Beautifully Responsible — Value at Resale Time

Paul Friederichsen, Brand Biz, Inc.

Unlike some other luxury options, vinyl doesn’t crack, chip, scratch easily, wear, or “uglyout.”

There must be thousands of articles on Google related to selecting the right flooring for the resale value of your home. Flooring, often called “The fifth wall,” logically makes a big impression, and it’s a big expense to boot. However, it seems everyone has an opinion. Unless you’re a real estate investor solely interested in flipping, the flooring you choose must not only be a wise investment for the future resale but a practical and pleasing home improvement for the “here and now.”

Watch any home improvement cable TV show or walk the flooring aisles of any home improvement store, and you’ll notice a growing preference for resilient flooring — and in particular, luxury vinyl. It’s both the beautiful and responsible way to improve your home, and designers, decorators, and homeowners are catching on in huge numbers.

Solid and engineered hardwood floors have traditionally held that coveted remodeling “top-spot,” but not so much anymore. The new school of thought is vinyl flooring, and there are numerous reasons for this phenomenon. Chances are, some of these apply to you.

1. Vinyl flooring costs less going in

Compared to other luxury hard surface options, such as hardwood or ceramic, you can expect to pay less for materials and installation. For example, according to several sources, luxury vinyl plank prices may range from $2 to $7 per square foot, whereas hardwood may range from $8 to over $25 per square foot or more, depending on the wood species. Plus, you’ll reap the savings down the road with less care and maintenance with vinyl, such as no sanding and refinishing necessary.

2. Vinyl flooring is very durable

Unlike some other luxury options, it doesn’t crack, chip, scratch easily, wear, or “uglyout.” That means if you live in your remodel a while before your resale, you can do so without the fear of damaging the very floor you installed, intending to improve the resale value.

3. Vinyl flooring is waterproof

All homeowners can agree on one thing: water is enemy #1. No other floor can withstand wet accidents (and every home will have them) like vinyl. This is perhaps the best-understood and appreciated aspect of vinyl flooring by prospective buyers of all.

4. Vinyl flooring accomplishes whole-home floor continuity, easier

Real estate experts agree that a patchwork of flooring styles throughout a home will negatively impact resale value regardless of the flooring quality. However, because of its

Flooring, often called “The fifth wall,” logically makes a big impression, and it’s a big expense to boot.

affordability, versatility, and good looks, vinyl can be the ideal flooring solution flowing from room to room—particularly important for open concept room remodels with line-of-sight considerations.

5. Vinyl flooring for the Millennial buyer

Millennial homebuyers now constitute the next wave of sales in the housing market. Next to homes equipped with technological amenities, they are looking for environmentally conscious and lowmaintenance homes with open spaces that can be multifunctional for living and entertaining. Vinyl flooring appeals to all of those needs:

● Vinyl flooring is recyclable and promotes a healthy indoor environment ● Vinyl flooring sweeps up and damp mops with ease ● Vinyl flooring is the #1 multifunctional space solution

6. Vinyl flooring easily checks off the top remodeling jobs.

In-Home Advisor’s “Raise the Value of Your Home with These 7 Remodeling Tips”; vinyl flooring helps you accomplish five of the seven:

● Increase Light and Space: New replacement vinyl flooring can be found in a variety of trendsetting lighter wood species looks and bleached woods that can make room makeovers look bigger, brighter, and more appealing. ● Create a home office: Working from home is now more popular than ever, and prospective buyers are looking for that space more and more. Vinyl flooring provides a sharp, practical business look that can handle punishment from rolling office chairs and avoiding static electricity buildup that can damage electronics. ● Finish your basement: Most basements are entirely below grade and moisture-prone, especially from concrete subfloors. Properly installed, vinyl flooring can handle these conditions beautifully. ● Update or add bathrooms: Light, bright full, and half-baths have become inspiring focal points of luxurious living. But the fixtures, lighting, and wall tiles are only part of the picture.

Vinyl flooring adds beautifully surprising (and unexpected) wood looks where real wood would simply be impractical. ● Update Your Kitchen: For resale value, no other room means as much in design and appearance as the kitchen area. So let a new vinyl floor be the exquisite canvas for your makeover masterpiece.

The new owner will appreciate your smarts for installing such a practical, beautiful solution.

Many factors go into protecting and improving the resale value of your home, from landscaping to painting, to closet space. Of course, buyers will look at them all and many with the anticipation of making their changes, anyway. However, well-chosen and properly installed vinyl flooring can immeasurably increase the appeal and perception of a new buyer for your house as a smart, attractive place to call home. ■