🏡 That Carpet Might Be Why Your Home Isn’t Selling

Flooring Choices Can Impact Buyer Interest—and Your Final Sale Price

If you’re preparing to sell your home, you might find yourself asking:

“Will buyers be interested in my house?”

Surprisingly, one of the biggest factors that affects that answer is your flooring—especially carpet.

On HGTV’s Unsellable Houses, a home with floral-patterned carpet was flagged as a major buyer turn-off. The hosts explained that bold styles like that, while expressive, often feel outdated or “too personal” to today’s buyers—and should be replaced before listing.

❌ Why Buyers Avoid Carpet (Especially Patterned Ones)

While patterned carpet may reflect your style, buyers often see it as a red flag. Flooring expert Yuri Grakovski notes:

“Today’s buyers want move-in-ready homes. Old carpet signals renovation.”

Millennial and Gen Z buyers, in particular, tend to view carpet as allergen-prone, pet-smelly, and hard to clean. These buyers overwhelmingly prefer hard flooring.

✅ What Flooring Do Buyers Want?

• Hardwood – Still the top resale winner. Light, natural tones like oak, maple, and hickory are most popular.

• Engineered Wood – Looks like hardwood but resists moisture better and costs less.

• Luxury Vinyl Plank (LVP) – A modern favorite. Waterproof, scratch-resistant, and mimics wood or stone beautifully.

• Tile – Popular in warm, humid climates and for kitchens, bathrooms, and Florida rooms.

💵 How Much Does Carpet Replacement Cost?

• Carpet Removal: $1–2 per sq ft

• Haul Away: Extra charge

• Subfloor Repairs: $500–$2,000 if there’s damage from pet urine, mold, or squeaks

🧼 Clean or Replace?

• Professional Carpet Cleaning: $200–$400, but often ineffective if the carpet is over 8 years old, stained, or smells.

• Full Replacement: Average cost $3,000–$6,000

  
  

  → Could increase your listing price by $10,000–$15,000

In short, old carpet doesn’t just affect appearance—it affects the entire impression of cleanliness, air quality, and move-in readiness.

If you update just one thing, start with high-traffic areas like the living room, kitchen, and hallway using modern LVP or hardwood. In bedrooms, neutral-tone carpet can still work.

✅ In Summary

“Why aren’t buyers showing interest in my house?”It might be that floral carpet from 15 years ago.

In today’s competitive market—especially in inventory-tight Chicago suburbs—the first impression is everything.

Updating your flooring could be the difference between sitting on the market and selling fast.Want to strategize what to keep and what to upgrade? Let’s talk.

📞 Let’s update your listing from the ground up.

Call Hansang Chul at Chicago Bokdeokbang: 773-717-2227

📧 ChicagoBDB@gmail.com