Do you recommend sellers pull up carpet, to expose and refinish hardwood floors beneath, in order to sell the home?
If there are hardwood floors hiding under old carpet, most buyers will see that as a win. The real question is whether it’s worth exposing and refinishing them before you list. In many cases, yes. Hardwood almost always photographs better, shows better, and feels more “updated” to today’s buyers. It also signals that the home has good bones, which boosts confidence.
That said, it depends on the condition of the wood. If the floors look great once the carpet comes up, a quick refinish can make the whole house feel brighter and more valuable. But if the wood is patchy, uneven, or damaged, you might be opening a can of worms that costs more than it returns.
A good middle ground is this. Pull up a corner of the carpet in a closet or low‑risk area and peek at what you’re working with. If the floors look promising, refinishing is usually worth it. If they’re rough, it may be smarter to leave the carpet and price accordingly. Buyers love hardwood, but they also love transparency and a home that feels well cared for.