Whether you are selling your home to first-time home buyers, singles, professional couples, a young family, or retirees, most of them are looking for some of the features of the same home, along with a few special preferences that meet their specific needs. However, a lot of homeowners are sometimes hesitant to upgrade their homes when it is time to sell.
Homeowners who know what home features today’s buyers want will place themselves in a much better position when it comes to complete their home improvement project.
Knowing and recognizing what a home buyer is looking for can save a lot of valuable time on the real estate market and can also lead to a higher sale price. As a seller, there are things you may not be able to change easily in your home, but the more you know about what attracts home buyers, the more you can highlight those features in your marketing plans and by staging your home.
To help ensure the resale value of your home it pays to keep these things in consideration when planning a home improvement or renovation. Here’s what most home buyers are looking for in a home:
#1 A Separate Laundry Room is Ideal:
A separate laundry room topped the NAHB list of most-wanted home features for homebuyers all of the ages, from millennials to retirees. Having a separate room helps to keep the mess out of your living space. If your home doesn’t have an existing laundry room and wanted to add one, a portion of your basement or any dead space is usually the easiest and cheapest place to put it.
#2 Home Buyers Love Great Exterior Lighting:
Not only will great exterior lighting add to the curb appeal of your home, but it can also help grab potential homebuyers’ attention before they even set a foot in the front door. Aesthetics aside, exterior lighting also serves as an added security feature for your home. There a lot of ways to add extra lighting, which is very important since more than 90% of potential home buyers are looking for great lighting for a home.
#3 Buyers Desire Energy Efficiency (Appliances and Windows):
According to a study, around 91% of home buyers want an energy-star rating for the whole home, 94% want energy-star rated appliances and 89% want energy-star rated windows. Homebuyers are most likely to be impressed by properties with energy efficiency, such as these energy Star-qualified appliances and windows.
#4 Benefits of Garage Storage Space:
Homebuyers with growing families need plenty of storage space. You, as a seller, should ensure that any storage space is easily accessible and organized. Additional storage space in the garage will help keep clutter out of the living area of the home and be appealing to buyers.
#5 Families Love Eat-In Kitchens and Pantries:
Eat-in kitchens are a must-have for many homebuyers, especially for families with children. Not only does it provide a place for family and friends to hang out while dinner is being prepared, but the eat-in kitchen can also double as an additional food preparation area. Plus, the eat-in kitchen is not limited to one configuration or another, you can simply add a kitchen table and chairs for a breakfast nook or open floor space.
#6 Added Appeal with Indoor-Outdoor Living:
It is important for homeowners not to neglect the backyard area when preparing a home for sale. Many home buyers are looking for ways to incorporate the outdoors into their daily lives. When potential buyers see a home with a really nice backyard, they usually envision themselves sitting outdoors with friends having drinks. Outdoor areas offer more living space and increase the functional square footage of a home.