My Blog

What Features Add To A Home's Value?

We all know that real estate is location, location, location.  But, there are other things which give a home added value.  For instance, is the home of a popular or distinct style?  When I am taking Buyers on a "grand tour" of properties for sale in my area, those homes with a distinct style, such as English Tudor or Spanish Meditteranean, catch the Buyer's eye more often than not.

Does the home have curb appeal?  Buyers have been known to drive right on by a home that does not have attractive and well-cared for landscaping. 

Are there a lot of steps to the entry?  Sometimes a home's value is diminished according to how many stairs there are, up or down, from the street level. 

Is the home on a busy street, with a lot of traffic noise, or is it near a school with playground noise on weekdays?  Telecommunters or stay-at-home owners want to be able to enjoy quiet surroundings.  

Is there a lot of visible deferred maintenance?  Many home buyers are two-career families with little time to tackle a fixer-upper.  They also tend to worry about the condition of the things that they can't see.

Lot size is a component of the value of a property as is the living square footage of the house.  Bigger is usually conceived as better, more valuable.

Does a property have a garage?  In urban areas, there may be only street parking because the property never had a garage, or the existing garage was converted to living space or used as storage.  A garage with inside access is conceived to add to the value.

Is there a good flow to the floor plan?  Does the house get a lot of light?  These are freatures that potential home buyers look for and which add to a home's value.

Is there good outdoor living?  Is there a yard for garden and play, or a deck or patio?  Home buyers value a good outdoor space.

A view.  In my area, there are Bay, canyon, city lights and hill views, to name a few.  A great vista or good outlook is seen as adding value to a property. 

In this green era, dual paned windows, sufficient insulation, native-plant landscaping and on-demand water heaters add comfort and value to a property.

When searching for a home, buy in the best location that you can afford and think re-sale.  Objections to any perceived "flaws" in a property can be removed by the right price.