Ask yourself, “What’s the first thing you notice when walking into a home?”
Since most people look down before up, that first step is vital for attracting a home buyer and what you are stepping on can make a great first impression.
With so much inventory on the market these days, it’s as important as ever to make sure your home stands out when trying to sell. One thing that more people are considering in 2010 is flooring options, as more sellers are replacing rugs and conventional floors with hardwood flooring.

Real estate agents agree that carpeting does not impress potential buyers, but hardwood floors are always a draw.

A national survey conducted recently by the National Wood Flooring Association with real estate agents across the country found that nearly 99 percent of agents agree that homes with hardwood floors are easier to sell, 82 percent agree that homes with hardwood floors sell faster and 90 percent said that homes with hardwood floors will sell for more money.

“Residential real estate agents say homes with wood floors hold their value better, sell faster, and fetch higher prices,” said NWFA executive director Ed Korczak. “Hardwood flooring enhances the look of any room and many homebuyers scour old houses looking for original hardwood flooring underneath.”

The American Hardwood Information Center agrees that adding or restoring hardwood flooring in the home is one of the best long-term investments to be made.

“Hardwood floors are environmentally friendly, forever fashionable, and will last for generations,” said Pembroke Jacobs, President of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association. “With an expected life span of up to 100 years for certain premium hardwood flooring, you are assured that that hardwood really is a one time investment with a very long term payoff.”

Engineered wood floors impart warmth, depth and richness to a home’s decor that cannot be matched by carpeting, tile or vinyl flooring.

“A variety of woods and finishes are available to complement the decor and style of any room,” said Omaha floor designer Ira Perkins. “Maple and oak are the most popular woods, but some homeowners are investing in exotics such as Brazilian cherry and Purpleheart.”

Whether or not to go with unfinished or prefinished hardwood is a matter of personal preference according to the experts, as they both have advantages.

“If you are trying to match the existing woodwork, an unfinished floor can be stained to blend with the woodwork,” Perkins said. “However, prefinished also has some great benefits such as longer finish warranties, uniform stain application, and a cleaner environment.”

Though wood floors will probably need to be refinished at some point, when properly taken care of they are much easier to maintain.

“Today’s wood floors are easy to take care of. Routine maintenance of today’s hardwood floors is a breeze,” Korczak said. “In the past few decades, tremendous strides have been made in the industry with finishes, and you no longer need to get down on your hands and knees to clean and wax a wood floor.”

The NWFA recommends regular sweeping of hardwood floors with a soft-bristle broom or dust mop to remove surface dirt and debris. If your floor contains beveled edges, it recommends using a vacuum with a soft bristle brush attachment to remove dirt and debris from between the floorboards.

Also, within the event a scratch does appear, Korcza said, it will only add character towards the floor.

Remember, potential house buyers often consider hardwood floors to become a make or break item, so when selling your home, you’ll see that the correct type of flooring can mean everything to individuals.