The Best Carpet For Staging Your Home To Sell
If you’re selling a home, chances are it’s been lived in for a while. That’s why realtors recommend that you spruce things up a little bit before showing people around. A fresh coat of paint, clean windows, clearing up some of the clutter, and probably a new carpet!
You want buyers to see the home for what it can be, not necessarily what it is. That’s why it’s called staging — you’re setting the stage for a new family to start their life in that home. Worn, soiled, or stained carpet can make a huge difference in the perceived value of your home — you might not even notice it, after years of seeing it every day, but any discoloration will stand out in the eyes of a stranger.
So Why Go With Carpet?
Lots of homeowners like hardwood floors, laminate, or tile for their flooring surface rather than carpet, but there are a lot of reasons carpet might be a better choice for staging a home for a quick turnaround.
The first is cost. Tearing up the carpet in a home and laying down new carpet, even if the carpet padding underneath needs replacing, is the work of a few days and requires hardly any prep. Carpet is also much cheaper to purchase per square foot, and if you have to resurface the whole house, that can really add up.
Another reason to stick with carpet is how easy it is to install. Tiny irregularities in the floor will create uneven edges in hardwood or tile, and even the slightest unevenness in the walls is immediately obvious against the straight lines of hard flooring surfaces. Carpet will completely minimize those slight imperfections, showing new buyers that they’re not a concern.
Finally, lots of people simply prefer carpet! Chances are, you’ll be living in your home for a few months while you try to sell, so pick something you want to live with as well. Carpet is warmer and more comfortable in living areas and bedrooms anyway, so there’s a good chance that your new buyers will want carpet as well.
What Kind Of Carpet Should You Get?
Buying carpet to sell a home isn’t quite the same as buying carpet you plan to live with for the next 15 to 20 years. For one thing, you probably won’t want to spend as much, unless your home is very high-end. You’ll want a carpet that looks high end, so a good cut-pile carpet is a great option to give you luxurious looks without the high cost.
If you live in a modern, urban home, you might want to try something a little trendier, like a cut-and-loop carpet in a geometric pattern or pin-dot look. If your home is styled in more of a smooth, sleek way, then a long-pile frieze will provide an eye-catching complementary texture as well. Take a look at our carpet buying guide here!
What About Color?
Obviously, color is entirely a matter of taste, so there’s no single right answer for the best color of carpet. There are a few different approaches you can take here.
One is to stick with neutral colors — that’s what most carpet is anyway. Lighter colors will make a space look more open, bright and inviting, but don’t go too bright or prospective buyers will wonder how they’re going to keep it clean. Warm gray, tan, beige, or taupe are all good options — you can even get a color with Berber flecks to add a little variety to the flooring.
Another approach is to go with something bold. If you’re staging the home with furniture and decor to look finished, rather than as an empty home, then a pop of color that accentuates and complements the decor can make the home look much more exciting and appealing. Keep in mind, though, that not everyone’s tastes run the same direction — you might create a house that stands out from the rest, but it’s a risk.
What Material Is Best?
Nylon and triexta are the best carpet fibers for longevity, stain-resistance, and comfort, but they’re also the most expensive — and you’re not even going to get to enjoy them! That’s why polyester is probably your best choice — it’s less expensive, but still provides good value for your money and looks nice. If the new owners want to keep it, it’ll last them at least five years, and if they don’t like it, they can pull it out and choose their own!
Selling a home is a big step, and there are a million things to think about. Luckily, carpet is one of the easy ones. Pulling out old carpet and replacing it with a new one is a relatively quick, easy, and cost-effective way to really spruce up your well-loved home.