What do home buyers want?

Whether you are marketing your home to first-time home buyers, young families or empty-nesters, all are looking for some of the same characteristics. Of course, home buyers have individual wants so the feature in your home that most appeals to one buyer could have zero appeal for another. As a seller, there are some things you may not be able to change easily about your home. The more you know about what attracts buyers, the more you can emphasize those features in your marketing.

Buyer Preferences

A Recent National Association of Realtors Home Features Survey gathered information from purchasers to find out what they bought and what features mattered most. According to the survey, the majority of buyers want more closet and storage space. If you can emphasize this space in your home by emptying some of your closets, you are more likely to attract top dollar. Studies show that buyers were willing to pay the most extra money for a home with a basement and upgraded kitchens.

Kitchen Upgrades

While granite counter tops are definitely a popular choice, only 20% of buyers said that type of surface was important. Stainless steel appliances were considered very important by 17% of buyers. More important than those specific features were new appliances and an eat-in kitchen. As a seller, if you have limited money but want to upgrade your dated kitchen, spend the money on new appliances instead of new counters.

Insight

In addition to the study, many looked at preferences among younger buyers and older buyers. Sellers can use this information to target their marketing to the buyers they think are most likely to purchase their home. For example, the surveys found that hardwood floors were more important to younger buyers than to Baby Boomers. Older buyers think a private master bath is an important feature to have. While younger buyers want this as well, it’s less of a priority for their age group. First-time buyers are looking for a home office with up-to-date wiring, so it may be wise to invest a little money in upgrading your technology. You can also stage your home to show that your living room and dining room can be flexible. Younger buyers tend to be more interested in energy efficiency than older buyers, so replace your appliances with Energy Star models.

Prepare your Home

While you can’t provide a dream house for every buyer, considering buyer preferences while you prepare your home for sale can make your property more appealing so it sells faster. So remember whether you are looking to buy or you are ready to get your home SOLD, be sure to call us at The Realty Firm at 931-520-7750 or come in and visit us!