Without a doubt, real hardwoods will bring more value but if you're doing it just to sell it quick, it's probably not worth it. I have seen investors using hardwoods in homes that are being flipped now because they got the house so cheap and had to make a lot of upgrades anyway. In this case the hardwood pays for itself. Sounds like you are going to stay for at least 10 years, so the best advice is that any improvement you do is worth it if you are going to live there for 10 years and you are going to enjoy the upgrade yourself.

Wed Jun 4 2008, 08:59

I am going to give a short answer: hardwood! Every client I am getting lately wants hardwood. Lamanent Hardwood is okay to for them. I home with carpet is out everytime...interesting trend!

Tue Jun 3 2008, 11:19

Nancy...(posted 5/5/8 5:42pm CST MONDAY)
Your question was, "For a $350-430k neighborhood in Clear Lake, Houston, TX, what is a better flooring choice? Tile or wood?". For resale value consistency is important....use a similar color throughout (this applies to wall paint as well as floor coverings). However, left me say this....think about how your family or others would use each room. For example, for bedrooms I suggest carpet (neutral...no trendy stuff, no commercial types either). Why? Because, generally, you want to deaden the sound and provide non-slip surfaces (for both old and young alike....safety and comfort any day). Not to mention eliminating getting out of bed and putting your feet down on cold floors or dust bunnies/dog hair floating around...Who would want that! For downstairs, the beauty/diversity of wood tends to attractive more folks long-term wise. Wood flooring (laminate or real wood) would be something to use in LR, DR, KITCHEN, ENTRY FOYERS, CLOSETS, etc. People say that for laminate you can't get out dog / kid scratches, even if you lightly buff the area. For real wood you can strip, sand, restain with better results and wearability. Ceramic or mosaic tile, like those used in bathrooms/wet areas/laundry rooms, may appeal to some for ease and use, but it has a tendency to 'echo sound'. Plus, if you need to replace a few tiles, often even if you buy extras during installation to have on spares on hand, ... a single replaced piece often looks 'off'. (A lady I knew had put down a beautiful Mexican rust-colored ceramic tile in her living room. She had cracked an existing piece and had it replaced...only to find the 'new tile' didn't match the rest of the original floor. Over time, the sunshine had come through her sliding glass door and faded her furnishings and flooring. Her fix: put a carpet over the ceramic tile in the center of the room.) House decorating/remodeling should be done with great care as to not over improve the home for the neighborhood area sales 'COMPS'. Classy is nice, but come resale time your choices should be 'in line' with what is expected for the area. Best choices for updating/remodeling: similar wall paint (within 2 shades of same color), similar flooring, updated light fixtures, kitchen cabinet hardware/door pulls, spacious/clean bathrooms, increase storage capacity (closets/shelving). For cosmetic fixes: front yard landscaping; fresh exterior paint. Lifestyle choices: back yard entertainment areas - outdoor kitchen/grill/light torches; patio dining sets; tranquil flowers/meditation place; spot for the family pet/kids play fort. Check out the website link listed below this message for helpful decorating tips. I wish you the best. I'm here to help you anyway I can -- just call or email me: Karen Savage, REALTOR, Keller Williams Realty/North(west)--Hwy 290/FM1960 area near Willowbrook Mall; 8300 FM 1960 West, Suite 310, Houston, TX 77070, direct: 281-813-9769; office: 281-664-8300,x3004; http://www.KarenSavage-Realtor.com. (You got a friend in Texas! We aim to please! Your Greater Houston, Texas source for everything real estate.) Information provided is for consumer educational purposes only. Please consult a legal professional for advice that applies to your unique circumstances.

Mon May 5 2008, 16:23

Nancy,

One thought is that you may want to look at what's on the market now and pending in that price range in your neighborhood. When people come to look later when you go to sell, that will likely be what is in the area generally overall and what buyers in the area will expect.

The one thing I would give some more consideration to is having hardwood flooring in a wet area like a kitchen, bath, etc.

Handscraped hardwoods could help with the issue with the doggy.

You can ask an appraiser what your house is worth now and what it would be worth when you do the improvements and if you're overimproving for the area.

Best wishes,
Terri

Fri Apr 11 2008, 18:29

I am a home inspector in Houston and I look at hundreds of houses a year including brand new and resale. I can tell you that trends change quickly, so ultimately it’s what’s right for your family. The builders in Clear Lake seem to be installing a lot more tile than wood, but still are putting wood in the study and formal areas. We see only a few houses with wood floors in the upstairs bedrooms. If you have a large dog, though you might consider having real wood flooring instead of the engineered wood. That way when you go to sell you have the real wood floors screened or even sanded and refinished if necessary to get scratches out. The makers of some engineered products advertise that they can be sanded lightly, but I haven’t seen good results from personal experiences. I hope I have been of some assistance in answering your questions. Good luck and if I can help you when you make your decision please look me up at http://www.wildcatinspections.com/.

Tue Mar 18 2008, 07:21