When selling a home, it’s extremely important to be aware of what buyers are interested in. Each buyer will have their own set of reasons for looking for a home. Some want more space or a better location. Others are looking to stop renting and start families. Understanding buyers’ needs and catering to their preferences will speed up the process and make sure you get the best offer for your house.
Let’s take a look at the things home buyers are searching for in today’s market.
What Buyers Are Looking For In A Home in 2020
When evaluating a property, a buyer will look for several different features that could increase their interest and help you sell the property. Here are some of the features that will help your home stand out in the real estate market.
Curb Appeal
This is basically putting your best foot forward. Buyers will make a decision to view or not view a home by their first impressions. Make your home stand out from the get go!
Hardwood Floors
This one isn’t a big surprise. Carpet has been losing interest for some time as hardwood floors have become increasingly popular in the modern market. They’re easy to clean, look great, and are better suited to handle children and pets.
Kitchens
Large kitchens add a lot of value to a property, increase buyers’ interest, and make your home more likely to sell quickly.
If you can’t expand your kitchen, upgrading the cabinets/counter tops/hardware will be a good alternative. Using a neutral palate is always best, the more individualized the upgrade the more difficult it can be to sell.
Garage / Workshop
Many of those looking for a property are first time home buyers, wanting to escape the rental market, which often comes with limited parking options.
Whether it’s for parking their cars, setting up a workbench, or just storing away decorations and supplies, a proper garage/workshop offers multiple possibilities for all members of the family.
Separate Laundry Room
Full-size laundry rooms are big these days as they make it easier to deal with the massive loads of laundry that result from children, pets, and a house full of people.
A survey from the National Association of Home Builders supports this idea, listing laundry rooms as the most preferred feature for move-up buyers and the second overall preference for first-time buyers.
Energy Efficiencies
The growing interest in being environmentally friendly has caused more home buyers to prioritize energy-efficient properties. Homes that are energy efficient also help lower utility bills, allowing buyers to save money long term. There are several different ways to make a house energy efficient, including:
- Energy Star-qualified windows: These windows have vacuum-sealed spaces in between the panels, filled with inert gas. This helps reduce unwanted heat gain or loss in the home.
- Energy Star-rated appliances: These appliances use anywhere from 10 to 50 percent less energy than their non-energy efficient counterparts.
- Solar Panels: With rebates offered by local Electrical companies, these are becoming a popular option for those who are environmentally conscious. They allow for a much more efficient use of electricity, more cost effective and work well even in a climate like ours here in the Northwest.
A Great Room
Another family-friendly feature, the great room is one of their most desired features for many buyers. With today’s open floor plans it’s easy to make the great room flow right into the eat-in kitchen.
Walk-In Pantry
Cooking enthusiasts love walk-in pantries. They’re also important for families, as the kitchen can quickly become overcrowded when there isn’t enough space to store the essentials.
Unlike reach-in pantries that offer limited space, walk-in pantries allow homeowners to store large amounts of non-perishable foods and other kitchen items just steps away from the food prep area.
Patio
It’s important not to neglect the backyard when selling your house. Outdoor living spaces have become the most desired outdoor home feature. When buyers see a house with a nice patio or backyard, they’ll start to envision themselves out there with their friends and kids. Patios provide a great way of expanding living space into the outdoor areas.
Adding a patio can also help lower the overall cost of selling a house as they are less expensive to implement than a large-scale home addition.
Number Of Bathrooms
As the rooms in a house increase, home buyers are looking for more than two bathrooms in their search for a property. Consider how many bathrooms your home has relative to the number of bedrooms.
Most buyers prefer at least two bathrooms, but if the home has four or more bedrooms, three or more bathrooms would be ideal.
Less Important Features To Home Buyers In 2020
It’s important to also understand what buyers aren’t interested in. Here are some of the features not as important to buyers today:
- Fireplaces
- Wall-to-wall carpeting
- Formal living rooms
- High maintenance landscaping
Conclusion
Homebuyer expectations have increased and shifted over time. Buyers today expect more when looking at a home, including ample space and great curb appeal. If you are looking for Realtors in Seattle, Vicinage Real Estate Group is here to help. As a neighborhood expert, Vicinage offers the experience to make your home selling process go smoothly. Get in touch with us today for more information on getting the most from your property in the Seattle real estate market.