Why it matters
Two reasons, and they pull in opposite directions. The first is age. A home "fully renovated in 2016" has carpet that is finished. That is not a defect, it is a clock, and it is a clean negotiation item because it does not require anyone to agree that anything is wrong. The second is what the carpet is doing there. Carpet is the cheapest way to cover a floor, which makes it the cheapest way to cover a problem: a stain, a patch, a burn, a bad repair. It is also, quite often, hiding something good. In older Canadian homes, carpet laid over original hardwood is common, and pulling it up can reveal a floor worth refinishing for a few dollars a square foot. Ask. The answer is free.
How to spot it
Matting and crushed pile in traffic lanes and on stair treads; ripples or waves (the carpet has stretched and needs re-stretching, or the underlay is done); dark shadows at the walls; and carpet running into a room where you would not expect it. Carpet in a basement is worth a second look: it is the material that holds moisture the longest and tells you about it the latest.
What it costs
Canada, 2026: $4.50 to $12.50 per sq ft supplied and installed, averaging around $7.25. Install labour on its own is $1.50 to $3.50 per sq ft in ordinary rooms and $4 to $6 per sq ft on stairs, which is why a staircase costs more than its area suggests.
What to do
Monitor. Price replacement per square foot on the rooms that need it, and ask the agent two questions: how old is the carpet, and what is underneath it?
Education and triage, not a home inspection. Casaroo prices carpet per square foot from your photos. What is beneath it, and whether it is dry, is a question for a person standing in the room. We flag; we don't inspect.