There’s always a specific selling point when you’re house-hunting. For my husband and me, it was a remodeled airy A-frame loft; for our friends, it was the screened-in porch overlooking an outdoor pool. Changes, minor or major, can contribute to a significant resale value increase, and the latest Zillow trend report proves as much. In fact, the top three features for a sale price premium include remodeled homes, soapstone countertops, and wet rooms.
Thomas J. Story
Taking the top slot, move-in-ready, remodeled homes continue to drive up sale costs. But if you’re not interested in gutting your home before putting it on the market, more minimal changes like installing soapstone (3.5%) or quartz (2.6%) countertops could make all the difference. Wet rooms, which have the shower and bath in the same, fully waterproofed space, are also trending and could improve the resale value by 3.3% compared to 0.6% for a “spa-inspired bathroom.”
Zillow’s home trends expert Amanda Pendleton also shared the latest design concept: Organic modernism.
“The contemporary look of homes today is characterized by natural stone, wood flooring and cabinetry, and textured walls,” she shared in the press release. “Buyers are seeking out and competing for homes with these raw but refined finishes, and that’s pushing up sale prices.”
Thomas J. Story
There are a few other noteworthy features that led to significant sale premiums, such as white oak floors (3.2%) and Venetian plaster walls (3%). Buyers were also drawn to functional outdoor installations, such as an outdoor shower (2.8%) and bluestone patio pavers (2.2%). And for fans of alfresco dining, homes with outdoor kitchens also contributed to a 2.2% resale value increase. Other nice-to-haves that made the list were new appliances (2.7%), an ADU (2.2%), walnut cabinets (2.2%), and an ice machine (2.0%).
Zillow’s findings are not a comprehensive guide to updating your home before it hits the market. However, these could serve as a starting point for your next remodel or home improvement project. We’ve also talked to experts about how to cut corners to save money, which you may want to take into consideration before heading to Home Depot.