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Own an Arizona southwest-style open floorplan home in a 55+ community built in 1994. Living/dining area is carpeted and lies immediately off a open 7' deep foyer and 3' deep hallway across the living/dining room area. Carpet was originally white and tile is 13" white porcelain. Only other carpet is in two bedrooms. We replaced carpet in hallway off the porcelain tile area as well as in my office off this same area a couple of years ago with contrasting light color tile with a border to tie the areas together (original tile no longer available. Don't think this replacement tile is still available either.) Have to replace the carpet eventually. Debating whether I should recarpet or would it be better to tile living/dining room area and replace the tile elsewhere. Know that would be more expensive then recarpeting, but wonder how many people today even use a formal living/dining room, especialy when our style of homes all have an "Arizona room" (or Florida room or "den") off the kitchen (we haven't used our area other than for occasionaly quick guest). Want to make house good for resale in a few years and not sure what new 55+ folks are looking for. Any idea, even if you're not familiar with this style, would be helpful. Thanks.
You might call a couple local realtors who are familiar with your community--they would be in the best position to know what appeals to buyers there. I know in general tile is popular in hot climates (with the possible exception that there are always some people who prefer bedrooms carpeted), but I'm not sure if 55+ home buyers might look for something different. (and it doesn't necessarily matter whether or not the people who buy the house would actually use those rooms or not...they will look at them anyway and if the type of flooring is something that is important to them, then the flooring could still factor into their purchase decision).
If you end up deciding to recarpet (and if the carpet's not in such horrible condition now that you can't stand looking at it for a couple more years) you might hold off and replace it shortly before you put the house on the market--brand new carpet is always a nice selling feature. Even people who would have preferred tile are not as likely to be turned off by brand new carpet.
