Short answer: yes. But the type of flooring matters a lot more than most people realize.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, or just want to make a smart investment, flooring is one of the highest-ROI upgrades you can make. It’s not like a fancy backsplash or a trendy accent wall. Floors are the first thing buyers feel when they walk through the door. They set the tone for the entire house.
Let me walk you through the actual numbers, what’s working in the Salt Lake City market right now, and where your money goes the furthest.
Hardwood: The King of Flooring ROI
The National Association of Realtors puts the ROI on hardwood flooring at around 118%. That means for every dollar you spend, you’re getting back a dollar eighteen at resale. That’s not a typo; it’s one of the few home improvements that can actually make you money.
Here’s where it gets even more interesting. Zillow data shows that homes with hardwood floors get an average of 261 daily listing views, compared to significantly fewer for homes without. More eyes on your listing means more competition among buyers, which means higher offers.
And then there’s the buyer premium. About 54% of homebuyers say they’d pay more for a home with hardwood floors. Not “might consider it”. they’d actually open their wallets wider. In competitive markets like Draper, Holladay, or the Sugar House neighborhood, that premium can translate into thousands of dollars.
If you’re doing hardwood specifically for resale, stick with classic species and colors. Medium-toned oak is basically bulletproof from a design standpoint. It photographs well, it appeals to the widest range of buyers, and it doesn’t scream “2019 farmhouse trend.” Engineered hardwood gives you the same visual impact as solid hardwood at a lower price point, and it handles Utah’s dry climate better. We covered this in depth in our engineered vs. solid hardwood guide.
LVP: The Practical Value Play
Luxury vinyl plank won’t give you the same prestige factor as real hardwood, but it brings something else to the table, strong practical appeal that buyers genuinely appreciate.
Today’s LVP looks remarkably close to real wood. We’re talking embossed grain textures, realistic color variation, and plank sizes that mimic the real thing. Most buyers walking through an open house in South Jordan or Lehi won’t be able to tell the difference at a glance.
Where LVP really shines for resale is in the story it tells. Buyers see waterproof, scratch-resistant, low-maintenance flooring and think “I won’t have to worry about this for years.” That peace of mind has real value, especially for families with kids and pets, which describes a huge chunk of the Utah market.
The ROI on LVP isn’t as well-documented as hardwood because it’s a newer category, but the anecdotal evidence from real estate agents along the Wasatch Front is clear: homes with quality LVP sell faster than homes with worn carpet or dated tile. And “sells faster” often means “sells for more” in a market where days-on-market directly affects final price.
For more on what you’d spend, check out our flooring cost breakdown for Salt Lake City.
Laminate: Modest Returns, But It Has Its Place
Let’s be honest, laminate flooring isn’t going to make a buyer’s jaw drop. But it’s not going to hurt your sale, either.
Modern laminate is a massive improvement over the shiny, plasticky stuff from the early 2000s. Good laminate with an AC4 or AC5 wear rating looks decent and holds up well to foot traffic. It’s a solid choice if you’re updating a rental property or flipping a starter home in areas like West Valley City or Kearns where buyers are more price-conscious.
The ROI on laminate is modest. You’ll likely recoup 70-80% of your investment. But here’s the thing: if you’re replacing heavily stained carpet with clean laminate, the perceived value jump in a buyer’s mind is enormous. Sometimes the play isn’t about the flooring itself; it’s about removing a negative.
If you’re weighing laminate against LVP, we break down the real differences here.
What Salt Lake City Buyers Actually Want
Every market is different, and Utah has some specific preferences worth knowing about.
Buyers along the Wasatch Front tend to favor warm, natural tones. The cool gray trend that dominated for years is fading. We’re seeing more demand for natural oak, warm walnut tones, and lighter wood-look floors that make spaces feel open and bright. This makes sense. Utah gets a lot of natural light, and warm floors play beautifully with it.
Open-concept living is still the standard here, and buyers want flooring that flows consistently through main living areas. One continuous floor from the entryway through the kitchen and living room makes a home feel bigger and more modern. It’s one of the simplest ways to make a dated floor plan feel current.
If you’re curious about what flooring trends are shaping Utah homes in 2026, warm tones and wide planks are leading the way. Waterproof flooring is also becoming a quiet expectation, not a bonus feature. Between muddy boots in the spring, snow tracked in during winter, and the general reality of family life, Utah buyers have learned to value floors that can handle moisture without drama.
When NOT to Replace Floors Before Selling
This might surprise you coming from a flooring company, but here’s the truth: replacing your floors before selling isn’t always the right call.
If your current floors are in good condition, don’t rip them out just because they’re not the latest trend. A well-maintained hardwood floor, even if the stain color is a little dated, still reads as quality to buyers. A deep clean and a fresh coat of polyurethane can work wonders for a fraction of the cost.
If you’re in a very hot market, buyers may plan to customize the home anyway. In neighborhoods where homes sell in days with multiple offers, you might not need to invest in new floors to get top dollar. The market does the work for you.
If your budget is extremely tight, there are other improvements that might give you a better return. Fresh paint, updated light fixtures, and deep cleaning can transform how a home feels without the cost of new flooring. If you can only do one room, focus on the main living area; that’s what buyers remember.
If you’re selling a fixer-upper, price-conscious buyers are going to rip out whatever you put in anyway. Save your money and price the home accordingly.
The Smartest Flooring Investment for Utah Homes
If I’m putting my own money into flooring with resale in mind, here’s exactly what I’d do.
For homes in the $400K-$700K range (which covers a huge swath of the Wasatch Front), I’d go with high-quality LVP in a warm oak or walnut tone. Install it throughout the main living areas, entry, kitchen, living room, hallways. You’ll spend less than hardwood, you’ll get a modern, cohesive look, and buyers will appreciate the durability story.
For homes above $700K, real hardwood is the move. Engineered hardwood in a classic oak or white oak works beautifully and handles our climate well. At this price point, buyers expect the real thing, and the ROI data backs it up. It’s the single upgrade most likely to pay for itself.
For rental properties or investment flips, quality laminate or mid-range LVP gets the job done without overspending. You want something that looks clean and modern, holds up to tenants, and doesn’t eat into your margins.
No matter what you choose, quality installation matters as much as the material itself. To understand what to expect during a consultation, we walk you through the full process. Poorly installed flooring, gaps, uneven transitions, visible seams, will hurt your home’s value no matter how premium the product is.
Want to figure out the best move for your specific home? We’ll come to you with samples, measure your space, and give you a straight answer about what makes sense for your situation and budget.
Ready to See What Works for Your Home?
We bring the showroom to you, free, no-pressure consultations across the Wasatch Front. We’ll help you pick the right flooring for your goals, whether that’s maximizing resale value or just loving your home more while you live in it.