Thinking about selling your Virginia Beach home? If you recently purchased new flooring, you likely want to protect your investment. The right flooring can increase your resale value, attract more serious buyers and make your home stand out in a competitive market. Making the wrong choice can do the opposite.
At Artistic Flooring, we’ve been helping homeowners across Virginia Beach, Chesapeake and Norfolk make flooring decisions they won’t regret for over 30 years. Here’s what we tell them.
Why Does Hardwood Flooring Offer the Strongest Return on Investment?
If resale is your primary goal, hardwood flooring in Virginia Beach should be your top choice. Buyers recognize it. Realtors recommend it. Most importantly, it can be refinished so you don’t have to replace your floor before it’s time to sell. Sanding buffs out surface damage and a new stain can give your flooring a new lease on life.
Solid hardwood and engineered hardwood both appeal to buyers. Where do they differ? In Virginia Beach, many homes are built on slab foundations, making engineered hardwood the better option. It has real wood veneer that sits over a layered core that handles humidity fluctuations better than its solid counterparts.
Specialty hardwood installations like herringbone patterns, Brazilian cherry and custom parquet are also available, but come with a hefty price tag. That said, buyers remember them and they photograph well for online listings.
Want to invest in flooring specifically to improve your home’s value. Hardwood is the way to go and we carry a variety of options in our showroom.
Why Does Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) Bring Smart Value to the Right Rooms?
Hardwood is great, but you can’t install it in every room of your home. Kitchen, bathrooms, mudrooms and finished basements create challenges for hardwood flooring. These are the places where a quality luxury vinyl plank (LVP) can shine.
Over the years, modern LVP has come a long way. Vinyl flooring products with WPC and SPC cores are durable, waterproof and look like just real hardwood. These floors thrive in moisture-prone areas because of their waterproof core. As long as you don’t leave standing water, moisture can’t go through the seams and penetrate the subfloor.
Quality is key. Buyers and home inspectors will recognize the difference between premium LVP and a cheap big-box alternative. If you’re installing vinyl to improve value, it’s important to get it right.
Let us recommend the best approach. Hardwood is ideal for main living areas and bedrooms, while LVP is best for kitchens, bathrooms and utility spaces. It’s cohesive, practical and covers the whole home, making a strong first impression at every price point. Visit us or book an in-home consultation to browse our collection.
When Can You Use Carpet?
Carpet has its time and place. That said, it’s not as common as it used to be. Most buyers prefer hard surface flooring in living areas and busy spaces. Carpet is still a top choice in bedrooms and is a selling point for families who want a quieter, warmer feel underfoot where their kids sleep.
It’s more straightforward than you think. New carpet in bedrooms in good condition can help your home stand out in a positive way. Meanwhile, worn, stained or heavily pet-affected carpet anywhere in the home can be a deduction. If you’re getting ready to sell and your carpet needs replacing, don’t hesitate. Replacement is always worth it, even if buyers will eventually replace it again themselves.
Thinking about refreshing your floors before listing? Contact us to schedule a flooring consultation before it’s time to sell.
Why Does Nobody Talk About Installation Enough?
When it comes to home value, the product used comes up the most. Unfortunately, this means pushing flooring installation quality off to the side. That said, it matters as much as product selection.
For example, a properly installed mid-grade hardwood floor with proper subfloor prep, moisture testing and acclimation will outperform a premium product that’s installed incorrectly. Buyers may be able to tell what’s wrong, but they will feel it. Squeaky boards, uneven transitions and gaps between planks are red flags that bring negotiation to the closing table.
Subfloor and moisture testing are essential. Don’t look at them as an upsell — they are part of getting the job done right the first time.
What Are Virginia Beach Buyers Looking For?
Virginia Beach has its own set of unique demographics. These include:
- Military families re-locating to the area looking for finished, move-in ready homes
- Older couples living forever-home neighborhoods like First Colonial, Bay Colony and Great Neck investing in quality and longevity
- Realtors working here who point to flooring condition as one of the top factors affecting first impressions
Coastal humidity also makes a difference. Even the most beautiful flooring won’t last if you don’t account for moisture management. This can cause problems within a year or two, coming up in home inspections and killing deals. Choose a flooring professional who understands the market to avoid these issues.
Start With a Conversation Before You Commit
Flooring decisions without a clear plan cost more than they return. Before committing to a product, turn to the team at Artistic Flooring. We will walk through your space, assess your subfloor after you commit to working with us, discuss your timeline and help make an investment that will make the most impact.
Preparing to sell, finishing a renovation or want floors that hold their value? Visit our showroom or contact us to schedule your in-home consultation today!
