What are buyers really looking for in a home?

Whether you are considering completing some home improvement projects for resale value or know that the current home you own isn’t forever, it is important to know about what buyers are looking for in a home when you are buying a home.  After all, in order to compete in a market with fewer buyers, your home will need to have the features that buyers feel are essential when you are ready to sell.  If your home ownership of your current abode is short term, then investing money into it may have you pause for a moment while you wrangle with what is a good investment and what may not.  

The National Home Builders Association recently completed a survey that showed that while buyers are willing to forgo square footage, there are some home features that are on their must have lists.  The trend of smaller homes is a reflection of changing buyer priorities as well as the affordability of housing.  While buyers may be willing to sacrifice some space in the backyard or a spare bedroom, they aren’t willing to budge in other areas.  I have noticed these trends when showing homes in 22508 as well.

Home features buyers desire include:

  • Laundry room
  • Full bathroom on the main level
  • Walk in Pantry
  • Hardwood Flooring
  • Table Space in Kitchen
  • Patio
  • Front Porch
  • Garage Storage
  • Energy Star Appliances
  • Patio
  • Landscaping 
  • Ceiling Fans
  • Exterior Lighting

Updating your current home to include these features when possible may be a great way to make your home competitive among other houses when you hit the market.  Some of these things, like adding exterior lighting or ceilings fans, can be relatively inexpensive weekend projects.  For others, like a walk in pantry, that may not be possible due to the layout of your home, offering alternative solutions to buyers may help to overcome the lack of a feature.  For example, you may not have a walk-in pantry, but upgrading the one you have with solid wood shelving and organizational solutions can help bridge the gap.

If you are planning on tackling a fixer upper, then consider incorporating these features into your remodel. Not only will these features add enjoyment to your use of the home, they may also make your home more appealing when you are ready to sell.

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