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Want to reveal that hardwood under your carpet? Or maybe you're ready to lay down new flooring? In either case, carpet removal by a professional adds significant cost to the project. Fortunately, removing carpet is something you can do yourself with minimal cost.

It does require a little upper body strength and some patience. So be ready to put your back into it. 

And know that carpet removal is a "no harm; no foul" kind of job. If you find it's more than you can complete, professionals aren't going to charge you more because you did some work before they got there.

What you'll need

Set aside at least two hours per room. But if you're new to a home project like this one, it might take longer.

Step one: pick a corner

If the carpet is coming up in a specific spot like next to the door, start there. While wearing your gloves and mask, try to pull it up from the edge. In some areas, sharp tack strips hold down the carpet. So be careful.

*Pro tip* Go into a wide stance and don't put all your strength into the tug to avoid falling over if it gives suddenly.

If there's no right place to start pulling or it won't give, carefully cut a 6" square into the carpet in the corner of the room. Then begin cutting and removing section by section. Be careful with the knife, especially if you want to preserve the flooring underneath.

Eventually, you'll get to a point where you can pull up a huge section.

Step two: deal with the carpet scraps

Fold and roll large pieces of carpet. Use duct tape to secure it for easy carrying. Then grab a friend to help you take it outside. Gather the smaller scraps and place them in a bin or dumpster.

Step three: remove the padding

The padding is tacked down with staples along the perimeter. The padding will already be shredded in places where you cut the carpet, so simply start pulling it up slowly. 

The staples should come up with it. But if any remain, you can get them up with a regular staple puller or something similar.

*Pro tip* If you need to use a prying tool, wear eye protection.

Now, repeat step two with the padding.

That's it. You're ready to have a professional lay new carpet or pull up your tack strips to lay a different type of flooring. 

For more fun, DIY-friendly projects, follow our blog.

For those who want to conduct a successful home search, it is important to plan ahead as much as you can. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to get ready to pursue your dream home and speed up your house search.

Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you reduce the time it takes to discover your dream house.

1. Craft Homebuying Criteria

Homebuying criteria allows you to narrow your house search. Thus, if you make a list of home must-haves and wants today, you may be better equipped than ever before to streamline your quest to find your dream residence.

You also should consider where you want to reside. Because if you can hone your home search to your preferred cities and towns, you should have no trouble discovering your ideal residence in no time at all.

2. Prepare a Budget

A homebuying budget is essential, especially for a buyer who wants to accelerate the property buying journey. Thankfully, banks and credit unions are available that can help you put together a property buying budget.

Set up meetings with banks and credit unions in your city or town. Then, you can review a wide range of mortgage options and receive expert responses to your home financing concerns and questions.

It often helps to consider costs you may encounter during the homebuying journey too. From house closing costs to home inspection fees, you'll need to be able to cover various expenses as you try to acquire your dream residence. But if you start planning for assorted homebuying costs today, you can ensure that you'll have the funds available to cover these expenses.

3. Hire a Real Estate Agent

If you are unsure about how to discover your dream home as quickly as possible, there is no need to worry. Real estate agents are available in cities and towns nationwide, and these housing market professionals will do whatever it takes to help you accelerate your home search.

A real estate agent is a homebuying professional who is happy to assist you in any way possible. He or she will craft a personalized homebuying strategy for you and help you narrow your house search. Plus, a real estate agent will set up home showings, help you weigh the pros and cons of different houses and ensure you can submit a competitive offer to purchase your dream residence.

Let's not forget about the assistance that a real estate agent will offer before you finalize your home purchase, either. A real estate agent can provide plenty of recommendations and suggestions to help you prepare for your home closing. Furthermore, he or she will go above and beyond the call of duty to help you minimize stress in the days leading up to your house closing.

Ready to acquire your ideal house? Use the aforementioned tips, and you can boost the likelihood of enjoying a fast, worry-free homebuying experience.