Winch Walton Ottawa Real Estate and Ottawa Staging Team Responds to your Question on Carpeting
Q: Should I replace my older carpets if I plan on selling my home?
A: When you decide to sell your home there usually are some renovations that need to be done. Making the decision to replace carpets is often a tricky one for homeowners. You may think that if the buyer doesn’t like the rugs then the onus would be on them to replace the carpeting. Most buyers will not replace the carpeting. Often they prefer not to renovate a place they wish to buy.
In fact, when buyers look through real estate listing photographs and if your carpets look dated, you may miss out on getting showings because of this. If your carpets are older, the buyer believes that this will open up discussions to downscale the price of your home, as they will need to replace the carpeting. Buyers want to have a picture in their mind of how their belongings will look in your home. They may be wowed by everything in your home but will be discouraged by the carpets.
Another option would be to rip up the carpeting and to add hardwood flooring. Often this type of renovation can be more costly compared to the option of buying new carpeting.
Many carpet retails stores have good deals on carpets and installation. So if you are looking at the return on your dollar, it may be less expensive in the long run to just replace the carpets vs. installing hardwood flooring. It also depends how much carpeting needs to be done and where it is located. You may also opt for part carpeting and part hardwood flooring.
If you are still not sure what to do, contact the Winch Walton Team to get their professional advice. When you list with them they will be able to tell you what would be the most cost effective for you in the long run and whether you should replace your carpeting or opt for hardwood. Remember you are in competition with other houses for sale in your neighbourhood! It is always best to seek professional advice and the Winch Walton Team can help you with all your real estate and Ottawa staging questions.