Features Buyers Have Come to Expect

It's a competitive market out there!  While a couple of years ago buyers were beating down the doors to get in a home and put in an offer, today's market is much slower.  Homes can sit on the market for months before going into pending and if your home is missing the key features buyers want most, your home could sit even longer.  So read ahead and see Features Buyers Have Come to Expect.

1. Updated bathrooms:  As a Realtor, one of the biggest complaints I hear when showing homes is that the bathroom hasn't been updated.  Pink toilets, blinds, sinks and tubs were all the rage in the 1980s, but not so much now.  The cabinets with the builder's grade faux wood look and colored blinds just don't do it anymore.  Now, buyers want newer cabinets, granite countertops, walk-in showers with tile and fancy showerheads, and toilets and sinks that are sleeker, more modern.  You don't have to break the bank to get these updates done.  Sinks and toilets are less than $100 at the major box hardware stores.  Paint the original cabinets or buy new ones with the updated countertop and sink already attached.  Hardware for showers and faucets are inexpensive and easy to install.  Blinds can be switched out in seconds.  If you can find a good handyman, this can be accomplished in a day.  Updating the shower/bath can be more expensive, but it's well worth the investment.
2. Updated kitchens:  Do you know what the majority of buyers do when they go into a kitchen?  They open the drawers and shut them.  They are looking for one of the most common updates today - the soft shut drawer.  You know which one I'm talking about- you try to slam it... and it catches and slowly, softly closes on its own.  Don't think you have to get all new drawers and cabinets to make this happen!  For less than a meal at McDonalds you can switch out the mechanism that controls this.  It's a simple update, but one that instantly ups the value of your kitchen.  Add to this granite counters, painted original cabinets, and new drawer pulls and you have a kitchen they talk about every time they discuss the possibility of buying your home.
3. Updated flooring:  Linoleum and carpet just don't do it anymore.  These days, buyers want an investment in their floors.  Whether it's tile, engineered hardwood, luxury vinyl flooring, or even real hardwood, there's a new aesthetic in the buyer's heart.  They want clean and fresh.  Not flooring that is peeling up or smelling with pet stains.  Easy clean, fresh look and rich feel is the desire.  It doesn't have to break the bank either.  Sams Club carries luxury vinyl and more for a reasonable price.  The investment lasts long after your home sells and is worth every penny.

Looking for more buying and selling tips?  Check out our YouTube channel at The Reagan Nickum Team and our Facebook page at The Reagan Nickum Team!  Give us a call today to get your home assessed - both in value and for update advice!