Tuesday, July 15, 2014

7 Features Home Buyers Want Most


Homeowners are sometimes hesitant to upgrade when it's time to sell. After all, you won't be living there much longer, and home remodeling efforts only increase home values by 66.1% of the average project’s costs, according to Remodeling magazine’s 2014 Cost vs. Value report.

But think again, sellers. The cost of inaction can be far greater than the small loss you’ll incur on any home-improvement projects. “It can mean the difference between getting multiple bids at once and driving up the selling price or getting no offers,” says Brian Lewis, a real estate broker with Halstead Property, a New York-based realty firm. As your house lingers on the market, you’ll likely pay ongoing mortgage, maintenance and staging costs.

We’ve already highlighted several household features home buyers hate, including popcorn-finished ceilings, brass fixtures and vanity strip bathroom lighting. Now, consider what buyers want to see -- and what it will take to add such features to your home.
 
source: kiplinger.com