What kind of carpet should I install? (Austin, Howe: hardwood floors, houses)

[badhornet]

Red shag baby!!!!!

Yeaaaahhhhhh!!!!!

[milytaylor]

I agree with offering a flooring allowance. That allows the new owners to pick what they want (tile, stained concrete, carpeting...)

[homeinatx]

Learn your ABC's - anything but carpet. Austin is allergy central. Carpet is cheap and nasty: dust trap, allergen trap, filthy fast and ugly - hardwoods, stone, concrete, bamboo, even linoleum look better , plus they are easier to keep clean and look better! The advice about flooring allowance is good, but why anyone would want carpet in a house in Austin is beyond me. An invitation to mold. Revolting!!

[Taterhead]

Good to know about the short shag stuff, I was going to get that since it seems to be "IN". Does anyone have a good carpet person they use? or maybe a good hardwood floor guy.

Debbie

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by Taterhead

Good to know about the short shag stuff, I was going to get that since it seems to be "IN". Does anyone have a good carpet person they use? or maybe a good hardwood floor guy.

Debbie

The frieze is shorter shag that costs more . But seriously folks, carpet ain't all that bad...it's up to the owner to keep it clean. We pulled up 4 year-old beige frieze from our master and it looked great! Even the padding still looked new...gave it away to a very happy DIY remodeler. Two years later, pulled the frieze from the office and it looked 'fair'.(Not a speck of mold in either case) It provides cushion, hides imperfections of various types, and certainly cuts down on noise transferred from upstairs to down.

Frieze seems to be closing in on a decade of popularity but I haven't seen anything 'replace' it, yet. DW is a designer and wants to avoid frieze(for some applications) but it is likely to stay around a while.

Of course, things go in cycles...someone mentioned sisal...only been around as a floor covering for a few hundred(or thousand) years!

Heck, you can carpet a room for about what a really good paint job would cost.(Buying your carpet 'smartly', of course) Then, you've got a brand new looking room!

[DenverBrian]

Originally Posted by homeinatx

Learn your ABC's - anything but carpet. Austin is allergy central. Carpet is cheap and nasty: dust trap, allergen trap, filthy fast and ugly - hardwoods, stone, concrete, bamboo, even linoleum look better , plus they are easier to keep clean and look better! The advice about flooring allowance is good, but why anyone would want carpet in a house in Austin is beyond me. An invitation to mold. Revolting!!

Nice job indicting about 500,000 Austinites.

[atxcio]

Originally Posted by milytaylor

I agree with offering a flooring allowance. That allows the new owners to pick what they want (tile, stained concrete, carpeting...)

I'm going to disagree a little.

To a buyer, allowances and stuff all kind of fall into the category of negotiating price. In other words, they are going to get that anyway if they do any of the typical haggling.

A new carpet, on the other hand, effects the immediate impression of the home when you walk in -- a big part of selling the home, as they won't have much to go on EXCEPT that first impression. It will be new, recent style, immaculate and make the house smell "remodeled" or "new" with that new carpet smell. That can make a big impression. And you don't have to spend too much on the carpet -- just get a good style, decent quality. No need to spend $$$ on 10 year warrantied brands or stain guards or anything. The new homeowners might replace it anyway.

So it may end up being $2K-$4K spent that will get you offers much quicker, assuming nothing really bad is wrong with the rest of the house. More offers mean less negotiating and price drops.

One quick tip if you do get the carpet replaced -- it is my opinion that you shouldn't leave a home completely empty when you sell it. So a couple of items, like a lamp or couch or chair should be present in the rooms. It gives the buyer a sense of scale and orientation. Not saying you need to spend the $$$ to stage, but optimally you should not leave rooms completely empty or completely cluttered.

[XLadylawX]

We just moved into a house that has tile everywhere but the bedrooms. Considering installing carpet in the main living areas because my ankles and knees are starting to ache from constantly walking on a hard surface. Seriously disenchanted with tile.

[G Grasshopper]

Originally Posted by XLadylawX

We just moved into a house that has tile everywhere but the bedrooms. Considering installing carpet in the main living areas because my ankles and knees are starting to ache from constantly walking on a hard surface. Seriously disenchanted with tile.

In the meantime, would some well cushioned slippers and a gel mat in the kitchen help? I know what you mean. I have had many backaches from standing in a tiled kitchen.

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by XLadylawX

We just moved into a house that has tile everywhere but the bedrooms. Considering installing carpet in the main living areas because my ankles and knees are starting to ache from constantly walking on a hard surface. Seriously disenchanted with tile.

DW(the designer) likes the tile but we have quite a few areas covered with oriental rugs or cowhides. The cork flooring in the master and office is a nice compromise material...solid surface but forgiving. "Life's too short to have aching feet!" You may quote me on that!