6 Most Popular Design Features in Homes for Sale
Written by
Chris Adam
Edited by
Daria Uhlig
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If you’ve been searching for a home, you probably have a list of features you’re looking for in that new place. If you’re trying to sell your house, you may notice homebuyers are in the market for some specific design features.
These features could make your home more attractive to buyers and perhaps even get you more money from the sale. According to a Redfin ranking of the most popular features that add value, the top 10 appeared in relatively few homes listed for sale this summer, and homes that had them sold for 98.3% to 99.7% of asking price.
With that in mind, here’s a look at six of the most popular features in homes for sale this year.
Office
This design feature topped Redfin’s list of most popular, but just 8.2% of homes had one. If you’re selling your home, having an office as part of the overall design can help you get closer to your asking price.
Fireplace
If you live in a colder part of the country, a fireplace can be an especially nice addition to a home, and a home that has one sell might sell for a premium price. According to Redfin, the median price of a home with a fireplace is $449,100, whereas the national median for all homes is $438,929.
Deck
In some parts of the country, a deck has become a popular staple of backyard living and entertaining. Redfin’s data shows that just 5.3% of homes available this past summer had one, but those that did had a median listing price of $453,900 — the highest price associated with any of the top 10 features.
View
Who doesn’t love a home that comes with a view? It’s the fourth most-popular design feature, appearing in 5.1% of homes available for sale this past summer, per Redfin. If you’re trying to sell your home and are among the lucky few who has a good view, it might be advantageous to highlight it in your listing and consider it when you set your price.
Basement
Homes with basements had the highest sale-to-list ratio in Redfin’s ranking — 99.7%, meanings homes that had one sold for 99.7% of asking price. If you have an unfinished basement, you may be wondering if it’s worth it to finish this part of the house before you sell it. Pehaps not — The project averages a return of just 70% of your investment in increased value, according to Angi.
Your return could be much higher or lower, depending on factors like:
- How much you spend
- What’s customary in your market
- Whether the basement is above- or below-grade
- Whether the project adds bedrooms and bathrooms
Pool
It may not be a necessity, but a pool can be a great addition for the right buyer. Not only is it a popular design feature in homes for sale, but HomeLight noted that the return on investment of adding a pool and hot tub combo has increased in the past couple of years.
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