Best selling features of a home!
If you’ve been thinking about selling your property, you could be wondering what the best selling features of a home are, from a buyer’s perspective.
Although opinions about what the best selling features of a home are may vary widely, it’s better not to assume so instead, let’s take a look at the stats. Please keep in mind that what is popular in one area can be different from one another, so it’s always best to speak to a real estate professional before investing in any renovations.
12. energy efficient lighting
Coming in at the bottom of the list, an average of 80% of buyers want energy efficient lighting when considering the best selling features of a home. It’s no surprise that a designer, or even a photographer, would tell you that the kind of lighting a home has is an important factor when it comes to the look/feel of a space. Homes with plenty of natural lighting and brilliant rooms will feel more open, bigger and most importantly, appeal to more potential buyers. This said, an average of 90% of the energy that traditional bulbs produce generate heat which will increase your utility bills and end up being pretty wasteful.
The good news?
If you want to upgrade the lights in your home, it can be done fairly simply and also affordably. You can pick up energy efficient LED bulbs at most big box hardware stores like Home Depot or RONA – or you can simply replace the energy burning lights that you may currently have. Yes LED bulbs can be more costly upfront, but they’ll save you money in the long run. AND, if you’re hoping to sell your home, this is an upgrade that may pay off in the long run since it’s one of the best-selling features of a home.
11.full bath on the main floor
This one may come as a surprise to you but one of the best-selling features of a home is actually having a full four-piece bath on your main floor! You may think that you only need a half bath or a powder room near the main living areas of a home, but in 2022, a lot of buyers (about 80% of them!) actually want full bathrooms close to the busier areas of their household. There could be a range of reasons for this unique real estate trend, but among them is that it’s easier for guests to feel more comfortable.
Now, I’m not necessarily suggesting that you spend tens of thousands of dollars renovating before you list your home, but since this is one of the top twelve best selling features of a home, you could consider investing in virtual staging to show potential buyers what is possible. This will give them a clear visual of the room and the homes potential. Best of all? This only takes a day or two to complete and considerably less money.
10.hardwood floors
If hardwood floors were popular before, it’s arguably even more popular during and following the pandemic when cleanliness has been top of mind. An average of 81% of buyers think hardwood floors in primary living areas are one of the best selling features of a home.In addition, the majority also like to see the same flooring in multiple rooms to give a smooth and seamless feel throughout the property. If you’re listing your home and already have hardwood flooring, this is a key feature to highlight.
Now, if you don’t currently have hardwood and are hesitant to make this kind of investment prior to listing, there are some other more affordable alternative such as laminate, luxury vinyl or wood looking tile that can offer the same look/feel but at a much lower cost.
9.ENERGY star rated appliances
When it comes to best selling features for a home, 81% of buyers agreed that ENERGY star appliances are appealing. They know that they will save money on their utilities and maintenance over time. This said, it’s no surprise that most home owners don’t want to replace their appliances before they move. If you have a no plans to move and are considering a reno, then this would be a wise investment that is bound to pay off down the road.
8. front poch
Another 81% of buyers are interested in a front porch. These were popular many years ago and have made a resurgence in popularity, likely because they add great functionality and curb appeal to a home. When it comes to the best selling features of a home, since this is an exterior home feature, what kind of value this may actually add can vary in part based on the climate of your location.
One way to look into this further is to run a search on homes that have been built recently and those that have recently sold in and around the price that you’d like to list. Do they have a front porch? And if so, has it been advertised as a selling feature? This is a good way to evaluate how important it could be in your particular situation. Porch or not, curb appeal matters so that is an important consideration to help attract buyers.
7.walk in pantry
There’s nothing worse than a kitchen that lacks storage so you can probably imagine how amazing it would be to find a kitchen with an abundance of it, namely with a walk in pantry. About 81% of buyers are interested in this as one of the best selling features of a home so having a designated, spacious area to store food and kitchen supplies/excess appliances is very valuable. If the home you’re in wasn’t built with a walk in pantry, it could be challenging to add it, but if there is an option to do so, it could pay off.
6.side by side kitchen sink
You may have noticed the design trends popping up recently with large farmhouse sinks, but this doesn’t mean it’s actually what most buyers want. In fact, 81% of buyers would actually prefer a large side by side sink.
5. patio
If patios were popular before, they’ve become even far more popular since the pandemic, since we’ve been restricted to our homes for such extended periods of time. Home owners, namely buyers, want a place to sit outside, enjoy their coffee or a glass of wine, entertain guests and spend time with family/friends. One simple way to increase the value of your home, if you don’t have it already, would be by building a patio. An average of 82% of home buyers list this as one of the best selling features in a home. Further, a similar number of home builders have also noted that landscaping is one of the most important exterior projects they are seeing this year.
If you think this is a project you want to tackle, it can be easier to do if they are built on the ground rather than raising them up like a deck. If your property has a scenic view, then this could add even more value!
4. energy star-rated windows
Earlier in this article, we discussed the importance of ENERGY star-rated appliances, and a little further up the list is ENERGY star-rated windows. About 83% of home buyers see these as one of the best selling features of a home since they can better regular a home’s temperature and save money on utilities. These are not a simple/cheap upgrade but if you’re remodeling, then it’s important to consider the long-term value of opting for them.
3. ceiling fans
I know what you’re probably thinking… ceiling fans! Although this sounds so simple, another 83% of buyers have noted ceiling fans as one of the top selling features for them. They are pretty inexpensive compared to other home upgrades and fairly easy to install, but can greatly improve the perceived value of a home. You can also make your home feel more luxurious by adding a fan-delier. These look like chandeliers but have the functionality of a ceiling fan.
2. exterior lighting
Now, this may not be something you hear about more commonly but great exterior lighting actually adds tremendous value when it comes to security and curb appeal. In fact, 87% of buyers have indicated that this is important to them and that they wouldn’t be happy with one dim light at the front door only.
If this is something you’d like to consider upgrading, take a look at what you have, determine if you need to hire an electrician or if you can simply upgrade the bulbs you have. You can and should also think about landscape lighting. This can add wonderful ambience, especially on your newly built patio ??
1.laundry room
I’m not talking about a washer/dryer jammed into the corner of a dark and dingy basement. No, another 87% of buyers have indicated that they want a room dedicated to laundry, ideally with some storage solutions (shelving, cabinets, drying racks), a built in ironing board on the wall, and space to fold clothes. If it’s possible to have your laundry room on the main floor or a room adjacent the bedrooms, this is even better.
Now that you have a better sense of the best selling features of a home, what do you think you’d consider incorporating in your own home? Did anything on the list surprise you?
Coming up next, let’s take a look at the most popular floor plans when it comes to the best selling features of a home. You probably won’t be surprised to see that 90% of buyers want an open floor plan in 2022. Specifically, 85% want an open floor plan between their kitchen/dining rooms, 79% between their kitchen/family rooms and 70% between their dining/family rooms.
About 94% of builders have actually indicated that buyers will continue to seek out multi purpose spaces. This could be a guest room that doubles up as the home office or a garage and workshop or home gym. Buyers are trying to find ways to maximize the square footage of their home in new ways, especially when they are contained to an average of 2,000 square feet.
In order of preference and priority, the best selling features of a home were ranked based on:
1. Laundry Room
2. Dining Room
3. Great Room
4. Home Office
5. Separate Living Room
Surprise, surprise, where are kitchens and baths? They are still important, but they may not be quite as important as they once were when it comes to how buyers perceive the overall value of a home.
And speaking of which, do you know what the top 5 most wanted kitchen features happen to be?
The best selling features of a home in terms of kitchens include a table space for eating, a central island to prepare food and for family/friends to congregate as well as drinking water filtration systems. In addition, double basin sinks and walk in pantries top this list as well.
When it comes to the exterior of the home, exterior lighting tops the list. In addition, the percentage of single family homes with patios has risen by 63% since 2021. Home owners have determined that having an outdoor living space is very important.
I’ve shared all of the features that buyers and home owners want. What about what they don’t want? This list is kind of fun!
The top 10 features that buyers seem to hate include:
- Elevators
- Glass walls
- An in-home daycare centre
- Wine cellar (I’m surprised by this one!)
- Pet washing station (not everybody loves dogs)
- A roof covered in plants
- A golf course
- In-law suite
- Cork Flooring
- Dual Flush Toilets
There are definitely a few on the list that surprised me for sure.
If you’re thinking about selling your home, or if you’re in the market to buy one, let’s talk! I can be reached directly at 647.896.6584, by email at info@serenaholmesrealtor.com or by filling out this contact form.
For lots of other great tips, let’s connect on social @serenaholmesrealtor and make sure you’ve subscribed to my YouTube channel.
