Increasing home value with hardwood floors

How hardwood helps your home value

• Higher resale value: Hardwood floors can raise a home’s value by about 2.5% to 5%.

• Strong return on investment (ROI):

  • New hardwood typically returns 70–80% of what you spend.

  • Refinishing existing hardwood can sometimes return close to 100% or more of the cost.

• Buyer appeal: Around 80–90% of buyers prefer hardwood, and homes with hardwood often sell faster.

What matters most

• Refinishing vs. new install: If you already have hardwood, refinishing is usually the best bang for your buck.

• Local market: In many Midwest markets (like Ohio), buyers still strongly favor hardwood, especially in living rooms and bedrooms.

• Quality & consistency: Matching hardwood across main living areas helps more than just one room.

When it may NOT be worth it

• Very high installation costs in a lower-priced neighborhood

• Installing hardwood right before selling when cheaper updates (paint, refinishing) would give similar results