Selling your home? How to add value with flooring

When renovating your property you’re likely to be looking for efficient ways to increase its market value. Often this involves a fresh lick of white paint, saying goodbye to that loud wallpaper, re-grouting your bathroom or, most importantly, laying a new floor. However, many people find themselves guessing when it comes to choosing the floor to level up their property. What do buyers expect? To answer this question, our experts at Factory Direct Flooring Ltd have teamed up with Director of Edward Knight estate agents, Terry Dainty, to talk about how your floor choice can boost the all-important ‘saleability’ of your property, adding value to your home.

Wood flooring for high value properties

When it comes to luxury properties, flooring matters. Many buyers expect high quality, hard flooring. Terry said,

"Generally speaking, those buying higher value homes are likely to be more knowledgeable or specific about their preferences in quality flooring types, and often solid or engineered wooden flooring is preferred."

Customer Photo: @Chestnutinteriordesign | Solid Wood Abbey Spinney 21mm

Solid wood flooring comes in various different styles and shades, which makes it perfect for fitting in a home you’re looking to sell on. Not only are they timeless, they are also easy to maintain, attracting less dust and also holding fewer allergens. Alternatively, Engineered wood flooring is just as stylish as solid wooden flooring but it’s more environmentally friendly as it uses less wood; allowing it to be more cost effectively produced, and thus cheaper for the customer. 

Whilst installing hardwood flooring is certainly an investment, it is one that will pay off when you put your house on the market!

LVT (Luxury Vinyl Tiles): The flooring of the moment

Image: Aqua Plank Herringbone LVT Range

Whatever property you are selling, LVT is a great, inexpensive option that provides a stunning first impression. There is a reason why it is fast becoming the most popular flooring in the UK! Versatile, authentic and attractive, click vinyl flooring offers the aesthetic of a wooden floor with added durability - making it a practical solution for high-traffic areas that will impress buyers; such as hallways, kitchens or the lounge. 

Terry Dainty said

"In recent years I have seen more and more buyers looking for LVT in their kitchens and living areas, it is certainly on trend"

Luxury Vinyl Tiles come in a variety of styles, whether you’re looking for traditional dark planks or a lighter herringbone. It’s durability means that it’s unlikely to wear, making LVT the perfect choice if you’re planning to sell your home in the distant future. 

Moreover, LVT is very easy to fit – it only takes a ‘click’. This means you can fit it yourself, saving you money that can be put towards your new house!

Image: Aqua Plank Herringbone LVT Range

Any floor is better than no floor!

If you are looking to level-up your home on a budget, be sure to prioritise neutral flooring, even if it is just an economic layer of laminate. Terry said that

"Whilst some developers think that they can take their properties to market without flooring, it hugely impacts the home’s selling power. Without a floor, buyers struggle to imagine themselves in the property."

Terry supports that “laminate is a great choice for smaller homes - especially for first-time buyers.”  The versatility of laminate makes it an attractive feature when selling your home to younger buyers - especially those with children or pets who need the durability, and often first-time buyers who are usually looking for a low maintenance, but stylish look. 

As expected, neutral tones are the way forward. Terry confirmed that “sleek neutral colours such as Oak allow for imagination during viewings”. 

Customer Photo: @Chestnutinteriordesign | Solid Wood Abbey Spinney 21mm

It’s all about the ‘sale-ability’

Put simply, adding new floors into your home gives your home a freshen up, which in turn increases the desirability of your home, encouraging a higher sale price. Terry’s final piece of advice? Put yourself in the buyer’s position.

"Rather than focusing on how much exactly the flooring costs, make your home appeal to the potential new buyer rather than just yourself, and you will get your 100% return on investment when it comes to flooring."

Find your new home, or invest in your current one!