Homeowners will often have a choice between hardwood floors and carpet at some point during their ownership. Carpet and hardwood floors are two very different products that can completely change the look and feel of a home. We think there are a few things you should know before you make a decision.

Hardwood floors and nice carpet are similar in price.

We often hear people tell us that they were thinking about going with carpet in a certain room because they thought that it was going to be cheaper. Low quality carpet can definitely be cheaper. The problem is that it's low quality. High quality carpet requires high quality padding to go underneath the carpet as well. The price can quickly escalate if you factor in the price of the padding.

Hardwood is easier to maintain.

Carpets need to be vacuumed constantly. Dust build up can make your family sick over time. Dust becomes a serious problem if you have pets in the house. Hardwood floors are fairly easy to maintain. A simple hardwood floor cleaner will keep your floors looking great for years to come.

The return on investment for hardwood is higher than carpet.

We see it time and time again - a customer puts new hardwood floors in a home or refinishes the old floors, and they put it on the market soon after we're done. Hardwood floors demand higher prices when you put that home up for sale. Buyers immediately notice hardwood floors when they walk into a room. Nice carpets can work in certain rooms, especially basements, but don't forget about the "wow" factor that a hardwood floor is going to give your home.