When it comes time to replace your carpet, you have a lot of choices to make. You obviously want to choose something you like, something that is comfortable and matches your style, a material that will last, and something within your budget. Beyond these vague criteria, here are some specifics that you should consider when buying carpet, in order to get the most bang for your buck.
Know your costs
When choosing a carpet and carpet installation company, you’ll want to look at EVERYTHING. Here are some costs that can sneak up and surprise you:
- Old carpet removal
- Carpet pad
- Moving furniture
- Disposal of old carpeting
- Extra labor costs due to oddly shaped rooms that take longer
It is recommended that you get a free carpet estimate from companies in your area, and ask about all the particulars. Check out the reviews, too. One place might offer the best rate, but have a reputation for changing things halfway through a project. Do your research, use thoroughly vetted companies, and see if you qualify for any special rates.
DIY
While carpet installation can be a drawn-out process and it is worth having a professional do it right, there are steps of the process you can do yourself and save some money. When you get your estimates, if you find there are costs for carpet removal, consider investing the time to complete that step yourself. This will also address any moving of furniture. Recruit some friends and make a project day of preparing the room for the carpet installers. Spring for food for the group and you’ll still have saved more than if you’d had a company do everything.
Always Choose Quality
As explored on this site, there are lots of ways to save money on home repairs. Most of these involve a slightly higher initial cost in order to save money in the future. More efficient technology costs more, but saves time and maintenance in the long run. The same goes for carpet. If you spring for carpet padding, you’re adding years to the life of your new flooring.
You can also buy flooring that won’t stain as easily, saving you money and time on cleaning. Choose materials that don’t emit VOCS and that are less likely to collect allergens. This will prevent you from needing to spend more on allergy medication, air humidifiers, and other health-related costs.
The aspects of your life that your carpet affect might be more than you think. After all, you’ll spend a lot of time in contact with it. It’s important to consider any foot impediments or tendencies you have when thinking about both the carpet and the underlying padding.
Hopefully this gives you some ideas about how to save money on your carpet replacement and what to consider. If you make the right decisions this time around, you won’t have to replace the carpet again for years and years to come.
Thomas Greeley blogs about home renovations, healthy life choices, and ways to save money. He enjoys moving around so that he can experience various types of people and lifestyles.
