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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto:\u00a0yann maignan<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Five years ago, homeowners would thumb their noses at the mere mention of vinyl flooring. <\/span>Often associated with cheap rental units or our grandparents\u2019 outdated kitchens, vinyl was deemed tacky. The only tasteful option was hardwood, and it came with a hefty price tag.<\/span><\/p>\n These days, luxury vinyl tile (LVT) is often considered a preferable alternative to hardwood. It\u2019s waterproof, scratch resistant, easy to clean and more affordable than hardwood. But is \u201cthe real thing\u201d actually falling out of favor with homeowners?<\/p>\n According to the results of a new survey from <\/span>Erie Insurance<\/span><\/a>, 9.2 percent of homeowners regret choosing hardwood flooring for their current homes. In fact, it ranked first in the list of home features homeowners wouldn\u2019t choose again if they were buying a home today.<\/span><\/p>\n\n Photo:\u00a0NeONBRAND<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n Granite countertops \u2014 once considered a must-have by every couple ever featured on <\/span>House Hunters<\/span><\/i> \u2014 came in second with 7.8 percent of respondents expressing regret. Natural stone requires regular maintenance, which could explain why engineered quartz is now rising in popularity. Stainless steel appliances ranked third at 7.6 percent (too many fingerprints, perhaps?), followed by fireplaces (7.4 percent) and decks (7.2 per cent).<\/span><\/p>\n The most common explanations for these reno regrets were: the features weren\u2019t worth the money, they\u2019re outdated, too hard to keep clean, or the homeowners have grown tired of them. When asked which home features they wish they\u2019d splurged on instead, homeowners pointed to walk-in pantries (30.2 percent), granite countertops (17.8 percent), kitchen islands (16.8 percent), tankless water heaters (16.4 percent) and finished basements (16.2 percent).<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n