Cooperative Living May 2022 - 20

FIXER UPPER
Steps of Faith
Novoa agrees. " Flooring can
by Les O'Dell, Contributing Writer
Finding the right flooring for your home sale
L
et's face it.We don't give our
floors much respect.We put them
down, walk all over them and
treat them dirty.
But when it comes time to selling
our homes,Mark Novoa says we need
to show our floors some love.
" Flooring is one ofthe main
components ofa home, " says Novoa,
owner ofGround FX Flooring, a
Midwestern flooring supplier and
installation company. " When you walk
into an empty room, you've got paint,
there are the finishes - things like
baseboards and trim-and the floors.
They are important. "
Novoa points to a full range of
flooring to prep your home for a sale,
ranging from hardwoods and carpeting
to tile, decorative epoxies and concrete.
He says laminate waterproofflooring
is also a popular alternative.
" It's not as expensive as hardwood
and comes in a variety ofstyles and
colors and is very durable, " he says. " In
a lot ofrural areas, it is a very good
choice-places where you need a petproof,
kid-proof, flooring option where
you can come in dirty and not worry
about staining or scratching the floor. "
WHERE TO FLOOR
The decision to replace floors involves
more than making a choice ofmaterials.
Sellers also must decide which rooms
need new flooring.
" You can't go wrongwith installing
floors throughout the main level ofa
home, including the kitchen, " says
Jonathan Faccone ofHalo Homebuyers in
Bridgewater Township, N.J. " With many
people favoring the open-concept look,
running the same flooring throughout
the space helps provide a roomier feel. "
transform the look and feel ofa space.
It's an important component; something
to be done so a buyer doesn't have to
worry about it. It should be done
tastefully and well-done to be move-in
ready, " he says.
Carpet remains a popular selection
and has several benefits. It can hide
imperfections in the floor and is one
ofthe least expensive choices.
" Ifthe carpet smells like pets or is
dirty, it should be professionally cleaned
or changed out. Ofcourse, you can offer
a carpet allowance, but that doesn't
change the perception, " says Jason Gelios,
author of " Think Like a Realtor. "
" When you replace the carpet, you
will get a better price for the home and
you won't get lowball offers because the
buyer has stained carpet in mind. "
ST ⁄P A
Some real estate agents, including
Jimmy Whaley ofWhaley Realty in
Americus, Ga., suggest sellers leave
flooring decisions to the new owners.
" As long as floors and especially
carpet are in good shape, I don't
recommend changing them out because
buyers have their own ideas and their
own preferences, " he says. " Ofcourse,
that is unless you have '70s shag
carpeting or ifit is stained or stinks. "
Novoa says to really make an
impression, don't forget the garage floor.
" Believe me, there is nothing more
impressive than hitting the garage remote
on a house you are showing and as the
door is lifting, it reveals a professional
industrial-grade finish on the floor, "
he says. " It is almost like adding an
additional living space. My refrigerator
is out there, the freezer is out there and
ifI'm hanging out with my buddies,
we will go out to the garage. " 
Les O'Dell is a multimedia reporterfor
The Southern Illinoisan andafrequent
contributor to Illinois Country Living.
18 ● Cooperative Living ●
May 2022
co-opliving.com
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY NATIONAL WOOD FLOORS ASSOCIATION
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living May 2022

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