Developers, home flippers - please stop with the luxury vinyl planks on main levels

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking at cheap properties like that one, then you should expect cheap finishes. The flippers need to keep the costs down somehow.

I personally am fine with cheap finishes or less renovated but wood floors.

This is fine (outside beltway)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8303-Cushing-Ct-22153/home/9805684

This fine too (can deal with carpet, older home, over cheap LVP)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8292-Lindside-Way-22153/home/9808260

And this also is fine:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/3816-Pinewood-Ter-22041/home/9650883

Also noting that this one has LVP in the basement, which is fine, just not the main level.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8303-Cushing-Ct-22153/home/9805684

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LVP is appropriate at that price point.

+1. That is a cheap starter home. The original hardwoods must have been a mess, though maybe it was all carpet originally.

Here's the thing - I'd rather purchase a home with just the carpet replaced and everything else updated then LVP.

Would also rather cheap finishes and nicer floors. Can update finishes easily while living there. Replacing flooring is a PITA.

I think you're in the minority, an the fixtures in that house aren't exactly high end either. Are you going to drop down to formica countertops and a vinyl shower enclosure in order to get hardwood?

I agree. At this price point, there are many buyers who want an upgrade from carpet, but can't afford engineered wood or true hardwoods. These are people who want the most for what they can afford and are not planning on doing major upgrades after they move in. OP has a bigger budget than many who are buying in this price range and would prefer carpet so that she can move in and not feel bad for tearing it out and upgrading to actual wood or engineered wood.

OP, you are not the ideal candidate for recently flipped properties. You want to be able to select your finishes. Many of the people that are looking at flipped properties like this want move in ready and as much as their dollar can buy. They don't want to change anythign when they get in. You don't get to pick and choose when you pick flipped properties, you get what the flippers chose. And the flippers are choosing based on what is selling faster. LVP is more popular with those who are buying flipped properties. You probably should get a pre-flipped house and then get a GC to come in and turn over the house for you, where you get to pick the finishes.

[Anonymous]

Good friends put LVP in their house and it’s actually very nice aside from the fact that whatever product they chose only had about four different patterns. And their installers weren’t paying attention and laid several of the same pieces next to or very near each other. It’s awful. I couldn’t live with the floor like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm fine with LVT in a true basement - in fact, I have LVT in my basement. However, whenever I see home flips like this, it's an immediate "no" for me. I understand a split level kinda makes the main floor basement-ish, but I just HATE the look AND feel of luxury vinyl plank flooring for the main living areas, kitchen area. Ugh! Wood floors, tile in the kitchen if you must, but no luxury vinyl plank in main living areas.

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/7419-Jervis-St-22151/home/9720630

Anyone else? I keep seeing this trend in listings.

Its not a trend. Its a price range.

You're not getting real hardwood for a $600K house in this area. Period.

\

Well in a tear-down/true fixer upper, you can get it...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking at cheap properties like that one, then you should expect cheap finishes. The flippers need to keep the costs down somehow.

I personally am fine with cheap finishes or less renovated but wood floors.

This is fine (outside beltway)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8303-Cushing-Ct-22153/home/9805684

This fine too (can deal with carpet, older home, over cheap LVP)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8292-Lindside-Way-22153/home/9808260

And this also is fine:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/3816-Pinewood-Ter-22041/home/9650883

Even in a cooling market those first two, especially the first, are exceedingly under priced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are looking at cheap properties like that one, then you should expect cheap finishes. The flippers need to keep the costs down somehow.

I personally am fine with cheap finishes or less renovated but wood floors.

This is fine (outside beltway)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8303-Cushing-Ct-22153/home/9805684

This fine too (can deal with carpet, older home, over cheap LVP)
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/8292-Lindside-Way-22153/home/9808260

And this also is fine:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Falls-Church/3816-Pinewood-Ter-22041/home/9650883

Even in a cooling market those first two, especially the first, are exceedingly under priced.

I think in the Springfield area you can get under $700k

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/7908-Cliff-Rock-Ct-22153/home/9801022

https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/7651-Long-Pine-Dr-22151/home/9742334

https://www.redfin.com/VA/West-Springfield/6818-Ontario-St-22152/home/9773661

This one is LVP, but it actually looks nice:
https://www.redfin.com/VA/Springfield/7433-Grace-St-22150/home/9748943

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You want actual hardwood floors there's nothing stopping you from paying for them?

LVP costs $4 per square foot. Hardwood is $10 per square foot.

And LVP is awful for the environment. If people rip it out, it’s even more wasteful. It’s so gross.

[Anonymous]

Agree with the PP who said it reeks. I just moved into a rental with LVP and was steam mopping everything (We had hardwood and tile in the last house so didn’t even think twice about the mop) when I just got a massive headache. Realized I’m basically heating up plastic. Ugh. Now I’m stuck just mopping with soap, but don’t feel like I can get the floors super clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd have continued the hardwoods down from the upstairs, really wouldn't have cost much for that one floor.

That said, the fact that it is LVP is less annoying than the fact that it is ugly LVP, and the wrong color.

+1 There must have been a huge sale of this ugly LVP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Agree with the PP who said it reeks. I just moved into a rental with LVP and was steam mopping everything (We had hardwood and tile in the last house so didn’t even think twice about the mop) when I just got a massive headache. Realized I’m basically heating up plastic. Ugh. Now I’m stuck just mopping with soap, but don’t feel like I can get the floors super clean.

I have it in my basement and it doesn't smell at all - however, there is a wide variety in quality of LVP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:LVP is appropriate at that price point.

It absolutely is not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LVP is appropriate at that price point.

It absolutely is not.

What exactly are you expecting at $600K in a hot market? Granite floors? Hardwoods that cost around $25,000 for 2,000 square feet?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:LVP is appropriate at that price point.

It absolutely is not.

What exactly are you expecting at $600K in a hot market? Granite floors? Hardwoods that cost around $25,000 for 2,000 square feet?

Other homes that did sell in that area are posted above without LVP. It's possible.

[Anonymous]

I have LVP throughout first floor (builder installed) and have no problems with it. It's great with kid's spills, toys, etc. It looks good to me as well and I've had hardwood on two previous homes.

[Anonymous]

The trend with LVP has to do with the ease of repair and wear effects in high traffic areas. LVP planks can be replaced individually, they never have to be sanded, and they stand up to high traffic much better than wood plank or ceramic tile.