In today's real estate market, hardwood floors are a highly desired feature in a house. Potential buyers are often turned off by homes with carpeted floors because it's almost impossible to keep them clean. Time is not on your side when it comes to maintaining nice-looking carpeted floors!

No matter how careful you are, sooner or later someone's going to knock over a glass of grape juice or wine -- and that's only the short list of accidents waiting to happen! While dogs and cats can be a wonderful addition to any family, they are not a friend of floors -- either carpeted or hardwood.

In theory, hardwood floors are easier to clean than carpeting because of the absorbency factor. If your carpeting hasn't been treated with a stain-resistant chemical, it will quickly absorb stains, spills, and pet accidents faster than you can clean them up! Although the latest carpeting materials are much more stain resistant than earlier versions, spills that are not noticed and cleaned up quickly may cause permanent damage.

Spills, water, and pet urine can also wreak havoc on hardwood floors, so a quick response is essential to preventing damage. Here are a few other tips for keeping your floors looking clean and beautiful.

• Door mats can be helpful in minimizing the amount of dirt and grit that gets tracked into your home. What homeowners and even housekeepers sometimes forget is that door mats need to be shaken out on a regular basis. If they're not, dirt, soil, and other debris will accumulate on the mats, causing them to create more of a problem than a solution! Door mats need to be replaced periodically, too, when they become too worn down or wet to be of any use.
• Shoe removal: This is a difficult policy to enforce, but it will make house cleaning and floor maintenance easier and more effective. Whether you're talking about carpeting or hardwood floors, shoes are invariably going to track in dirt, grime, water, mud, and other miscellaneous contaminants!
• The right cleaning methods: Although it's always a good idea to follow manufacturer recommendations when cleaning any type of flooring, hardwood floors often need to be treated with more care than their carpeted counterparts. Since there are a lot of ways to scratch, dent, or gouge hardwood floor surfaces, it's crucial to avoid trying to scrub away spills or stains with any abrasive material. To remove potentially damaging grit, floors should be regularly cleaned with a soft dust mop or broom with soft bristles. Ideally, your vacuum cleaner should also be padded on the bottom to avoid scratching the finish of your wood floors.

Binge watching Fixer-Upper might leave you wondering where, in your locale, can you find you find those fantastic antiques and artwork without totally breaking the budget. Never feel, there are lots of options no matter where you live to add in some of those unique designer pieces.

Antique markets

Mastering the art of true antiquing is an expensive and time-consuming process. Training, research, practice, and pure luck stumbling on the perfect "find" might not be within your bailiwick. Wandering through local antique stores might leave you wondering how anyone affords this stuff. The antique mall, however, might be the ticket. A collection of small antique shops or stalls, you'll likely find better pricing there than a private antique store. That’s because two or more vendors may have the same or similar wares and they’re willing to haggle a bit to get your business.

Thrift stores

Bargains to be had at thrift stores are not just for lower-income households. Many thrift stores, especially those that benefit charitable causes, receive goods from upscale homes, leftovers from estate sales and the like. Are you looking for a collection of brass candlesticks? You'll probably score if you visit two or three thrift stores. It might take a little muscle to clean them up, but you'll have a look you want, and for less! 

Buy-back and overstock outlets

Not to be confused with an online retailer of the same name, a true overstock outlet or buy-back store purchases lots (as in by the pound) of out-of-season clothing and items returned to regular retailers in unsellable condition. In addition to clothing, you'll find housewares, dishes, linens and bedding, electronics, and random artwork, decorator items, and frames. It may take a little time, but a quick perusal through a local outlet every other week or so can net some significant finds for your home.

Garage sales

Who doesn't love a garage sale? Well, lots of folks, but you might find what you want. Some municipalities have city-wide garage sales, so check with your city's website to find out the dates in your town and other towns nearby. Plan for a day of it and you might find a treasure in someone else's junk.

Online Marketplaces

Upcycle, Facebook Marketplace, and Craig’s List are all places to look for those random pieces to finish out your décor. When searching, don’t limit yourself too specifically since the seller may not actually know the name of what they’re selling. Want a Hummel figurine? Try the word “statue” or even “knick-knack” when using the search function. Remember to take delivery of items in person in a safe location (or bring someone with you) and never give out a credit card number or send cash or wire transfers for items purchased from sites like these.

Your local real estate professional can be a resource for garage sale events or local thrift fairs and markets in your new community.