I’m in the mood to get on my renovation soapbox this morning. Mostly I’d like to address the choice of floor covering.

It seems like every year there are new flooring options. Hardwood or engineered hardwood are the most luxurious. Luxury vinyl is taking the place of laminate, but for now I still believe hardwood or engineered hardwood is typically a better choice. My take on making a decision in a house but perhaps more for a condo is look to see what the neighbours are doing. When we as realtors look at the value of a home we look at the comparables. Equivalent space having been established the next criteria are kitchens, bathrooms, and flooring. In a building where everyone has hardwood or engineered hardwood I tend to discourage the use of laminate as that would not appreciate the value of the home when comparing to others. Also of importance if you are adding a new flooring to a room – try to match what is there and ensure the transition is smooth. I once saw a condo which had a total of 9 different types of floorings: not a good look. Professionally installed is always best as they know how to scatter the different lengths to create a good look. Of course, laminate should be used in a basement. Best use I’ve seen is where the ground floor and upper floor was hardwood and the basement had a similar colour laminate.

Then of course there’s the possibility of over improving. Choosing materials that are more luxurious than what is typically used in a building may not increase the value of your condo as much as you think. Unless you live in one of the more luxurious buildings in the city. If that is the case go ahead and throw a quarry of marble at your ensuite bath.

When making renovations for yourself get those Chinese red lacquer kitchen cupboards you’ve always wanted – but if you want to appreciate the value of your home and make it ready to sell call the Molly & Claude team for guidance.