Whether you are installing a new carpet to prepare your home to sell, or know you will be selling in the next few years, flooring decisions are often made with an eye toward a future return on investment. However, not all renovations will increase the value of your home. This can especially true for flooring, in which the color and condition of carpeting can ultimately interfere with your efforts to sell your home. Patterned carpets, in particular, are among the home upgrades that aren’t worth your money, according to HGTV’s Lyndsay Lamb.
In the second episode of season five of “Unsellable Houses” on HGTV, sisters Lyndsay Lamb and Leslie Davis were faced with a home that had a floral-patterned carpet in two bedrooms. Lyndsay Lamb said, “It’s beautiful for someone who has a very specific taste.” With that said, removing that carpet was among the first recommendations they made in order to depersonalize the house for selling. Most buyers prefer a neutral or solid colored floor, and often find it easier to picture themselves in homes with either a neutral carpet or wood flooring.
Impact of carpet on home sales and ROI
Flooring covers a vast amount of surface area in your home, and the type and condition of that flooring can either attract or repel potential buyers. If you are considering new carpet, and are also planning to sell your home in the near future, then consider that patterned carpets are among the top carpet choices you should avoid. In addition to unusual or bold patterns, carpet can also deter buyers if it appears dated in appearance, worn, dirty, stained, frayed, or has a bad odor.
Even when your carpet is not a bold pattern, many buyers just don’t love carpet in general, especially old carpet. Carpeting requires specialized cleaning and maintenance. It also harbors dirt, dust, and allergens, as well as containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) — unless they are made of natural fibers which are more susceptible to staining. When preparing a home for sale, replacing patterned, dirty, or stained carpeting can attract buyers and offer a good return on investment (ROI).
With that said, the exact return on investment can vary depending on the type of flooring used to replace the carpet. Installing new carpet can offer a ROI of 50 to 80%, whereas if you replace carpet with laminate flooring you could see a ROI up to 65%, and a ROI of 118% with hardwood floors, according to the National Association of REALTORS 2022 Remodeling Impact Report. Remember to determine just how much you are willing to invest in new flooring before deciding.
