Here’s a crazy idea, new homeowner: Before you get fully settled into the house you just purchased, take a look at the floors. Are they mismatched? Dated? Grungy? Banged up? If so, now’s a great time to invest in some fresh flooring.

“It’s better to knock out all of the flooring replacement at once,” says Jennifer King, a top-selling real estate agent in Ephrata, Pennsylvania.

“One of the huge trends that’s changed in my years in the business is that everybody wants all the flooring the same, everybody wants the model home experience.”

Once you go on that furniture shopping spree and fill up your rooms with big tables, dressers, couches, and bed frames, this upgrade becomes a much bigger pain than it needs to be. Right now, you’ve got the luxury of working with a blank canvas.

With so many materials, colors, and finishes to choose from (not to mention price points ranging from $3 to $18 per square foot!) we’re here to help you narrow down your options based on which flooring types add the most value and work best for your house.

3 factors to factor into your flooring decision

You’ll need to repair, level, or remove your existing flooring before you can install your new material. The time and cost it takes to remove the existing flooring will impact your total installation costs.

2. The inconvenience of installation

Different flooring types take longer to install than others, which means more time before your house is ready to move in. For example, if you opt for ceramic tile, there will be a 24-hour waiting period in between installation and grouting. Solid hardwood floors require acclimation on site before installation.

The size and shapes of your rooms will also impact the installation timeline. If your rooms are straightforward boxes, installation is relatively simple. But if your home has lots of nooks, crannies or complicated architecture (like curved walls or stairs) that require specialty cuts, expect the installation to take longer and cost more.

3. Your home’s price point

“Your home’s price point plays a role in which flooring type will add the most value,” explains King. “In our area, vinyl or laminate flooring is fine for homes at the median value or below. In higher value homes, buyers expect to see hardwood, stone tile, or luxury vinyl plank.”

The flooring you choose needs to be on par with the value of your home. In fact, the value can actually decrease if you install high-end flooring like marble in a mid-range home, so choose wisely—preferably based on the advice of a real estate professional.

Great flooring options to increase your home’s value

You just can’t go wrong with a classic. The polished hardwood floors so popular in American homes today started being produced in mass as early as the late 1800s and have stood the test of time. According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights Survey for Q1 2019, installing new wood floors costs $4,338 on average, but will boost your home value by $6,555 for a 51% ROI.

Wood floors are also durable, easy to clean, and retain their value over a longer time period than other flooring types (like carpet). It is true that wood flooring is prone to scratches, dings or chips, and the material is vulnerable to water damage — however, you can avoid these issues with proper care and maintenance.

1. Solid hardwood floors

In this day and age, almost anything can be made to look like wood flooring, but solid hardwood is the only genuine article. A floor can only be called “real wood” if it’s made from a solid piece of wood from top to bottom — no layering. (We’ll cover engineered hardwood next).

Take your pick from a wide variety of species each with its own unique hue and grain pattern, including oak, hickory, maple, and heart pine.

Why you’ll love it: 

• You can sand and refinish hardwood many times, giving you the ability to make your gorgeous floors look like new right before you sell for amazing marketability.
• Solid wood floors improve indoor air quality because they don’t trap allergens or microorganisms.
• Hardwood is a top environmentally-friendly floor material because of its durability; with proper care, your kids’ kids will enjoy your hardwood floors.
• Hardwood increases your home’s value more than any other flooring type. In fact, 54% of buyers are willing to pay $2,080 more for hardwood, according to a study of homebuyer preferences from USA Today based on data from the National Association of Realtors.

Where to put hardwood: Living rooms, bedrooms, hallways, dining rooms

Examples of what to buy:

Beartooth Mountain Oak from Lumber LiquidatorsPrestige Natural Maple from Home DepotAmerican Spirit Molasses Hickory from Floor and Decor

Average costs: $3 to $14 per square foot depending on species, cut, and finish

2. Engineered hardwood

Engineered hardwood floors are also made from real wood, but they’re comprised of layers with only the top layer, or veneer, being cut from a top quality, solid hardwood like oak, or maple.

“Engineered wood has become popular because it’s more affordable than hardwood. It will add value to your home as long as it’s kept in good condition,” says King.

Aside from affordability, the biggest benefit of engineered wood is that it expands and contracts less than solid hardwood, making it ideal for basements.

Why you’ll love it: 

• Engineered wood is a more affordable wood flooring option that adds a similar home value boost as real hardwood.
• You can easily sand and refinish engineered wood (though not as many times as solid hardwood).

• Engineered wood is less susceptible to water damage than solid hardwood, making it a better option for bathrooms and kitchens.

Where to put engineered wood: Throughout the whole house, including bathrooms, kitchens, and basements (Note: engineered wood will need extra maintenance to keep them in good condition in areas prone to dampness).