On this age of social media, smartphones, and AI algorithms, there isn’t a scarcity of data on how you must rework or improve your private home to extend its worth. However you solely have a lot money and time, and if you happen to’re trying to promote your private home sooner or later, it’s essential know what consumers need in a house.
The very fact stays that there’s just one opinion that issues: The customer’s.
What do consumers need in a house?
HomeLight companions with the top-performing actual property brokers within the nation. We usually survey our community of 28,000 brokers, asking them for professional insights that may assist consumers and sellers make knowledgeable choices.
The checklist beneath will aid you acquire a greater thought of what consumers need in a house.
Affordability
The 2025 housing market is being formed by a rise in new listings, residence gross sales, and residential costs. Although the Nationwide Affiliation of Realtors (NAR) see indicators of an bettering market, mortgage charges might stay between 6%-7%.
A current HomeLight survey of high actual property brokers revealed the growing emphasis that homebuyers are putting on affordability. For instance, for first-time consumers:
- 27% report first-time consumers requesting mortgage price buydown from sellers
- 23% are utilizing present funds from kinfolk for a down cost
- 16% are utilizing packages resembling down cost help
- 13% transfer longer distances searching for affordability
- 12% purchase smaller properties
Sport-changing kitchen updates
In HomeLight’s most up-to-date Finish of 12 months 2024 High Agent Insights survey, 88% of brokers say updating your kitchen is the easiest way to enchantment to at present’s consumers.
As you’ll be able to see by this overwhelming settlement among the many nation’s most skilled brokers, in case your kitchen or home equipment don’t enchantment to a purchaser, your possibilities of promoting your private home rapidly or for high greenback can dramatically lower.
High Houston actual property agent Clarence Smith, who sells properties 49% sooner than the common agent in his market, says one method to improve your kitchen is by putting in granite or quartz counter tops — if you happen to don’t have already got them. “It changes the whole complexion of the kitchen when we go with the granite countertops, and we have the under-mount sink.”
Janet Lorusso, knowledgeable inside designer with over 30 years of expertise, agrees. “Quartz is a nice alternative to get the marble look without the maintenance.”
Granite counter tops differ between about $40 per sq. for lower-grade granite and $100 per sq. foot for higher-grade granite, plus set up prices. The nationwide common to buy and set up granite counter tops is $3,300, based on HomeAdvisor — a small value to pay in comparison with a full kitchen rework, which stacks as much as a median of $26,969.
Lorusso says one other simple and cheap improve to the kitchen is portray the cupboards a special coloration. “Paint hides a multitude — from the ubiquitous dated honey oak that builders dumped in every home in the late 20th century, to fussy glazed finishes.” A recent coat of paint can add a median of $10,184, based on HomeLight’s survey.
Improved curb enchantment, out of doors and backyard areas
To draw extra consumers and better affords, 48% of brokers suggest sellers make out of doors enhancements, resembling including or fixing up your private home’s again patio, porch, or deck.
Smith says coated again patios are notably standard amongst consumers as of late, “because a lot of people like to sit out there, drink coffee, get a little of the sunset, then if there’s a great backyard they like to watch the kids out there play, and they still have an area that’s covered to keep them out of the sun.”
Yard decks and extremely usable entrance porch areas have gained reputation in recent times, particularly because the pandemic. On common, you’ll be able to construct a deck for round $3,600 to $7,200.
Devoted distant work areas
In our Finish of 12 months 2024 survey, 38% of brokers say a devoted distant work space is essentially the most interesting to consumers of their markets.
When a purchaser goes purchasing for a house, they’re clearly trying on the whole sq. footage of a home. If your private home has an unfinished basement or attic, these areas are usually not included within the promoted sq. footage of a home. Nevertheless, if you happen to stage them to point out how they can be utilized as a house workplace, they may give your property a big increase of purchaser enchantment.
