Selling your home? These are the trendy features that buyers will pay more for
That she shed in the backyard is more than just a cozy retreat – it's also an easy way to boost your home's selling price.
A new report from Zillow found amenities like steam ovens or she sheds – a renovated shed that's the equivalent of a man cave – can increase a home's price by as much as 5.3% compared to similar listings. That’s an additional $17,400 on a typical U.S. home.
Other trendy features like doorbell cameras, open shelving and soapstone countertops help homes sell faster.
“Buyers who can afford a home in today’s market appear willing to pay even more for luxuries that personalize their space,” according to Zillow’s report. “Even in a less frenzied housing market, shoppers can expect more competition for homes with these desirable features.”
She sheds, pizza ovens boost sale price
Zillow's analysis used sale records and listing data from nearly 2 million sales listed in 2022. According to the findings, the top features that increase a home's sale price when compared to similar listings include:
Steam oven: 5.3% price premium.
Pizza oven: 3.7% price premium.
Professional appliances: 3.6% price premium.
Terrazzo: 2.6% price premium.
She shed: 2.5% price premium.
Soapstone: 2.5% price premium.
Quartz: 2.4% price premium.
Modern farmhouse: 2.4% price premium.
Hurricane shutters/storm shutters: 2.3% price premium.
Midcentury: 2.3% price premium.
The one downside: personalized features can also deter some buyers and make a house spend more time on the market.
Zillow found listings with she sheds take two days longer to sell compared to similar homes, while homes with wine cellars lift the selling price by 1.2% but spend an extra five days on the market.
Amenities that make homes sell faster
Homes were typically on the market for 34 days in February, up 18 days the year prior. But Zillow found certain features can speed up the process. A listing that mentions a gas furnace, for instance, sells 2.3 days faster than similar homes.
Here are other features that can shorten a house's time on the market, according to Zillow:
Doorbell camera: 5.1 days faster.
Soapstone: 3.8 days faster.
Open shelving: 3.5 days faster.
Heat pump: 3 days faster.
Fenced yard: 2.9 days faster.
Midcentury: 2.8 days faster.
Hardwood: 2.4 days faster
Walkability/walkable: 2.4 days faster.
Shiplap: 2.3 days faster.
How can I increase the sale price of my house?
The COVID-19 pandemic shook up more than just home prices; it also changed what amenities buyers consider essential.
“Homes that offer retreat spaces and features for outdoor entertaining are particularly appealing to post-pandemic buyers, who expect their homes to be a place where they can work and play,” Zillow’s report says.
Sellers who want to give their home a “wow factor” should highlight outdoor entertainment areas and include unique offerings like saltwater pools or a putting green in their listing description, according to the report.
Just make sure to avoid mentioning tile countertops, laminate flooring, or walk-in closets, all of which can hurt a home’s value.
The report also warns that installing amenities like steam ovens solely to increase a home's resale value may not be worth the investment. Instead, homeowners looking to sell should highlight the trendy features they have.
Dig deeper:
How Hispanic homeownership became a 'driving force' shaping the housing market's future.
'She sheds' are like a man cave, but prettier.
Does homeowners' insurance cover tornado damage? How to prepare before a disaster.
Home prices are finally declining, ending longest streak in growth. Who are the homebuyers?
Housing market: After months of decline, single-family construction rose in February.
You can follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter @bailey_schulz and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter here for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Selling your home? Buyers hunting for pizza ovens, not walk-in closets
