Put yourself in a buyer’s shoes. When you’re buying a house, it’s not going to be something you think about overnight. Houses are expensive and require long term commitment, whether you’re going to buy them through a mortgage loan or lump sum cash. You’d want to buy a house that has everything you need. Well, the basics, at least. And if you’re feeling a little bit indulgent, you may also consider listing the things you want in a house.
The real estate industry is continuously becoming more accessible for homebuyers, homesellers, and agents alike in today’s digital age. Gone are the days when you need first to contact a real estate agent to know what’s on the market. Nowadays, people who want to buy a house anywhere in the world only need to access the internet to start looking. And this is where it becomes advantageous for sellers.
Search engines, like Google, store searched data and makes non-private information available for everyone to see. These data are often accessed by companies who want to understand their target market. And you can take this to your advantage too! If you are thinking about renovating or remodelling your home before selling it, perhaps you want to know what homebuyers around the U.S. are looking for in a home.
Here are some of the most searched features of a home, on Google, in the last 12 months:
Homes with Swimming Pool
Who doesn’t want a private pool? Pools are areas for exercise, healing, entertainment, and stress relief. While some experts say that swimming pools don’t add value in general, others also point out that pools add value depending on the location. Whether or not they add value, pools arguably increase your chances of a faster sale. So if you have some extra space in your house (indoor or outdoor), you might want to think about installing a pool. It doesn’t have to be Olympic-grade, right?
Moreover, there are different kinds of pools for indoors and outdoor settings. Lining material-wise, you can choose between concrete, fiberglass, or vinyl. The construction price will also depend on the size, shape, and depth. As reported by Home Guide, installing an in-ground pool may cost between $20,000 to $195,000.
If in-ground pools are too way out of the budget, you can also ask your contractor about other types of swimming pools. That way, you don’t have to spend as much but still cater to what buyers are looking for.
Homes with Acreage
If you didn’t know it yet, acreage means land. Homes with extra outdoor space are pretty attractive to property buyers because they can do a lot with it. If a home’s value can dwindle because of poor maintenance, a land’s value will not because it is a scarce resource. With the increasing popularity of growing your own produce and the enhanced appreciation of the great outdoors during CoVid, private outdoor spaces have become more premium and sought-after.
You might be wondering why this is on the list when acreage cannot be built. Well, for some homeowners, taking down a worn-out portion of the property may be more cost-effective than renovating it. If this applies to you, you can offer more outdoor space to your buyers.
Homes with A Guest Room
Third on our list are homes with guest rooms. Apparently, a lot of people love to have guests over. This comes almost at par with the interest for homes with an in-law suite. In-law suites are similar to guest rooms where visitors stay but with amenities similar to a tiny apartment — like a small, secondary home.
If you have a spare room in the house or extra outdoor space, you can consider building a simple guest room or suite. It’s perfect for families who are fond of get-togethers with relatives and friends.
Homes with RV Garage / Big Garage
Mobile homes are on-trend and on-demand. In fact, according to MOZ, a popular search engine optimization software, there are approximately 42,000 search queries every month for “mobile home for sale” in the entire country. Some of the top locations in Georgia where mobile homes are currently popular include Thomasville, Savannah, Macon, and Augusta.
Perhaps, this is one reason why many buyers are looking for homes with huge garages. So if there’s some space in your property that you can convert to an RV-friendly garage, that might also help you sell your home faster.
Homes with A Pond
Natural/artificial ponds or any water feature in general help create a sense of serenity. For other people, it allows them to do recreational fishing in the comfort of their own homes. Whatever the reason is, it doesn’t change the fact that ponds can increase the value of your property and sell it faster.
There are more home features that add value to your home. If you want help identifying which renovation work would add the most value according to your budget, and sell your house fast at the same time, contact us at HomeSoldGA. We are highly trusted real estate specialists in Georgia, and we can sell your home fast and with less hassle for you. You can call us at 770-668-4888.