u2014 aren\u2019t expected to have the same qualities and finishes as those in higher price brackets, Ford said.<\/p>\n

There are buyers who will replace carpeting, even if it\u2019s new, because they don\u2019t like the color scheme or style. \u201cIf you walk into a multi-million-dollar home and that carpet is not perfect, it could be a big factor, or somebody could shrug their shoulders and say, \u2018We\u2019ll replace it anyway,\u2019\u201d said Ford.<\/p>\n

\"Shag<\/a>
Source: (Sharon McCutcheon \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Should you replace your carpet before selling your home?<\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re planning to sell your home within 5 years<\/a>, ask your real estate agent<\/a> for an opinion on your carpet\u2019s current condition, then discuss where to go from there. Generally speaking, unless it\u2019s under warranty, carpet needs to be replaced about every 5 to 15 years<\/a>, HomeAdvisor.com notes, whereas other types of flooring can last for decades.<\/p>\n

Ask yourself:<\/p>\n

Is it dirty?<\/h4>\n

Would you feel comfortable<\/a> letting a baby play on the floor or walking on the carpet barefoot? If the carpet is dirty but salvageable, with no rips, snags, or set-in stains, Adams first recommends a professional cleaning. \u201cOftentimes, a good professional carpet cleaning company just needs to come in there, and you would think the carpet was new.\u201d Carpet cleaners charge by room or by square footage<\/a>, so expect to pay about $25 to $75 per room or from $200 to $330 for 1,000 to 1,500 square feet.<\/p>\n

Is the color or style outdated?<\/h4>\n

Carpet with Bold colors<\/a> from the 1960s (like orange and purple) or lots of texture<\/a>, like sculpted carpet or shag, stand out for the wrong reasons. \u201cYou don\u2019t want the carpet to be the focal point of the home \u2026 [as in] \u2018Oh, yeah, remember the green shag carpet home?\u2019\u201d Adams said.<\/p>\n

Is it installed in a room where people don\u2019t expect carpet?<\/h4>\n

Kitchens and dining areas once had wall-to-wall carpeting throughout. This trend might strike millennial buyers as odd even if the carpet is 100% waterproof<\/a> (a new option for 2020 interiors<\/a>)<\/p>\n

Likewise, although some homes have wall-to-wall carpeting in the bathroom<\/a>, this can make buyers worry about mold trapped underneath. That\u2019s why Adams redid the carpeted bathroom in his home. Hardwood also is susceptible to warping from moisture<\/a>, by the way, making tile or vinyl flooring more attractive for the bathroom.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (William Warby \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Getting new carpet? Measure your rooms and choose a color<\/h2>\n

Synthetic fibers<\/a> such as nylon, polyester, and polypropylene (olefin) comprise more than 90% of carpeting nowadays, according to the World Floor Covering Association<\/a> (WFCA) of Dalton, Georgia, a professional association of flooring manufacturers, suppliers, and distributors. Although you\u2019ll have to decide between materials and styles when choosing new carpet (more on that below), it\u2019s also smart to bear in mind these considerations:<\/p>\n