Here are the top 5 essential amenities home buyers are looking for according to a survey by Porch. When showing homes, I see these same issues come up frequently.
With recent record-breaking summer heat, most buyers are looking for homes with existing central air. If a home does not have air conditioning, buyers are either taking it off their list of options, or are discounting the value of the home based on the cost of having to install it.
A private backyard or patio is very important here with our year-round outdoor living. Make sure your patio and yard are appealing and inviting to buyers. If you are looking to purchase and are open to condominium living, you may want to look for a property that includes a private patio or yard.
Guest bedrooms are used for many different purposes. They are often home offices, work-out rooms or hobby rooms. If you are thinking of selling, make sure your guest bedroom is set up so buyers can see how it can be used for their needs. If you are thinking of building your perfect home, consider including at least three bedrooms even if you only need two. Two-bedroom homes are harder to sell and usually will sell for less than homes with three bedrooms or more.
Today’s buyers prefer walk-in closets and plenty of storage. If your home does not include these, you may want to see if you can add them. Don’t give up a bedroom to do so though. You’d lose more value than you gained if your bedroom becomes a closet.
When looking for a home, think about how its orientation will affect how you live throughout the year. I live in a two-story home where the back of it faces due north. During the summer that orientation keeps the bedrooms cooler, which is great. But during the deep shade of winter, the back of my home doesn’t get much light.
OTHER ESSENTIAL AMENITIES
Although these essential amenities are all very important to today’s home buyer, the one item that beats them all is location. The neighborhood a home is located in will have the most effect on what a buyer will pay for it. This includes not only the look and feel of the neighborhood, but also the neighborhood schools, commute to work, local weather and nearby services and amenities.
Since you can’t easily move your home, do the most you can with the features it has. If you do have these essential amenities, make sure they work and show as well as possible. If your home is missing them, do some research before adding them. You usually can’t recoup the total cost of adding more expensive items like central air conditioning when you sell. So, only consider making those changes if you plan on living in your home for a while. That way you can enjoy them too.
