What are the most popular features in homes for sale? If you’re trying to buy a new home, it can be helpful to understand what the most requested features are before making your offer on a property. That way, you can ensure your dream home has everything you need before putting an offer down on it.
Here’s an overview of some of the more common features to help you make an informed decision about your new place to live. Well, they may surprise you.
Entryway
According to Redfin, people spend an average of eight seconds gazing at your entryway before deciding whether they like what they see. This means it’s important to get it right! When you do, it can not only make a good first impression but also give potential buyers a sense of what to expect throughout your home. For example, if your entryway is well-lit and welcoming with an entry table displaying photos of family members (or pets), then your buyers might be similarly impressed with your kitchen.
If your home’s entryway is stark, dark and does not have a place to sit down, it might be creating a negative first impression. It may also give potential buyers an idea of what they can expect throughout your home. For example, if there is an open closet filled with dirty clothes or unopened moving boxes, then your buyers might assume that clutter is also prevalent throughout your kitchen or dining room.
Kitchen
Cookware, cooking utensils, and a built-in coffeemaker are always on buyers’ wish lists. Other items that prospective homeowners may find useful include a dishwasher, garbage disposal unit, and space to store extra appliances like a food processor or blender.
Dishwashers, garbage disposals, and space to store extra appliances like a food processor or blender are also high on buyers’ wish lists. When it comes to choosing between them, get what you’ll use. For instance, if you already have a dishwasher that works simply fine, you don’t need another one.
Bedrooms
The average number of bedrooms in a home for sale oceanside is approximately 2.6, but some areas have higher than average numbers. In San Diego, California for example, more than half of all homes have three or more bedrooms. Portland, Oregon, and Atlanta residents favor 1-bedroom homes over other options. 2 Bedroom homes are common across much of the United States.
You can easily see if adding a bedroom will work with a quick remodel. Simply measure and mark where you want to build it, and then remove an interior wall to get rid of any obstacles. After that, you’ll be able to add a second floor or level to your house to make room for more bedrooms, which can increase your home’s value tremendously by making it more desirable.
Living room
While you may have a couch, armchair, and coffee table of your own already, if you’re selling your home there’s no better room to highlight than your living room. You want potential buyers to envision themselves relaxing on that couch or snuggling up with an informative book on that chair—and since those things will be right there waiting when they move in, having them imagine it is half the battle.
Your living room doesn’t have to be big, but it should fit comfortably with room to move. Because you spend so much time in your living room, make sure that it’s stylish and well-designed. If space allows, a fireplace is an excellent addition as it can create a warm atmosphere which will give your guests a sense of welcome and comfort.
Bathrooms
Homes with three bathrooms or more accounted for 16.6% of real estate listings on Trulia over a one-year period. One-bedroom and two-bedroom homes with an extra bath were particularly popular—they made up more than half of all three-bathroom listings. Also, it’s likely that buyers who need a third bathroom might prefer a larger home where they can get more bang for their buck. There is a considerable difference between selling a two-bathroom home and selling a four-bathroom home (about $40,000).
While having multiple bathrooms may not be necessary for everyone, it does seem to be a common feature among high-end homes. Of homes priced above $1 million, 83% had at least three bathrooms. In contrast, only 18% of low-priced properties (under $200K) had at least three baths.
Garage
The garage is one of those places where we never have enough room to store our stuff. We use it to park our cars, store lawnmowers and gardening tools, and sometimes even as an extra room. If you’re looking for a way to make your home stand out, try highlighting a spacious garage or put that storage to work with a fun idea like a ping pong table or party area.
If you already have a garage and want to upgrade, there are tons of ways to improve your space. Organizing your garage is one idea—do you know what’s hiding in all those boxes and bins? You could also consider putting in shelving or extra cabinets. And if you have an extra room in your home that isn’t being used, it might be time to turn it into a man cave or craft room. And don’t forget about safety: if your garage has stairs leading up to it, make sure they meet building codes and aren’t too steep for small children.
Energy efficiency
In 2016, three-quarters of Americans said that increased energy efficiency was a top priority when buying a new home. An efficient home means lower heating and cooling costs, which also improves indoor air quality. Save money and stay healthy by choosing an energy-efficient home.
You can determine whether a home is energy-efficient by looking at its Energy Star certification or Energy Rating Label. The former measures buildings’ energy performance, while the latter measures appliances and equipment only. If a building has an Energy Star label, it has performed well on an assessment of energy efficiency, which is based on several factors including construction type and heating/cooling system type. A certified energy-efficient home not only uses less energy but also costs less to heat and cool than standard buildings.
The same goes for appliances with an Energy Rating Label—they use less energy and cost less to operate. It’s important to note that both labels have been around since 2020, so if you see one on a home built before then, there may be some inaccuracies. That said, they remain useful tools when shopping for new homes today.
Indoor features
The bedroom is one of the most important rooms in any home—it’s where we sleep, dream, relax, and regenerate after a long day. It’s also often where we go to get away from it all. So, when looking at houses for sale, don’t just focus on outdoor living areas; instead, give bedrooms top priority.
One of our top selling features is a walk-in wardrobe, because it’s not every day you get to walk into a room and see your wardrobe as well as storage. More people are downsizing their possessions so that they don’t have to use up valuable space in their homes. This comes down to minimalism—being selective about what we own, why we own it, and how much space it requires.
Another popular feature that’s making a comeback is En suite. You might have heard of ‘En-suite’ being used to describe luxury hotels, but it’s also becoming more common as a description of bedrooms. There are several reasons why we’re seeing a resurgence in Ensuites: Not only do they offer privacy, but they make life easier by putting your toilet right next to your bathroom and bedroom.
Other top-selling indoor features include a built-in wardrobe, an integrated vacuum system, walk-in wardrobes, and double basins. And that’s not to mention kitchen appliances like dishwashers and ovens—after all, where would we be without those?
Outdoor features
The number one requested outdoor feature is a pool or hot tub; buyers may not necessarily be interested in using them, but they like to know they’re there. A barbecue also ranks high on buyers’ wish lists; 70% of homebuyers say it’s their favorite outdoor feature. Outdoor kitchens and an outdoor fireplace are high up there as well. Not only do these features contribute to a home’s resale value, but they give potential buyers something to drool over.
The outdoor fireplace and outdoor kitchen category aren’t far behind, with both coming in at 56%. Out of those who want an outdoor fireplace, 83% are more interested in a traditional fire pit than a wood-burning fireplace. If you don’t currently have one, consider adding it to your home before putting it on the market. It’s a great selling feature that buyers love!
The outdoor kitchen is another must-have feature. Homebuyers want to know they can grill, fry, and boil their way to a delicious meal while at home. This may be why two-thirds of buyers say that an outdoor kitchen is one of their favorite features. And finally, we have fireplaces and wood stoves as our fourth most requested feature. These aren’t as common as some of our other favorites, but it’s clear from buyer responses that people love them when they see them!
In conclusion, the most desirable features are things that people are willing to buy. In a free market, sellers are happy to sell the things that help buyers save money, save time or be convenient will all sell. Therefore, it’s worth remembering that a home is only worth what the buyer is willing to pay. That includes modern features like garage, bathroom, kitchen, master bedroom, and Indoor & Outdoor features. And, of course, demand continues to be strong for modern, open floor plans!
