skip to main content

Buying and Selling Homes Flooring Design Dilemma

flooring quandary

Aj Woodard-Adams

5 years ago

We are looking to sell our home next year. The floors need to be done desperately. The owners we purchased from stained the concrete, and did a poor job. It looks bad, and now its chipping in a couple places. The problem is we're on a budget, and we only have the cash to do half the floors. I think we should not spend the money and just let the fact the flooring isn't done be reflected in the listing price of the home. My husband thinks we should do the floor in 3 rooms, and just hope we can still sell for full price. I don't think buyers will give us full price for partially done floors, and I'd rather not spend the money if we're just going to take the hit anyway. Any advice?

Featured Answer

PRO

Beth H. :

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Without seeing what you're talking about, or what you're considering for the other rooms, it's hard to say. I would not do 'half'. That's not going to bring you any return.

why don't you talk to a real estate broker in your area and let her tell you? It all depends on where you are located, the housing prices, home worth, and what buyers in your area really want. An agent would know best.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Storybook Home
5 years ago
Which 3 rooms? Doubtful investing in a half done job will yield a return. I’d save the money. New buyers will likely redo it anyway and be unwilling to pay extra for a patchwork quilt.
Related Discussions
Rectified porcelain tile design help?
Q
Comments (5)
catbird, sorry for the delayed response. I forgot to select the response notification option on my original post. Like you , I've noticed that the Crossville web site and customer service email responses are not as informative as they could be. However, the "Palais" brochure is quite detailed. If you're still looking at Crossville tiles, I think you can order up to 3 free brochures from their web site. I went to a local tile distributor to obtains samples and pricing. The distributor confirmed that Palais is in fact a rectified tile. Unlike non-rectified tiles (which are generally more expensive per sqft as the tile size increases), it appears that the prices of rectified tiles reflect the additional labor and additional waste incurred to cut the fired tiles to make them "dimensionally stable". Did you decide on a countertop tile? We decided to use the 12"x18" tiles in a running bond pattern as our KD recommended. We're=m now looking into whether or not we should go for the tighter grout line or not. ~docdom
...See More
Transom Window Decorating Quandary
Q
Comments (2)
Positioning the bed under the transom window would help a lot. Then I wouldn't bother with any window treatment on it, and get curtains for the two tall windows.
...See More
Flooring Quandary
Q
Comments (20)
Will you be doing a glue down floor or a floating floor? Mannington Adura has some pretty vinyl tile in glue down that can be grouted and also a floating locksolid product. There are installation videos on the Mannington website if you are going to DIY your flooring. I would look for something that will look good with your oak cabinets and oak color flooring in the living room. There are some in the Adura and in the Mohawk that have the golden color along with shades of brown and gray. I would not put down a wood look floor since you have the wood look laminate in the living room. Armstrong and Congoleum also have some pretty vinyl as do others that have been mentioned. Only you know what your budget will be for new flooring, and you may have to have subfloor replaced if it's plywood. If it's concrete, hopefully you won't have much to do since you have had laminate there. Is your kitchen laminate glued down or floating? You might also consider sheet vinyl. I know Mannington has some pretty ones, and I'm sure the others do also. My suggestion is to go to several websites and look at what's available, and then see if any flooring dealers near you carry what you like.
...See More
Wood laminate or engineered hardwood quandary. Advice/ experience need
Q
Comments (3)
People keep saying certain floors are better if the basement floods but, quite frankly, if that happens it is likely everything would need replacing, anyway, Not true for tile with an uncoupling membrane or natural stone. Even low pile carpet can be saved provided the flooding is from clean water. Laminate in a basement only if it's on top of plywood and XPS insulation or a dimpled membrane, otherwise the natural drive of water vapour upwards will encourage mould growth. We currently have engineered hardwood glued down on our recently purchased home. Looks good. But it's what the house came with after being rehabbed for a year due to fire damage.
...See More
Lil S
5 years ago
I would definitely ask a local realtor if concrete flooring is desirable in your market and if it's best to ignore, replace (or in your case, partially replace) or offer a flooring allowance.
PRO
Anglophilia
5 years ago
Price the house accordingly and be well aware that this is going to make the price take a substantial hit.
User
5 years ago
Doing three rooms would never get you full price but I am wondering if you have checked to see how much it would cost to have them resurfaced? I am planning on turning a walled in patio into a sunroom in a couple of years for my plants. One of the things I have looked at since that portion of the house is on a slab is having in floor heating with the concrete stuff glazed and finished vs. tile. I was told glazing would need to be redone.
Laurie Schrader
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Not sure if you're planning to work with a Realtor- I would. I'd find one that can sell benefits, over features. I get that the finish has gone wonky. It happens OFTEN, with painted/stained concrete. That's a feature, that isn't super-pretty.

But the benefit is that it's a flat sub-floor, ready to take on anything "new" a buyer can imagine. So much better/easier to deal with than a house on the block that has older carpeting, or tile that isn't appealing, or whatever.

Will it hurt your bottom line? Not with a good Realtor, with deep contacts in your area who can sell benefits. Find her/him, and save your $$.
SJ McCarthy
5 years ago
Leave it alone....or have it ground/polished for the open house/viewings. The problem with doing only 3 rooms is the FLOOR HEIGHT difference. Any floor you put in (including sheet vinyl) will have a "lip" or a height variance where it meets the concrete slab. Tripping hazard = bad vibes for home buyers.

If you can't afford to install new flooring throughout (and carpet is the fastest, cheapest, easiest floor to add) then don't do a darn thing. If you are REALLY nervous about how much the look of the floors are going to affect the purchase price, then go ahead and have them ground/polished and then leave them be. The amount of money you will pay will be a snick more than flooring for 3 rooms, but it will maintain the asking price (no need to discount).

A "nice" looking, yet raw, concrete floor is FAR more appealing than a nasty "finished" concrete floor. If you have enough money to install 3 rooms with "other" product, then you have enough money to grind down/polish the concrete. Maybe not enough to "finish" it with a sealer...but certainly enough to grind/polish.

Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES Get Clever With Area Rugs for Warmth and Beauty

By Tiffany Carboni

Give feet a soft landing, protect your floor, hide a stain ... with area rugs in your arsenal, you can win any flooring battle

TILE Porcelain vs. Ceramic Tile: A Five-Scenario Showdown

Explore where and why one of these popular tile choices makes more sense than the other

LIFE Modern Manners for Conflict-Free Family Visits

By Laura Gaskill

Avoid thermostat wars, pet peeves and the great shower squeeze with these tips for having family as houseguests

ORGANIZING 10 Times to Hire a Closet Designer

By Laura Gaskill

These pros create order out of chaos, whether in bedrooms, playrooms, garages or pantries

LIFE Decorate With Intention: Finish That Room!

By Laura Gaskill

Got a half-finished space begging for a polished look? These solutions can motivate you to take some essential decorating action

LANDSCAPE DESIGN 10 Ideas for a Creative, Water-Conscious Yard

By Laura Gaskill

Check out these tips for a great-looking outdoor area that needs less water

ECLECTIC HOMES My Houzz: Dreamy, Organic Style in a Tampa Cottage

By Mina Brinkey

Plentiful white paint and timeworn treasures create a light and natural feel in a 1940 Florida home

ROOM OF THE DAY Room of the Day: Great Room Solves an Awkward Interior

By Mitchell Parker

The walls come down in a chopped-up Eichler interior, and a family gains space and light

BATHROOM DESIGN Convert Your Tub Space to a Shower — the Planning Phase

By By Any Design Ltd.

Step 1 in swapping your tub for a sleek new shower: Get all the remodel details down on paper

BASEMENTS Design Workshop: Is It Time to Let Basements Become Extinct?

By Eric Reinholdt, Architect

Costly and often unnecessary, basements may become obsolete — if they aren’t already. Here are responses to every reason to keep them around

Sponsored

Nova Design Build

Custom Premiere Design-Build Contractor | Hilliard, OH

More Discussions

Would you pass on a one-bath house?

32

would you paint these built in ?

19

Will this kitchen reno ideawork or will it just look and feel awkward?

8

legal waiver if house includes a car lift?

3

Am I wrong to be upset about this?

23