Are Wood Floors Right for Your House Flip?

Most potential home buyers are impressed by hardwood floors. But is it worth it for you to buy and install a hardwood floor, or is laminate a better choice for your budget? Let’s quickly run through the pros and cons of natural hardwood flooring versus laminate wood flooring.

The Standard: Hardwood Flooring

The cost of installing a hardwood floor can be high. Each panel of flooring can also be expensive compared to laminate wood flooring, because it’s made from actual boards harvested from trees. Woods from other countries usually cost more than domestic varieties. However, an exotic wood can add a touch of luxury to the house and raise its value. When installing wood floors, choose the room they’ll be in carefully. In a high-traffic area, the wood can easily get scratched or worn, which will show up prominently on natural wood. Also, avoid installing wood floors in high-moisture areas. If you find an original hardwood floor under a carpet in an old house, you’re in luck! You can sand and refinish to make the floor just like new again. Hardwood floors are a classic look. People like the natural feel of them, and they never seem to go out of style. They can make your house flips look amazing, if you have the budget for them.

An Economical Alternative: Laminate Wood Flooring

Let’s be clear: there’s nothing inherently bad about laminate wood flooring, and it can be a great solution for a smaller budget. The boards cost less than hardwood, because they’re made from a core of fiberboard. Also, installing laminate can cost half as much as installing hardwood. Laminate boards are covered in a layer that looks like real wood, along with a protective layer, so they can look really great. Plenty of buyers are happy with the aesthetics of laminate, especially if you avoid textures that look artificial. You can tell your prospects that laminate wood flooring is easy to clean and can be resistant to scratches, wear, and moisture. Even so, think about installing it only in low-traffic areas, because it’s not always easy for owners to find a replacement board that looks exactly right, if one gets damaged.

Can Wood Floors Improve This House Flip?


After reviewing your budget and other factors, are there more advantages to hardwood flooring or laminate wood flooring for this house flip? What about the disadvantages? Will wood floors impress your prospects, enhance the value of the house, and/or help you sell faster? Remember to meet the needs of your buyers and to delight and surprise them. If you want more training in the house flipping business, register for a Rules of Renovation free event.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Rules of Renovation Reviews: What Not to Do When Flipping a House

Image
There’s a lot that goes into flipping a house, including time, energy, emotions, and of course, money. Although you may not be able to cut down on the first three, you can always save money with the right strategies. Learn how to save money when flipping a house with these three common mistakes to avoid. Practice the following to build the discipline and habits necessary for a profitable house flipping business. 1. Don’t Get Too Emotionally Invested in Any Single Property Your business success as a house flipper will come from the average profit you can make from a multitude of properties, not from any one property. It’s vital to treat each property objectively, judging it on its numbers, potential profit, market comps, and so on. Try not to get attached to any one property. We’ve seen too many investors spend far too much time or take extra risks on a property just because they feel passionate about it. Remind yourself that it’s important to sell each property quickly and m...
Read more

4 Tips for Hiring a Great Web Designer for Your Real Estate Business

Success in real estate investment is about more than your personal charm and skill in selecting a great property. You have to establish yourself as a professional through marketing and a social media presence. One of the most important tools to reach new customers and expand your brand is a professionally designed website. A personal website for your real estate business will list your accomplishments, experience, and contact information. The internet is filled with free website design and hosting options—but unless you’ve got web design skills as hot as your real estate ones, Hilary Farr recommends strongly against making your own website. Here are 4 Rules of Renovation approved tips for choosing a web designer and setting up your online presence. 1. Don’t Build Your Own Website In the real estate investing business, there’s a lot you can DIY: painting, basic repairs and demolition, and installing appliances and shelving. While you may have picked up some great skills in reha...
Read more

Repurpose Old Windows to "Wow" Your Prospects

Image
When you’re renovating a house flip, you might need to replace old windows—maybe because they’re worn out or you want to install energy efficient ones. Don’t throw your old windows out yet! You can transform them into unique accents that’ll give potential buyers something memorable to talk about. In fact, you might even want to find other old windows at a flea market or antique store. Below are three home accents you can make out of old windows for a very low price tag. A Message Board Turn an old paned window into a charming message board. If the glass panes are still in it, you can cover them with chalkboard paint. If the glass is gone or you want to take it out, you can put pieces of cork board or chalkboard where the panes used to be. You can even alternate between chalk and cork board panels. On the other hand, it can be simpler just to lay the frame over a ready-made chalkboard or cork message board. For an open house, stick brochures or information about t...
Read more