6 Things Buyers Want in a New Home
In a market this hot, it might seem like homeowners don’t have to worry about whether their home will attract buyers. But even in a strong market, sellers still need to pay attention to what people want if they hope to get top dollar for their property.
So what catches the eye of picky home shoppers? Mid-sized homes that are good for families rather than huge houses with flashy amenities are in high demand, according March 2017 data from real estate website Realtor.com. It looked at what features attracted the most interest from shoppers on its site.
Here are six of the things most important to people shopping for a new home.
1. A single-family house
Most buyers want a home of their very own, not a townhouse, condo, or apartment. Fifty-three percent of shoppers were looking for single-family properties. The older the shopper, the more likely they were to want a traditional, standalone house. More than three-quarters of people over age 55 wanted a single-family house. Buyers under the age of 35 were the only group more interested in townhouses, attached row houses, condos, or apartments.
2. A ranch-style or contemporary home
Ranch-style homes took over American suburbs in the mid-century boom years, and their popularity hasn’t waned. Forty-two percent of all shoppers on Realtor.com were looking for a single-floor, open-plan ranch home, and it was the most popular architectural style among all age groups.
3. Privacy and space for a family
When Realtor.com asked shoppers about their primary goal for homeownership, most people said they wanted privacy and space that was solely their own. Shoppers also wanted a family-friendly place to live.
4. A great kitchen
Kitchens sell homes, or so the conventional wisdom goes. Shoppers on Realtor.com would seem to agree. Eighty percent named the kitchen as one of the three most important spaces in the house. (The master bedroom and living room also topped the list.)
Fortunately, you might not need to rip out your entire kitchen because small upgrades tend to pay off more than a big overhaul in this room. Homeowners who opt for a minor kitchen remodel will recoup 80% of their investment at resale, according to the Remodeling.com’s 2017 Cost vs. Value report. You’ll get 65% of your investment back with a major kitchen renovation.
5. 3 bedrooms
our home doesn’t need to have half a dozen bedrooms to catch the attention of most buyers. More than half of shoppers on Realtor.com are in the market for a three-bedroom home. Another 22% want a four-bedroom.
6. 2 bathrooms
As the number of bedrooms in newly built homes has multiplied, so has the number of bathrooms. In 2015, 38% of new construction homes had three bathrooms or more. But among shoppers on Realtor.com, a modest two-bath home was most desirable. Three-quarters of people were looking for a place with no more than two bathrooms, and just 17% wanted three baths.
See more at…https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/things-buyers-want-new-home-and-things-they-dont.html/