Which Flooring Adds the Most Value to Your Home?

If you’re thinking about selling your home someday, flooring choices affect what buyers will pay. The right floors create immediate appeal that translates into real money at closing.

But flooring value isn’t just about resale. It’s about the years you’ll spend living on those floors, enjoying their beauty and functionality. The best flooring investments serve you now while protecting value for the future.

Here’s what actually affects home value when it comes to flooring, based on 50 years of watching the Asheville real estate market.

How Flooring Affects Home Value

Flooring influences buyers in several ways. Understanding these factors helps you make smart investment decisions.

First Impressions Matter

Buyers form opinions within seconds of entering a home. Beautiful floors create immediate positive impressions that carry through the entire showing. Worn, outdated, or damaged floors create negative impressions that are hard to overcome.

The psychological impact of flooring on buyers is real and measurable. Homes with attractive floors simply sell better than comparable homes without them.

Buyer Preferences Shape Demand

What buyers want affects what they’ll pay. In the Asheville market, hardwood floors consistently top buyer wish lists. LVP has gained acceptance but doesn’t generate the same excitement. Carpet works in bedrooms but disappoints buyers when it covers living areas.

Meeting buyer expectations supports sale prices. Flooring that’s out of step with current preferences can hurt perceived value even if it’s high quality.

Condition Affects Perception

New or like-new flooring signals a well-maintained home. Worn or damaged floors raise questions about what else might be neglected. Buyers mentally deduct repair costs from their offers.

Sometimes investing in new flooring before selling recovers more than the cost. Other times, adjusting price expectations makes more sense than replacement. The right choice depends on your specific situation.

Flooring Types Ranked by Resale Value

Not all flooring contributes equally to home value. Here’s how each type typically affects resale in the Asheville market.

Hardwood: The Clear Winner

Real hardwood floors add measurable value to home sales. Buyers pay premiums for hardwood, and homes with hardwood sell faster than comparable homes without it.

The National Association of Realtors consistently finds hardwood among the features buyers most want. In Asheville’s competitive market, hardwood helps homes stand out.

Why hardwood adds value:

  • Proven buyer appeal across decades
  • Perceived quality and permanence
  • Timeless aesthetic that doesn’t date
  • Refinishing potential appeals to long-term owners
  • Natural material aligns with Asheville buyer values

ROI expectations: Hardwood flooring typically returns 70-80% of investment at resale, better than most home improvements.

Luxury Vinyl Plank: Neutral to Positive

Quality LVP no longer hurts home sales the way old vinyl flooring did. Buyers increasingly accept LVP as a practical, attractive flooring choice.

However, LVP doesn’t add value the way hardwood does. It’s seen as a reasonable alternative, not a premium feature. Buyers won’t pay extra for LVP, but they won’t discount heavily either.

Where LVP works for value:

  • Bathrooms and kitchens where waterproof makes sense
  • Basements where hardwood isn’t appropriate
  • Rental properties where durability matters most
  • Budget-conscious renovations before sale

ROI expectations: LVP typically returns 50-70% of investment, reasonable for a practical improvement.

Engineered Hardwood: Strong Value

Buyers generally can’t distinguish engineered from solid hardwood. Both read as “real hardwood floors” in listings and showings.

Engineered hardwood provides hardwood’s value benefits at somewhat lower cost and with better climate performance for WNC. It’s a strong value choice for homeowners planning eventual sale.

ROI expectations: Similar to solid hardwood at 70-80% return.

Tile: Location Dependent

Tile adds value in bathrooms and entryways where it’s expected and appropriate. Quality tile in these areas signals attention to detail that buyers appreciate.

Tile in living areas can actually hurt value because it doesn’t match buyer expectations for those spaces. Cold, hard surfaces in family rooms and bedrooms feel wrong to most buyers.

Where tile adds value:

  • Bathrooms (expected and appreciated)
  • Entryways and mudrooms (practical and attractive)
  • Kitchens (acceptable, though LVP/hardwood often preferred)

Where tile may hurt value:

  • Living rooms (feels institutional)
  • Bedrooms (uncomfortable and inappropriate)

ROI expectations: 60-80% in appropriate locations, potentially negative in inappropriate areas.

Laminate: Neutral to Negative

Buyers recognize laminate as a budget alternative to hardwood. While quality waterproof laminate performs well, it doesn’t excite buyers or command premiums.

In competitive markets, laminate can make homes feel cheaper than comparable properties with hardwood or quality LVP. It’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s not a selling point.

ROI expectations: 40-60% return, better in starter homes than upscale markets.

Carpet: Highly Variable

Carpet affects value based on condition, location, and buyer expectations.

Where carpet helps:

  • New carpet in bedrooms (expected and appreciated)
  • Quality carpet in family rooms (comfortable, acceptable)

Where carpet hurts:

  • Worn or stained carpet anywhere (immediate turnoff)
  • Carpet in living/dining rooms (buyers expect hard surfaces)
  • Carpet in kitchens or bathrooms (major red flag)

ROI expectations: New carpet in appropriate areas returns 50-70%. Carpet in inappropriate areas may need replacement before sale.

What Asheville Buyers Specifically Want

Local market preferences matter more than national trends. Here’s what we see Asheville buyers prioritizing.

Natural Materials Appeal

Asheville’s culture values authenticity and natural materials. Real hardwood aligns with these values better than synthetic alternatives. Buyers who appreciate local craftsmanship and quality appreciate genuine wood floors.

Mountain Aesthetic Expectations

Buyers looking in the Asheville market often expect certain looks: warm wood tones, natural character, materials that feel connected to the mountain setting. Flooring that supports this aesthetic sells better than flooring that fights it.

Practical Performance Recognition

WNC buyers increasingly understand our climate’s challenges. Flooring that handles humidity well earns respect. Engineered hardwood’s stability isn’t a compromise here; it’s smart thinking that buyers appreciate.

Green Building Values

Sustainability matters to many Asheville buyers. American-made flooring from responsibly managed forests aligns with these values. We’ve built Leicester Flooring on American-made products partly because our community cares about these issues.

Investment Strategies for Different Situations

Your flooring strategy should match your timeline and goals.

Selling Within 1-2 Years

Focus on buyer appeal over personal preference. Choose flooring that photographs well and creates strong first impressions.

Recommendations:

  • Replace worn carpet with new, neutral carpet in bedrooms
  • Consider hardwood or quality LVP for living areas with damaged or dated flooring
  • Fresh tile in bathrooms with outdated floors
  • Don’t over-improve for your neighborhood’s price range

Selling in 3-5 Years

Balance current enjoyment with future value. Choose flooring you’ll love living on that also appeals to buyers.

Recommendations:

  • Hardwood in main living areas is a strong investment
  • Quality LVP in kitchens and bathrooms provides worry-free use and good resale
  • Upgrade carpet in bedrooms you’ll use and enjoy

Long-Term Ownership (10+ Years)

Choose what you want. Your enjoyment over a decade matters more than optimizing for a hypothetical sale years away.

Recommendations:

  • Buy the quality level that makes you happy
  • Choose materials that match your lifestyle
  • Value durability that will still look good when you eventually sell

Investment Properties

Prioritize durability, maintenance, and tenant appeal. Premium materials often don’t return their cost in rental pricing.

Recommendations:

  • Quality LVP throughout for waterproof, durable, easy-maintenance floors
  • Carpet only in bedrooms if required by market
  • Avoid materials that show wear quickly or require special care

The True Return on Flooring Investment

Calculating ROI on flooring involves more than comparing cost to resale value.

The Enjoyment Factor

You’ll spend years on your floors before any sale. Choosing flooring you love has real value beyond resale calculations. Don’t sacrifice daily enjoyment for marginal resale benefits.

The Avoided-Problem Value

Quality flooring that performs well prevents problems that affect value. Floors that warp, stain, or wear out create maintenance issues and deferred costs. Starting with quality avoids these problems.

The Staging Advantage

Great floors make staging easier and more effective. They create a canvas that shows well regardless of furniture arrangement. This staging flexibility has real value during sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does hardwood always add value?

In most situations, yes. The exception is extreme over-improvement. Installing premium hardwood in a modest home in a starter neighborhood may not return the investment because buyers in that market have price ceilings.

Will replacing carpet with hardwood increase my home’s value?

Usually. Buyers prefer hardwood to carpet in living areas. The value increase typically exceeds the cost difference, making this a sound investment for most sellers.

Does LVP hurt resale value?

Not anymore. Quality LVP is accepted by buyers as a reasonable flooring choice. It doesn’t add value like hardwood, but it doesn’t hurt sales either.

Should I replace floors before selling?

Depends on condition. Worn or damaged floors should be replaced or price-adjusted. Floors in good condition that simply aren’t your style may not need replacement. We help sellers evaluate these decisions.

What flooring is best for resale in Asheville specifically?

Hardwood tops the list for main living areas. Quality LVP works well in kitchens, bathrooms, and basements. New carpet in bedrooms satisfies buyers. Tile in bathrooms and entries is expected.

Does American-made flooring affect value?

For some buyers, yes. Asheville’s market includes many buyers who value local, sustainable, and American-made products. This differentiator won’t appear in appraisals but can influence buyer enthusiasm.

Make Smart Flooring Investments

The best flooring investment serves you now while protecting future value. For most Asheville homeowners, that means quality hardwood or engineered hardwood in main living areas, practical LVP in moisture-prone spaces, and comfortable carpet in bedrooms.

At Leicester Flooring, we help you balance current enjoyment with long-term value. Our 50 years in this market mean we understand what buyers want and what investments make sense.

Visit our showroom to explore options that fit your goals. Whether you’re selling soon or settling in for years, we’ll help you choose flooring that’s right for your situation.

Schedule your free consultation and let us help you make smart flooring investments.