Shopping at a Specialty Floor Retailer Can Actually Save You Money

With the state of the economy, every dollar counts. In flooring, that’s only amplified by the frequency of purchases. On average, you will only buy flooring 2-3 times in your lifetime. This is a purchase you have to live with for a long time so you want to make sure you are satisfied! That’s why it’s more important than ever to have the proper guide. It’s time for some straight talk about where to find the best service.

So how do you to size up a flooring sales professional? All are not created equal. Beware of the sales people who also works in paint, plumbing or lumber department. My advice is to start with a flooring retailer when making such an important and expensive purchase. You want the expertise and that comes with specialty.

While we’re on the topic of specialty, let me take a moment to bust a myth:

shopping with a retailer who deals in floors only does not equate to a higher price. There are groups of us who pool our buying power to bring you great deals. In many cases, shopping with a bonafide flooring guru costs you less!

Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way, this list is designed to be a litmus test for finding the best of the best—a true flooring professional.

If you aren’t asked these questions, y-o-u aren’t top of mind in the shopping process.

1. Your “wants,” not just your needs. You will live with this floor for a long time. It is important to feel like your flooring professional listens first before making suggestions.
2. The project you are working on. Which rooms are you remodeling, and what are your style and color preferences?
3. Your dream room. What would it look like?
4. Your family and lifestyle. Do you have children or pets? Are you active at home?
5. The floor you are replacing. What do you like or dislike about your existing floor?
6. Your research. Have you seen a floor that you like or would like to know more about?
7. The layout of your room. Sketch the room sitting at a design table.  It is important to know the traffic patterns, and where the windows and door are located in the room.
8. The types of products you have considered. A good flooring professional can suggest a genre and explain why they are suggesting a specific type of floor. For example, why hardwood might work better than tile in your house.
9. Warranty information. A reputable operation will give you all warranty information on material and labor in writing.
10. Your schedule. They should offer to come to your home and give you a free estimate on the floor you have selected. It’s easier to deal with one person instead of 3 to 4 trying to give you a price.

Renee LeCroy is the Flooring Expert at Don's Carpet One in Birmingham, AL. For 17 years, she's been the consumer's in-store advocate, decoding the flooring industry and offering insider advice. Contact Renee via email.