I have shown numerous homes where the seller promises a carpet allowance at the closing.  When they do this, they acknowledge even before a buyer walks in the door that the flooring is bad and that’s not a good first impression to make!

When the carpet is frayed at the thresholds, if it has stains, if it’s worn out, if it’s an ugly color… go ahead and replace it if you can rather than promising an allowance.  Buyers fear the carpet allowance won’t be enough to replace the entire flooring (including costs of moving furniture, disposing of the old carpet pad and rug, the nail strips, etc.) so they are less likely to consider viewing the home much less making an offer!

There are carpet stores that offer six months same as cash for sellers who don’t have the money to pay up front.  There are builder-grade carpets that won’t cost as much as what the rest of us prefer, but they wouldn’t necessarily be the buyer’s choice of carpet.  And that’s the exact rationale so many sellers use, “The buyers should be able to pick their own carpet.”

While that’s true, you have to get them in the house to begin with and that’s very difficult if there are pet stains present, spilled koolaid from the kiddos, or – again – frayed edges.

Don’t wait.  Replace the flooring if you can BEFORE the home goes on the market.  It will be a huge help in reducing the number of days the home sits on the real estate market.