I’m a Real Estate Expert: 11 Features To Include in the Listing To Sell Your House for More
Written by
Daria Uhlig
Edited by
Amber Barkley
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Your property description is as important as the photos when it comes to the sale listing for your home. Photos might show natural-looking countertops and wood floors, for example, but it’s the property description that tells prospective buyers that the counters are soapstone and the floors are white oak — features that can boost your home’s sale price by over 3%, according to a new Zillow analysis of over two million listings.
“Remodeled” homes produced the biggest premium, pushing sale prices 3.7% higher than expected, so you can make more money. Other high-value features Zillow identified in its review of over 350 listing keywords include:
- Onyx
- Herringbone
- Cork floors
- Venetian plastered walls
- Wet room
- Outdoor shower
- Outdoor kitchen
- Bluestone patio.
Next, learn how to sell your home faster.
Local Key Words
Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO and broker at Echo Fine Properties in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, largely agreed with Zillow’s findings.
Natural stones are timeless, he said, but “quartz” countertops are most popular in Lichtenstein’s market. European white oak is very popular, as well. In fact, earthy tones in general are hot right now.
“Modern” could also be a selling point, considering that features like wide pivoting front doors and linear slot diffuser air conditioning vents are gaining traction, Lichtenstein noted.
Of course, the adage that all real estate is local is perhaps truer now than ever.
Know What Buyers in Your Market Don’t Want
Zillow’s high-value keywords surprised Jennifer Ames, license partner/owner at Engel & Völkers Chicago. Ames said she has never heard of anyone paying a premium for soapstone, onyx, cork or Venetian plaster. And although white oak floors are popular, Ames said that’s because they’re real oak vs. engineered, not because they’re a particular species of oak.
Terms related to outdoor features that ranked high in Zillow’s analysis also would fall flat in Ames’ Chicago market. While bluestone patios are popular, buyers don’t pay a premium for them. And as for those outdoor kitchens?
“Higher quality single-family homes may have a built-in grill, with a few having a more extensive built-out outdoor kitchen, but it can get cold in the winter, so it is not too practical!” Ames said.
What’s selling homes in Ames’ market is a less-is-more aesthetic: “Less color, less fuss, less stuff!” For example:
- Big windows and natural light: To get the highest price for your home, emphasize “big windows” in your property description. “Take down the ‘frufy’ drapes and let the line shine!” Ames said.
- Modern aesthetic: “Modern” could be popular across markets, especially among younger buyers. “Dark brown antiques, oversized armoires, skirted sofas, old-fashioned bedspreads or wall-to-wall stuff is the kiss of death,” Ames warned. Stage lightly to keep your home from feeling crowded or full.
- Remodeled homes: Ames agreed “100% with the idea that remodeled homes sell for a premium over homes that feel dated.”
Other Features That Help Your Home Sell
Other features Ames said can help sell your home aren’t necessarily things you’d put in the listing description, but they’re likely to impress buyers who tour your home. White interiors are one such feature.
“Buyers want a nice clean white like Benjamin Moore’s ‘Chantilly Lace’ on the walls, trim and ceilings. Taupe, gray or anything with a yellow cast is passe,” Ames said. Gunmetal blue, which is typically a dark blue with metallic or gray undertones, is the most popular accent color.
Lighting is also crucial. Ames recommended lighting your interiors consistently with a color temperature in the 2700k to 3000k range. That range registers as warm, soft and inviting.
“It is a huge turnoff when all the lighting is cool white, and the interior is lit up like a gym or a hospital,” Ames said.
Ames also cautioned against mixing warm and cool color temperatures within a room. “Buyers cannot often articulate the problem, but the net result is that they don’t feel good in the space.”
Regardless of the popularity of any given feature, in the end, it’s that good feeling that ultimately sells a house.
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