You bought the house. Now you need to make it a home. There's much to be done before the last paintbrush is cleaned and curtains get hung just so. Inspirational ideas and advice are yours for the taking as you explore this section.

Sell Your Home With Strategically Placed Artwork

Photography, oils, watercolor, posters: your walls say so much about you, sometimes even too much. Read the Article

Does Your Entrance Say Welcome or Walk Away?

Putting extra effort into your home's reception area will leave a lasting impression on potential buyers Read the Article

Great Kitchens Sell Homes

To sell your home fast, showcase your kitchen as a clean, modern, inviting and immaculate environment. Read the Article

Basement Renovations

Is adding the extra space worth it? Read the Article

Careful Landscape Planning Yields Big Payoffs

Landscaping projects can be a big commitment of both time and money. But by carefully planning your landscape design, you can make it come in on time and on budget. Read the Article

Building a Welcome Mat for Your Home

Your driveway should say, come on in. With proper installation, seasonal and setting considerations and the proper care, it's a great way to enhance your home and its character. Read the Article

Building Green from Basement to Rooftop

Creating an environmentally friendly home is not a simple exercise. It requires research, planning, design and execution. The secret to success is being able to make informed decisions. Read the Article

Choosing the Right Glass for Your Home

Windows are for more than just looking through. Putting energy-efficient glass in your windows can lower your heating and cooling bills significantly. Read the Article

Sellers need every advantage when showing their home to potential buyers. Because flooring is one of the first things that people notice when they enter your home, it’s a great place to invest maximum clout at minimum cost if you’re trying to improve potential resale.  

Are hardwood floors really worth it?

Hardwood is beautiful, durable, and complements virtually any style home. If your home is draped in wall-to-wall carpet, consider pulling it up and refinishing hidden hardwood floors. If you have sub-floor and can’t afford new hardwood, there are a number of less-expensive options, such as laminate, that resemble wood and will give the home a more polished appearance. Reconsider finishing your floors with carpet, as many buyers are moving away from petrochemical-based home furnishings.

Give existing floors some TLC

Potential buyers are weary of grout or other areas of existing flooring that are dirty and difficult to maintain. Cracked tiles, stained carpets, and any broken flooring should absolutely be repaired prior to showing your home. If replacing the entire floor is out of the question, replace individual tiles. If your goal is to improve existing hardwood, consider hiring a remodeling service that specializes in flooring.

Keep things clean

Seeing Hoover tracks criss-cross your carpets will leave a great impression on potential buyers. Before every showing, dust, vacuum, and mop your floors to make sure they shine. Also, you may be able to avoid replacing flooring if you give it a thorough cleaning. For dingy carpets, consider hiring professional carpet cleaners.

Cork, linoleum and other flooring options

New flooring choices are always entering the market and are perfect for redecorating. For instance, cork and bamboo are durable flooring products that last longer than carpets. Laminate flooring is a cost-effective solution when you can’t afford hardwood or carpet. Linoleum flooring works well to brighten up bathrooms and kitchens. If you’re working on a tight budget, talk to your sales associate and flooring experts about what options will work best.

Bring in the pros

We know weekend warriors really want to get their hands dirty with home improvements. But replacing flooring, especially hardwood, can be challenging and expensive. Almost anywhere, you should be able to source reliable remodeling companies that specialize in flooring. Consider hiring professionals for carpet and hardwood replacements. Remember, whatever the cost, new flooring is an attractive selling feature for a home, and you’lll almost always get a reasonable return on investment.