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Julie Bennett

The thing homebuyers hate most

It's nearly universal. I asked my local contractor if their sales reflected what homebuyers tell me when they tour. Curiously sales aren't down. Interesting...because the feedback I get from homebuyers is pretty unanimous.


Homebuyers hate carpet.

They think its gross, dusty or dirty I suppose. In some ways I agree.

(What do you think? Tell me in the comments.)


When my robe vacuum cleans my hardwood floors, it collects an unbelievable amount of dust and dirt, even when the floor looks pretty clean. I have three little kids, so that definitely contributes. Every-time I empty the robo-vac into the trash can or sweep up a pile of dust after cleaning my stairs I think, "this is why buyers hate carpet."


You can't get all that dust and dirt out of carpet with a vacuums, there's no way.


Homebuyers hate carpet

I remember hosting an open house at a condo in Seattle, and person after person asked the same question about the HOA. "Do they allow hard surfface floors?" Many HOAs don't and the reason is related to the noise dampening qualities of carpet. Hardwood floors are inherently noisier.


What changed

Homeowners use to be so excited about wall to wall carpet they covered their hardwood floors with it. Before carpet could be mass produced, rugs were incredibly expensive because they were difficult to make. My grandmother did it. It was in vogue and carpet became an affordable, accessible luxury. I had no idea for years there were beautiful oak floors under the faded, marigold carpet.


What to install if you plan to sell soon

If replacing carpet is in your near-term plans, make sure to gauge if and when you plan to sell your home. If it's on your three to five year horizon, consider hard surface flooring or limiting carpeting to bedrooms.


The thing about hardwood options, tile or LVP (Luxury Vinyl Plank)

Affordable wall-to-wall carpet choices have really improved. You don't need to spend a fortune to find beautiful wood alternatives. Hardwood alternatives like Pergo and vinyl used to look super fake and cheap, but go shopping today and you may be delightfully surprised. They look great, are water resistant and long-lasting. One thing is they do feel different underfoot.


These several carpet alternatives:

  • Tile: this will be the most expensive to install

  • Engineered hardwood: real hardwood glued to an engineered surface

  • Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) - look like hardwood with attractive grain and textures

  • Before carpet could be mass produced, rugs were incredibly expensive because they were difficult to make. - these are new, surprisingly attractive option

  • Before carpet could be mass produced, rugs were incredibly expensive because they were difficult to make.


You'll Still need Area Rugs

I discovered this after moving back into our newly renovated home. You still need carpet. It just changes form. You just shift from wall to wall carpet to area rugs. These can still be expensive and still need cleaning and care.


About the author

Hey there neighbor, I'm Julie Bennett.

Hey neighbor, I'm Julie Bennett, founder of the Renovator's Toolkit. I'm a woman on a mission to make renovation easier for homeowners.  When you renovate for the first time,  you don't know what you don't know.  I am here to help you know what decisions to make and when so you can create your dream home.

I'm a homeowner turned renovator and a Seattle real estate agent. I'm a woman on a mission to make renovation easier. I had some "if I had only known" moments when renovating my homes. I started Renovator's Toolkit to help homeowners like you "know what you don't know."











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