If you were looking for a new home ...

[mackeysmom]

... would you prefer to see a home with:

1) Three carpeted bedrooms and be told that there are hardwoods underneath (you can pull back the carpet from the corner of the room to see the wood color, and the general condition of the floors), or

2) The three rooms with carpeting removed - exposing the "not so great" condition of the floors.

I am in the process of getting my late mother's house ready to go back on the market. The consensus seems to 50/50 split.

Some say that hardwoods are a big sell - and people want to see them fully exposed regardless of the condition, while others say that exposing the hardwoods in the "less than perfect" state will be a turn off (people will see $$$ that would need to be put into refinishing them.)

My feeling is to leave the carpeting, and let people know that there are hardwoods underneath. They can get an idea of the condition by pulling back the carpet in the corner of the room. But this way - at least the rooms are visually pleasing.

Unfortunately refinishing them is not an option. I'm not currently working and any available funds are going into the nightmare of getting the C/O's and permits in place for an "illegally" installed bathroom and deck.

I'm curious to see what you guys think.

Thanks,
Laura

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

If the carpet isn't nasty looking leave it and & mention the hardwoods.

 

[abdmom]

It depends on the condition of the carpeting.... If the carpets are in good condition, I would leave it. I sold my house a few months ago, and feel I put too much money into "getting it ready for sale". The hardwood floors were about $5/ square foot to refinish. But at least it sold.

 

[Had2stopLurking]

I'd rather see that there are hardwoods under the carpet to know that is an option if I so desire to ever redo them. On the other hand, if the carpet is not "like new" condition, I'd rather have the carpet removed and the hardwoods redone.

I think a lot of it depends on the condition of the carpet covering the floors.

 

[glitterkittyy]

I think you're asking for advice from a buyer's point of view? As a buyer, I would want to see the condition of the hardwoods.

But I should mention, as a seller if I had bad condition hardwoods, I would leave the carpet and mention the hardwoods (assuming the carpet looks nice).

 

[mackeysmom]

The existing carpet is in decent condition - maybe a little dated, but well-kept - no stains, tears, etc.

If I had a little extra money - I would certainly make a few little cosmetic changes. However, this whole permit/town problem has cost me close to
$10K - and leaves me no wiggle room for cosmetic updates.

 

[scrapquitler]

If the carpeting is in decent condition, I would leave it and mention that there is hardwood underneath. This gives people options...those who like wood can remove the carpet and those who like carpet can leave it.

 

[Meriweather]

I agree....depends on the condition of the carpeting.
If it looks good, leave it and mention the hardwood underneath.

 

[mackeysmom]

I think you're asking for advice from a buyer's point of view? As a buyer, I would want to see the condition of the hardwoods.

But I should mention, as a seller if I had bad condition hardwoods, I would leave the carpet and mention the hardwoods (assuming the carpet looks nice).

I am asking from a "buyer's point of view" - but I'm not (in any way) trying to hide the condition of the floors from anybody. I honestly don't know how good or bad they are.

The same hardwoods are present (and exposed) in the living room, dining room, hallways, kitchen, etc. I, as a seller, feel that that gives the potential buyer the chance to know what the bedroom floors would look like once refinished.

 

[glitterkittyy]

I am asking from a "buyer's point of view" - but I'm not (in any way) trying to hide the condition of the floors from anybody. I honestly don't know how good or bad they are.

The same hardwoods are present (and exposed) in the living room, dining room, hallways, kitchen, etc. I, as a seller, feel that that gives the potential buyer the chance to know what the bedroom floors would look like once refinished.

Sorry I wasn't suggesting that you were trying to hide their condition or be dishonest. I was just saying if I were buying, I'd want to see them. That being said, I would be totally okay with yanking up a corner to check them out. So I'd be okay with the carpet and if there were hardwoods throughout the house that would give me an idea of the potential, all the better.

 

[mackeysmom]

Sorry I wasn't suggesting that you were trying to hide their condition or be dishonest. I was just saying if I were buying, I'd want to see them. That being said, I would be totally okay with yanking up a corner to check them out. So I'd be okay with the carpet and if there were hardwoods throughout the house that would give me an idea of the potential, all the better.

No worries - I wasn't suggesting that you were suggesting .....

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I sold my mother's house 3 years ago. My parents built it in the 70's. There were no young kids (I was the youngest and 15) or pets in the house, so the wood floors didn't get damaged, but they weren't brand new looking either. At some point, my parents put down ORANGE carpeting in the living room, dining room, hallway. The carpeting was in good condition, but I did tear it out (and what a project THAT was!) because it was so outdated. I cleaned up the floors, but didn't have them redone. I'm thinking they could probably have been buffed rather than sanded and refinished.

As a buyer, I wouldn't live in a house with carpeting and I love wood floors, so I personally would absolutely want to actually SEE the floors. JMHO

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

Just want to add that pulling up a corner wouldn't necessarily make me think I'm seeing the condition of the majority of the floor. You're probably showing a corner, and how much wear do corners get?

 

[mackeysmom]

My mother was not the original owner of the home - I don't know if the original owners had kids, pets, etc - so it is difficult for me to even hazard a guess to the condition of the floors.

That's why I'm on the fence - not sure what I'll find and not in the position (financially) to do anything other than clean/wax if I do pull up the carpeting.

I sold my mother's house 3 years ago. My parents built it in the 70's. There were no young kids (I was the youngest and 15) or pets in the house, so the wood floors didn't get damaged, but they weren't brand new looking either. At some point, my parents put down ORANGE carpeting in the living room, dining room, hallway. The carpeting was in good condition, but I did tear it out (and what a project THAT was!) because it was so outdated. I cleaned up the floors, but didn't have them redone. I'm thinking they could probably have been buffed rather than sanded and refinished.

As a buyer, I wouldn't live in a house with carpeting and I love wood floors, so I personally would absolutely want to actually SEE the floors. JMHO

 

[puffkin]

Since it is the bedrooms and if the carpets are in good shape, I would just leave them be and mention hardwood is underneath. I prefer carpet in bedrooms and I know that doesn't bother as many people as carpet in a living room/dining room would. If it were the living areas of the house I would say pull up the carpet and buff the floors as best you can.

 

[freckles and boo]

Pulling up carpet can be a pain in the butt. It isn't always an easy thing to do. There may be staples, occasionally glue residue, tack strips, etc. Plus you may have to replace the quarter-round on the baseboards as it is often removed when carpet is put down. If I were in your situation I would leave it as it is. I LOVE the hardwood floors in my house but getting the carpet up and the floors looking good took a lot of time and about $1400 just for the mainfloor.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

How old & what is the other flooring in the house?

Since they are bedrooms you are talking about, I would leave it.

Flooring is on my list for issues however roofing & furnace/AC come first. Now if the rest of the house has old flooring now I am not interested unless your asking price is reflective of the cost of ME redoing the flooring.

 

[mackeysmom]

The remaining rooms on the main floor are the original hardwoods that were refinished about five years ago and look great. The second floor was an add-on and has three-year old wall-to-wall carpeting in good shape.

FTR - the furnace was completely replaced about 2 years ago, and we will be offering an allowance at closing towards the roof.

How old & what is the other flooring in the house?

Since they are bedrooms you are talking about, I would leave it.

Flooring is on my list for issues however roofing & furnace/AC come first. Now if the rest of the house has old flooring now I am not interested unless your asking price is reflective of the cost of ME redoing the flooring.

 

[shortbun]

Pull them up, scrub and polish the floors. We recently bought a house where a painter had splattered paint all over the floors. It's an easy fix(rent a sander and get a big can of poly) and the carpet would have turned me off. Our old house is going on the market in need of some floor repair. We've redone the kitchen and the baths, also painted neutral where paint was needed. The new owners can decide how to handle the floors.
Old carpet is a turn off.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

The remaining rooms on the main floor are the original hardwoods that were refinished about five years ago and look great. The second floor was an add-on and has three-year old wall-to-wall carpeting in good shape.

FTR - the furnace was completely replaced about 2 years ago, and we will be offering an allowance at closing towards the roof.

How old is the roof? It is in bad shape or something?

I just have to say that roofing problems always plague us, I think we have a ghost.

Your roofing thing is going to hurt you more if the roof needs to be replaced ASAP.

As far as the bedrooms, I would leave them since the other rooms are finished and in great shape.