Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 21:29     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Personally I think carpeting in the bedrooms is like granite countertops. There is a "niche" group of people with more expensive tastes who prefer hardwoods in the bedrooms, but the preference for carpeting in the bedrooms is much more common. Likewise there is a minority of people with more expensive tastes that find granite to be passe and want something else, but the very significant majority of home buyers still consider granite to be THE surface of choice for home purchases.


I 100% disagree with the bolded statement.

We have lived all over the country, and the only people I have met who prefer carpet in the bedroom are older people. and my inlaws in the midwest who like carpet so much that when they redid their bathroom they installed carpet in the entire area, including the little water closet that houses the toilet.

The majority of people will prefer hardwood, and a much smaller group will want carpet in bedrooms.


I'm the quoted person. And my mother has been selling real estate for over 30 years in 3 states. This is info that she has from hundreds of clients over the years. There is a reason that anytime anyone suggests that they want to redo carpeting in the bedroom that they are told to lift up the carpet and check if there are hardwoods underneath. Because it is VERY common for people to cover up hardwood floors with carpeting in bedrooms.

Also, my own experience with quite a lot of people over the years is directly opposite yours. I've found that only people with allergies or people with higher end tastes are so adamant about having hardwoods in bedrooms and that many, many more people want comfortable well padded carpeting in the bedrooms unless they live in warmer Southern states, like Florida or Texas.


Well, we will have to agree to disagree.

Perhaps your mom is selling to an older crowd of clients?
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 21:08     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Personally I think carpeting in the bedrooms is like granite countertops. There is a "niche" group of people with more expensive tastes who prefer hardwoods in the bedrooms, but the preference for carpeting in the bedrooms is much more common. Likewise there is a minority of people with more expensive tastes that find granite to be passe and want something else, but the very significant majority of home buyers still consider granite to be THE surface of choice for home purchases.


I 100% disagree with the bolded statement.

We have lived all over the country, and the only people I have met who prefer carpet in the bedroom are older people. and my inlaws in the midwest who like carpet so much that when they redid their bathroom they installed carpet in the entire area, including the little water closet that houses the toilet.

The majority of people will prefer hardwood, and a much smaller group will want carpet in bedrooms.


I'm the quoted person. And my mother has been selling real estate for over 30 years in 3 states. This is info that she has from hundreds of clients over the years. There is a reason that anytime anyone suggests that they want to redo carpeting in the bedroom that they are told to lift up the carpet and check if there are hardwoods underneath. Because it is VERY common for people to cover up hardwood floors with carpeting in bedrooms.

Also, my own experience with quite a lot of people over the years is directly opposite yours. I've found that only people with allergies or people with higher end tastes are so adamant about having hardwoods in bedrooms and that many, many more people want comfortable well padded carpeting in the bedrooms unless they live in warmer Southern states, like Florida or Texas.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 20:52     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I agree that buyers will definitely prefer hardwood. Are there hardwoods under carpet, OP? If not, do you think it's worth the extra money? Are you replacing the floor only for resale or will you live there a while? I would prefer hardwoods, but carpet wouldn't be a deal breaker.


op here- not sure if there's hardwood underneath or not. if there is, it's probably in pretty bad condition. We'd be doing this just for resale, and I'm not sure it's worth the cost. definitely would completely replace the carpet bc/ it's gotten beaten up over the years, but wondering if it's worth the extra cost to put in hardwoods. it's only 2 bedrooms and a hallway. i personally prefer carpeting in bedrooms because I think it's cozier, but it sounds like I am in the minority.


Have you pulled up a corner and looked?

If the house is from the 70s or earlier, there is a good chance there is hardwood under there.

If carpet went over the floors fairly early in its lifespan, the hardwood might be in excellent condition, or at least good enough that some paste wax and a buffer will make it look very presentable.

I would pull up the carpet in a corner of the closet before making any decisions.

In my opinion, knowing that there is hardwood under the carpet to be refinished would be a big plus over a house with carpet and only padding an a subfloor underneath.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 20:49     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:Personally I think carpeting in the bedrooms is like granite countertops. There is a "niche" group of people with more expensive tastes who prefer hardwoods in the bedrooms, but the preference for carpeting in the bedrooms is much more common. Likewise there is a minority of people with more expensive tastes that find granite to be passe and want something else, but the very significant majority of home buyers still consider granite to be THE surface of choice for home purchases.


I 100% disagree with the bolded statement.

We have lived all over the country, and the only people I have met who prefer carpet in the bedroom are older people. and my inlaws in the midwest who like carpet so much that when they redid their bathroom they installed carpet in the entire area, including the little water closet that houses the toilet.

The majority of people will prefer hardwood, and a much smaller group will want carpet in bedrooms.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 20:44     Subject: Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Hardwood
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 20:38     Subject: Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:For resale install new carpet right before you put your house on the market. Most cost effective option.


This is probably what I'd do for resale (but I'd want hardwood in my house).
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 19:28     Subject: Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
We installed new carpet in our townhouse prior to selling. Buyers immediately tore it all out to put in hardwood. So definitely don't spend much on new carpet, if you go that route.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 19:25     Subject: Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
For resale install new carpet right before you put your house on the market. Most cost effective option.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 15:01     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Hardwood. If people want warmth, they can get a large cozy area rug.

Wall to wall carpet just gets dirty so easily and is hard to decorate around. Especially if you didn't pick it. Oh, and allergies.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 13:35     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I agree that buyers will definitely prefer hardwood. Are there hardwoods under carpet, OP? If not, do you think it's worth the extra money? Are you replacing the floor only for resale or will you live there a while? I would prefer hardwoods, but carpet wouldn't be a deal breaker.


op here- not sure if there's hardwood underneath or not. if there is, it's probably in pretty bad condition. We'd be doing this just for resale, and I'm not sure it's worth the cost. definitely would completely replace the carpet bc/ it's gotten beaten up over the years, but wondering if it's worth the extra cost to put in hardwoods. it's only 2 bedrooms and a hallway. i personally prefer carpeting in bedrooms because I think it's cozier, but it sounds like I am in the minority.


No, you're not in the minority in real life, just in DCUM la-la land.


Then I guess what matters is if DCUM la-la land is her target audience.

And I'm not really sure why being anti-wall-to-wall means expensive niche tastes. My current 1000sqft rental house (I'm the renter) has wood-look laminate, and I vastly prefer it to carpeting. I'd rather have $1.15/sq ft laminate from IKEA to carpet. I guess I can see the benefit of carpet in truly cold climates (though even there I'd probably do area rug + socks), but DC is far enough south / hot enough to not need. All of course IMHO.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 13:09     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I agree that buyers will definitely prefer hardwood. Are there hardwoods under carpet, OP? If not, do you think it's worth the extra money? Are you replacing the floor only for resale or will you live there a while? I would prefer hardwoods, but carpet wouldn't be a deal breaker.


op here- not sure if there's hardwood underneath or not. if there is, it's probably in pretty bad condition. We'd be doing this just for resale, and I'm not sure it's worth the cost. definitely would completely replace the carpet bc/ it's gotten beaten up over the years, but wondering if it's worth the extra cost to put in hardwoods. it's only 2 bedrooms and a hallway. i personally prefer carpeting in bedrooms because I think it's cozier, but it sounds like I am in the minority.


No, you're not in the minority in real life, just in DCUM la-la land.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 11:33     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:I agree that buyers will definitely prefer hardwood. Are there hardwoods under carpet, OP? If not, do you think it's worth the extra money? Are you replacing the floor only for resale or will you live there a while? I would prefer hardwoods, but carpet wouldn't be a deal breaker.


op here- not sure if there's hardwood underneath or not. if there is, it's probably in pretty bad condition. We'd be doing this just for resale, and I'm not sure it's worth the cost. definitely would completely replace the carpet bc/ it's gotten beaten up over the years, but wondering if it's worth the extra cost to put in hardwoods. it's only 2 bedrooms and a hallway. i personally prefer carpeting in bedrooms because I think it's cozier, but it sounds like I am in the minority.
Anonymous
Post 05/18/2013 10:24     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Anonymous wrote:Personally I think carpeting in the bedrooms is like granite countertops. There is a "niche" group of people with more expensive tastes who prefer hardwoods in the bedrooms, but the preference for carpeting in the bedrooms is much more common. Likewise there is a minority of people with more expensive tastes that find granite to be passe and want something else, but the very significant majority of home buyers still consider granite to be THE surface of choice for home purchases.


This is the most sensible post on this thread.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2013 21:57     Subject: Re:Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Personally I think carpeting in the bedrooms is like granite countertops. There is a "niche" group of people with more expensive tastes who prefer hardwoods in the bedrooms, but the preference for carpeting in the bedrooms is much more common. Likewise there is a minority of people with more expensive tastes that find granite to be passe and want something else, but the very significant majority of home buyers still consider granite to be THE surface of choice for home purchases.
Anonymous
Post 05/17/2013 21:49     Subject: Upstairs - hardwood or carpet?
Hardwood but if you have young kids I would wait until age 5