Paint can transform a space, but flooring is a key design element that is just as visually impactful. The flooring you choose can set the stage for your space, making it feel modern, cozy, or rustic – whatever look you are going for. There are many components to consider when choosing the type flooring, from aesthetics to price, durability, and upkeep. So how do you choose?
Here are 6 popular flooring materials, along with the pros and cons for each:
Hardwood – Hardwood flooring is timeless and has been a long-time favorite due to its beauty, warmth, and durability. If the material gets damaged or scratched it can be sanded and refinished multiple times and can last for decades. Wood flooring tends to be the most expensive and it’s best to avoid installing in ‘wet’ environments like a bathroom or basement.
Engineered Wood – A thin veneer of real wood is bonded to layers of structural plywood to create engineered wood flooring. Just as durable as hardwood, easier to install, and slightly easier on the wallet, engineered wood floors are a great alternative to hardwood and will achieve the same look. The biggest con – the thinner top layer can’t take as much refinishing so it requires more looking after.
Vinyl – The fastest growing category of flooring, vinyl ranges from inexpensive sheets and adhesive tiles to luxury vinyl tile (LVT) that imitates natural wood planks and tiles. Vinyl is easy to install, budget-friendly, and waterproof – making it a great option for bathrooms and basements. The material is durable, but once it starts to show wear or is damaged, it cannot be refinished, only replaced.
Laminate – Dense fiberboard is topped with a photo of the actual material and a layer of laminate to protect the surface. An affordable option, laminate is offered in wide range of colors and styles to suit your aesthetic and is DIY-friendly, eliminating the cost of installation. The material is susceptible to moisture damage and cannot be refinished, only replaced. Laminate can offer a high-end look, but the repetition of pattern tends to give away its ‘fakeness.’
Tile – Available in countless colors, shapes, and styles, tile is the perfect choice to add some character to a space. Tile is durable, waterproof, and low-maintenance, but can be difficult to install and cold on the feet.
Carpet – Soft underfoot, carpet is the most comfortable flooring material and also offers noise reduction and thermal insulating qualities. It is available in a wide range of colors and patterns, as well as synthetic and natural fibers that vary significantly in price and quality. Carpet holds dirt and dust and will eventually wear and need replacing.
If you are thinking of updating your space with new flooring, consider your budget, home aesthetic, and goals as a homeowner. Need a second opinion? Contact us to see what will get you the biggest bang for your buck when selling your home.
Sometimes even real estate professionals need help organizing. When I decided to refresh my bedroom space the first thing I did was call Jennie for her expertise. Jennie has helped many of our clients reset and reconfigure their living spaces. Because my attempts to reorganize and reconfigure my bedroom continue to frustrate me, I hired Jennie myself to solve my organizational issues.
If you want to get the highest price for your house when it’s time to sell, then you need a professional to assess your property’s condition. Buyers scrutinize your house and property from top to bottom. One question that sellers often ask is, “Should I paint?” And, as you can imagine, the answer is specific to each situation. There is one painting job that you should book right away, however.
In the wake of the historic flooding that resulted in Vermont being declared a Federal Disaster Area many homeowners and buyers have been asking, “Is my house at risk of flooding?” There is no definitive answer to this question, however we have some resources available to help assess risk levels. Remember, though, water takes its own “path” and what may “not” be in a flood zone or high risk area right now could turn into one very quickly depending on the circumstances.
It’s turning into a cruel summer for many buyers and sellers. Sellers and buyers are increasingly afraid that their house sale or purchase may be their next mistake.
To be perfectly honest, we do not see many houses with wallpaper. In the 1970s wallpaper donned many kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms. In the 1990s wallpaper borders were popular in living rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens. Today, however, with the influence of HGTV and other media, neutral pallets dominate the general decorating “vibe.”
Maybe you “shouldn’t judge a book by it’s cover,” but, in the real estate arena Buyers do judge houses from their exteriors. Serious buyers will spend several minutes looking at the outside of your house before they even step inside. Many of us focus on the interior of the house when getting prepared to sell. This makes sense, of course, since buyers focus on interior photos when deciding whether to consider or eliminate a property. Once they make the trip to the house, however, it’s the outside that makes the first impression. Here are our top tips for elevating your exterior to impress buyers:
Before we delve into this month’s blog, “What is the Best Home Estimate Tool?” we want to give a disclaimer – on the Weaver Team we are real estate geeks. We spend hours studying the real estate market. Just ask us a simple question and we’ll go on and on about absorption rate, days on market, list to sale price ratios, and more. So, if you ask us, “What is the Best Home Estimate Tool?” we do have a short answer, “The Weaver Team!”
We do sell houses year-round in Northwest Vermont. Who are these buyers and sellers? Why can’t they wait until the “spring market” when the grass is green and the ice has melted from driveways?
We all hear the news – inflation, fuel, food prices, and mortgage interest rates are rising or higher than before. All of these factors weigh on some buyers who are thinking about purchasing a property.
