7 Home Features That Have Increased the Most in Popularity
Trends aren’t just for fashion — even features in a home rise and fall in popularity over time. Driven by numerous factors, from what sells better to what influencers may be touting as a must-have feature in a home, buyers and sellers can learn a lot about these trends.
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While the No. 1 factor in home value still tends to be the magic of “location, location, location,” real estate experts agree that features can also influence that price, as well as general saleability of a home. The more updated a home, too, the higher its value may go.
Popularity can vary from state to state, region to region and home type, but currently, according to RedFin, these are some of the features that have increased the most in popularity. These features showed up in homes with the highest sale-to-list ratio, meaning that these homes sold closest to their list price.
Stainless Steel Appliances
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.7%
Median home listing: $454,000
Average views: 649
Stainless steel is timeless, durable and often more affordable than other metals, so it’s unsurprising that these features are growing in popularity.
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Foyer
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.5%
Median home listing: $549,000
Average views: 683
A foyer is an entrance that acts as a kind of transitional space between the door and the rest of the house. There may be coat racks or a closet, even space for a small table or chair here, and they can be an elegant addition to any home.
Backyard
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.4%
Median home listing: $399,000
Average views: 592
Backyards are a coveted feature in any home or apartment, because they allow family gatherings, room for children and animals to play or for a variety of gardening possibilities.
Granite Counters
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.4%
Median home listing: $498,000
Average views: 636
Granite countertops have likely increased in popularity because the stone is incredibly resistant to kitchen activities that might result in scratches, stains and burns. You can even have these sealed for extra protection.
Vinyl Siding
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.2%
Median home listing: $329,900
Average views: 445
Unlike wood and metal siding, vinyl siding is “engineered to be virtually indestructible,” according to Garden State Brickface and Siding. Given that siding is exposed to the elements on the outside of the home, durability is very important.
Ceramic Floors
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
Median home listing: $479,919
Average views: 689
While you may think of ceramics as being delicate when they’re in the form of dishes, when it comes to floor tiles, they’re known for being incredibly durable and water resistant, making them a great choice for kitchens, bathrooms and even entryways, according to Urban Edge Ceramics.
Laundry Area
Sale-to-list ratio: 98.1%
Median home listing: $460,000
Average views: 611
Anyone who has ever had to drag their laundry down to a laundry room or laundromat, or who has to make room in a crowded garage for their laundry baskets, knows the value of an entire dedicated laundry area in their home.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Home Features That Have Increased the Most in Popularity