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What Features Are Buyers Looking For in 2016? Why You Should Care

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Capital Properties DC AB15253

Are you are thinking of making some improvements to your home with the idea that you want to enjoy your home now but will be moving in the next five years?  Certainly you want to make wise investments that will not overly personalize your home or price it beyond the neighborhood.  As you create your list of priorities for renovations, keep in mind what your ultimate buyer is looking for. 

1. Choose Matte for New Appliances

Matte finishes will slowly replace stainless steel in 2016 and 2017.  The matte finishes hide fingerprints, smudges and dirt, and they are easier to clean than typical stainless steel finishes.

2. Cushioned flooring

Cork flooring is popular now. It now comes in a variety of colors and is much more comfortable to walk on than traditional wood flooring and ceramic tile.

3. Lower pile rugs

While most buyers choose hardwoods over carpet, if you new carpet in your home, go with patterns or Cut and loop textured carpet rather than the standard plush. 

4. Less grout surfaces and a clean aesthetic

If you are replacing tile flooring, go big with 12 -by-24 inch or 36-by-36 inch as opposed to 12-by-12 inch. The same is true for tiles in shower surrounds and walls in bathrooms.  These larger, smooth surfaces have a simple, clean design aesthetic, and use less grout, which is difficult to clean and susceptible to mold and mildew.

5. Improve overall health with clean design homes

Your home is your personal ecosystem. Top trends will be fabrics that don’t hold dust, Quartz stone countertops that are lower maintenance with antibacterial properties and durability, mudrooms with benches where people can leave their shoes to prevent toxins from entering the home and under-mounted sinks, which keep things cleaner by not trapping bacteria in the lip of the sink. 

6. Better water quality

The National Assoc. of Homebuilders’ 2016 New Home will feature a whole-home water filtration system, reflecting buyers’ desire for clean living.

7. Green Home Features

Efficiency Is important to many buyers. They look for Energy Star appliances, insulated windows, and similar features that maximizes home.

8. Simplicity and tech

Today’s tech-savvy buyers are looking for smaller, smart homes with more space in central living areas, great flow and clever, built-in storage.  They are all about respect for the environment, conserving energy and high-tech homes. Your home should have solid cell service, cable TV, high-speed internet connection and plenty of electrical outlets.

9. Circadian lighting

GE is releasing a new smart LED bulb that can change the color of the light that’s emitted to sync with the body’s circadian rhythm.  “C by GE” uses Bluetooth connectivity to communicate with your smartphone and to change colors sync with your sleep cycle. 

10. Create a Home Office

More Americans work from home than ever, and the trend grow is growing. Home office space can be important to homebuyers. Smaller bedrooms or rooms with large windows and plenty of natural light often make excellent home office spaces. Consider repurposing a bedroom as a home office to appeal to homebuyers. 

Allie Angeloni
Long Realty - Oro Valley, AZ

Great Blog Lise Howe - very interesting and informative!  I love the idea that matte appliances will become popular, as we currently have black, and every day I'm wiping them down from dust and fingerprints - HA!  Not being a fan of 'grout' in general, the clean lines of larger floor tiles and shower surrounds is well worth noting, as well as cork flooring - again, love your Blog!

Jul 08, 2016 02:36 AM
Kartik Subramaniam
Adhi Schools, LLC - Rancho Cucamonga, CA
Market Analysis--Educational Content, Adhi Schools

Lise Howe great post! I think the green/energ efficient/eco friendly/smart tech notes you made are quite important. The technology exists now and people want it. Younger buyers definitely will and figures show millenials are not crazy about starter homes. So people want homes that have all of these amenities they will eventually want, now. 

Jul 08, 2016 03:16 AM
Belinda Spillman
Aspen Lane Real Estate Colorful Colorado - Aurora, CO
Colorado Living!

This sounds like a great list.  I will have to check out those new GE lights.  Cool stuff.

Jul 08, 2016 06:15 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Lise this is a good list to consider and keep on hand when renovating a house

Jul 08, 2016 10:29 AM
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

Good morning Lise.  These are some excellent tips that I will keep in mind for my own home.

Jul 08, 2016 09:24 PM
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

I see some of these trends in our market and others not so much. Still, a great list.

Jul 09, 2016 11:56 AM
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

I'm not surprised to find out that more and more buyers are looking for green features and more sustainable neighborhoods. 

Jul 09, 2016 04:32 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is good information to share with prospective home buyers. 

Have a most productive week.

Jul 09, 2016 08:32 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Lise -- I think finding the right balance between saving some green(as in dollars) and being green(eco-friendly) will lead to explosive growth in the category.  

Jul 10, 2016 02:30 AM