If you’ve made a good choice in selecting a listing agent, he or she will identify the pool of potential purchasers who is most likely to purchase your home and then zero in on that group when developing marketing materials.
The real estate agent can determine which aspects of your house will appeal to particular sorts of purchasers by consulting a number of studies that have been conducted on the characteristics that buyers look for in a house.
There is yet another survey that can be added to the armory, and this one can be found published on builderonline.com.
In general, if your house has a higher energy efficiency rating than the other houses on the market, you may anticipate that it will be in high demand among prospective purchasers. Additional selling points for a home include adaptable floor plans and low maintenance requirements for the exterior and interior of the house.
According to the results of the poll, a home with all of these attributes is more desirable than one with the most recent technology.
Interior features that repel homebuyers
When asked what they dislike most about their current homes, the majority of homebuyers report that the outdated features drive them nuts. In fact, these are the most common features they are fleeing:
- Linoleum floors
- Popcorn ceilings
- Wood paneling
- Ceramic tile countertops in the kitchen
- Shag carpet
- Avocado green appliances
Although I have no doubt that you have a soft spot in your heart for the wallpaper you put up in 1988, prospective buyers may find it repulsive. The same can be said for bathroom faucets that are “gold” in color or have knobs made of plastic that resembles crystal.
Features buyers love
The overwhelming preference among buyers is still wood flooring, with 65 percent of those surveyed stating a preference for it. The availability of internet access, including ethernet and USB ports, was ranked second by 44 percent of respondents.
Surprisingly, 56% of respondents responded that they would be willing to give up square footage in a home in exchange for greater yard space. In addition, “distance from surrounding homes” is seen as the most essential exterior aspect of a property by people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The following is a rundown of the preferred home features, categorized according to generation:
Millennials
- Whirpool tub
- Home theater
- Wine refrigerator or cellar
- Dining room
- Darker, richer wall color
Gen Xers
If you have a larger home in the suburbs, members of this cohort may be your buyer. Gen X homebuyers are seeking:
- A detached single-family house.
- A home with lots of square footage (the average, according to study respondents, is 2,315 square feet).
- A single-level home, or one with the master bedroom on ground level.
- A place to live that is conveniently located near hiking paths and other facilities that would assist them in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Baby boomers
- A home with 2,000 to 2,999 square feet of living space.
- Planned community with amenities and a resort-like vibe
- A community with a diverse age range, or “stroller-to-walker,” Tammy Barry, director of marketing for a marina resort master-planned community near Chicago tells newhomesource.com’s, Camilla McLaughlin.
- Boomers seek low-maintenance homes with large rooms and plenty of storage.
Even homeowners with limited financial resources can increase interest in their properties by making even minimal improvements.
It is amazing how much of an impact can be made by making very minor adjustments, such as updating old faucets in the kitchen and bathroom, purchasing new panels to install on the front of your appliances, and replacing old flooring with something that is both attractive and affordable.
