Whether you’re looking to sell your house or looking for ways to add value. You may not know, but something as simple as flooring can increase the value of your home. A brand-new floor done well is hard to miss and can even become the statement piece of your house by tying your rooms together.
Older, run-down floors can make a house look tired and dated, so by installing a new floor, you can truly change the whole feel of your home. Let’s look at the ways flooring can increase the value of your home and how to find the best floor to suit you.
Adding value to your home
By choosing to have your floors fixed (by sanding back and polishing) or completely redone, you can modernise the feel of your home and give it a more up-to-date look. Installing brand new hardwood flooring can increase the resale value of your house by 2.5%!
Natural Wood Floors Founder, Daniel Bechaz, says, ‘Wood floors are very desirable. They’re a high-end option that looks good and these days, people are health-conscious, so being able to live on a surface which can be cleaned properly and bought back to new is very appealing.’
If you’ve ever been to a housing open for inspection, you’ll know that a floor can really make an impact – whether it’s a positive or negative impact. Walking into a home with old, run-down flooring will stand out – just like walking into a house with beautiful new flooring will. Flooring is one of those things’ sellers overlook when bogged down with the intricacies of a home sale, but buyers will walk away from homes with bad flooring the same way they’ll walk away from homes that smell bad or have little to no curb appeal.
‘To me, it’s one of those big-ticket items that can be forgotten’ says Daniel, ‘there are other things like kitchens and bathrooms and landscaping that people typically think will sell their house, but you can easily add flooring into it. There is so much flooring throughout your house and if you get it wrong, it will make your whole house look tired and old.’
While many renovate their kitchens or yards to add value, sometimes all it takes is a complete revamp of your floors to truly bring a home together. Instead of spending hundreds of thousands on new kitchen fitouts, sometimes all you need is a flooring refresh to accentuate existing features in your house.
Do some floors add more value than others?
Put simply – yes. There are certain floors such as hardwood flooring that can be seen as a more ‘premium’ option when it comes to adding value to your home. Although it’s generally more expensive than other options, it is reflected in the value the floor then adds to the house.
Having a combination of timber flooring and carpet throughout the house can complement each other nicely, rather than having solely timber throughout the house. ‘Solid wood flooring is the Rolls Royce of flooring’ Daniel advises, ‘it does cost the most but also looks the best. It’s pure quality and you can see that instantly. However, you don’t always want to have wood flooring throughout your entire house. Carpet can complement it nicely and having a combination can tie the whole house together.’
When choosing what floor is right for your home, it’s a personal choice. Many people will opt for timber floor throughout while others will choose to have different textures to break up certain rooms. It’s important to keep in mind that not every house is suited for solid wood floors. ‘There are situations where a solid wood floor is not recommended’ says Daniel. ‘Engineered wood floors fill that void. They are incredibly versatile and can go in almost any house and any situation.’ There’s also the option to get different colour timber flooring, but for a look that never ages, lighter, neutral toned floors are the go-to choice. Anything that has a base colour – whether a grey, brown, black, or red – is more like a fad in the industry that will usually go out of style. Opting for a lighter, neutral tone will provide constant value in your home that will fare well over the years.
What if my floors just need a bit of a refresh?
It’s also entirely possible that your floors don’t need a full update, but a little refresh. Some timber floors – especially those with glossy coating – show the general signs of wear and tear more than matte floors do. If you have animals, scratches and scuff marks show up more prominently. Instead of getting completely new floors, it’s possible to refurbish your existing floors and sand them back to new. ‘In most scenarios, if you do have a wood floor it can be restored and bought back to looking brand new,’ says Daniel. ‘However, if you have anything other than a wood floor in your home (lino, tiling, etc), a wood floor will always add value.’
Essentially, what you invest in your floor is the return you will gain when it comes to adding value to your home. If you opt for cheaper materials or only a smaller upgrade, your return on investment (ROI) will be lower than if you invest a larger amount of money on better materials and proper installation.
Where should I start?
If you’re looking at increasing the value of your home, and believe your floors could benefit from a makeover, it’s always best to get some professional advice. Chatting to flooring experts and doing your research will help you to make the most informed decision possible for what will suit your home. If you’re planning on putting your house on the market soon and are wanting to use wood floors to add value, consider reaching out to your local real estate agent and asking what buyers have said about floors in other houses. Chances are they’ve had (or overheard) buyer’s comments on certain flooring and what they believe provides value and what doesn’t.
If you’re considering adding value to your home and are looking to install wooden floors, it’s important to first do your research and come up with an idea of what you would like in your home. If you’re unsure, reach out to our team who will be able to guide you every step of the way.
