Folks love to say, “a fast deal is a happy deal” – so what are the features that will help you sell your home quickly and for more money?
A new report from the real estate portal Zillow says that simple upgrades will lead to a quicker deal, including doorbell cameras, heat pumps and properly fenced backyards.
The evidence comes from the analysis of 271 different features that were cited in marketing campaigns which resulted in more than two million sales made last year,
As an experienced local agent, I’d agree that simple upgrades, especially if they involve technology that enhances safety and security, are a major attraction point for prospective buyers.
Heat pumps are a hot item! If you’re not familiar with them, they move heat from one source to another. Effectively, they make cool spaces cooler, and warm spaces warmer. And this helps to minimise domestic electricity bills. It’s also a hot button for those concerned with climate change and trying to minimise their use of resources.
The Zillow report also looked at what you can do to increase the value of your home. Below are some of the highlights.
Kitchen is king – Steam ovens and pizza ovens featured strongly in homes that sold for a strong price. Together with professional-grade appliances, Zillow claims these features helped increase values by 5.3% compared with similar homes. Calculated against the average value of an American home, that’s a neat $17,400 boost.
Floor the buyer – Zillow isn’t out of the kitchen yet: An additional 2.6% was added to properties with fancy flooring, such as terrazzo tiles. Quartz countertops rocked the buyers’ world, too.
Storage sanity – The demand for storage solutions has never been greater. When a home lacks storage space, buyers will often walk away. According to Zillow, if you’ve got a shed in your garden, that can be 2.5% of value. Interestingly, folks are not using sheds for tools and lawnmowers these days. Instead, they convert them into office space, a gym or a yoga studio.