We already know that Northern Virginia is a great place to live and work. We enjoy the best of both big-city attractions and small-town living as well as amazing access to outdoor activities in all seasons. So, what are homebuyers looking for when they go house hunting here?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ 2013 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences – a survey of 2,005 households who purchased homes between 2010 and 2013 – there are two features that are deal breakers for prospective buyers. Central air conditioning, and cable-, satellite-, or Internet-readiness are must-haves when it comes to buying a new home. Central air was the most desired feature – 65% of participants rated it as “very important”, but that number jumped to 79% of participants who lived in the South. Tech readiness came in at number three on the list of desired features with 37% rating it as “very important”, and that percentage rose to 57% of those who purchased newly constructed homes. What was the second most desired feature? A walk-in closet in the master bedroom came in at number two with 39% overall ranking it as “very important”.
The homes that survey respondents purchased during those years had other things in common. For example, the average size measured 1,860 square feet and had three bedrooms with two full bathrooms, and was built in 1996. First-time buyers and single women tended to buy older homes, while other groups – families, married couples, and people buying newly constructed homes – tended to buy larger homes.
More than half of survey participants said that they would have preferred a home with more storage, or more or larger closets. Forty percent said that they would have preferred a home with a larger kitchen, but most were satisfied with their homes’ age, size, number of bedrooms, and number of bathrooms. That being said, within 90 days of buying their homes, 53% took on a home improvement project spending a median amount of $4550. The most common project was a kitchen remodel (47%) followed closely by bathrooms with 44%.
When thinking about putting your home on the market, it’s a good idea to get some advice from professionals who are working for your best interests. All of us here at JC Advantage are happy to discuss your home improvement plans with you, or make new plans for your real estate goals. Stop by the office at 8245 Boone Blvd, Suite 410 in Vienna or give us a call at 703-442-0007. If you prefer to contact me directly, you can reach me by email at conor@jcadvantage.com.
Comments(0)