What do you do with carpet when listing your home for sale?

 

When you’re getting ready to sell your home, every detail matters, including flooring. Many buyers today prefer hardwood floors, especially in high-traffic areas like the living room and dining room. But what if your home has carpet in these areas and you don’t want to replace it before selling?

I often get this question from clients: “Should we replace the carpet with hardwood, or is there another option?”

A Creative Solution: Offer a Credit at Closing

Rather than going through the hassle and expense of replacing the carpet, here’s a strategy that has worked well for many of my clients. When I sold a house a couple of years ago, it had carpet in the living and dining rooms—places where buyers typically expect hardwood. Instead of replacing the carpet, we offered a credit at closing for the estimated cost of replacing it.

Why does this work?

The reality is that buyers often have their own vision for the home. In many cases, even if you replace the flooring, they may end up ripping it out to install their preferred materials. By offering a credit at closing, you give the buyers the flexibility to make the choice themselves, without taking on the upfront cost of renovations.

Benefits of Offering a Flooring Credit

• Saves You Time and Money: Avoid the hassle of coordinating flooring contractors or spending money on a project the buyers might undo anyway.
• Gives Buyers Flexibility: Buyers appreciate having a say in how the home will look, and this approach allows them to pick the flooring that best fits their style.
• Makes Your Home More Competitive: Flooring credits can be a selling point, especially if buyers are on the fence between several homes.

Ready to Prep Your Home for Sale?

If you’re considering listing your home and want personalized advice on how to prepare it, give me a call. I’m happy to help guide you through the process and discuss strategies like flooring credits to make your home more appealing to buyers.

And if you’re looking to move outside of Virginia, I can connect you with a trusted agent in my network to help with your real estate needs.