Last Updated on August 24, 2023
Think you know what buyers want? Now, you don’t even have to guess, thanks to a recent report by Curbio outlining exactly what buyers today are looking for.
Not surprisingly, the overwhelming majority of future buyers are looking for move-in-ready homes, with 77% of buyers citing this as a make-or-break deciding factor. In terms of home features that give off the biggest WOW factor,
- 68% of buyers say a gorgeous kitchen makes the best first impression
- 59% of buyers say a new bathroom is the best first impression
- 55% are most impressed with an open layout
- 53% report that a backyard oasis gives off the best first impression
- 52% cite new flooring as the best first impression
In terms of ROI when you sell your home, the top five improvements are:
- A kitchen refresh yields 377% (A kitchen refresh includes painting cabinets, new countertops, new hardware, and new appliances)
- Refinishing hardwood floors yields 348%
- Basic listing prep yields 297%
- Roof replacement yields 288%
- Carpet replacement yields 280%
Now that you have a good idea what buyers are looking for, here’s what they aren’t:
- Disrepair: foundation, plumbing or HVAC (42% say this is the biggest red flag)
- Cosmetic issues: old paint, stained carpet, etc. (24% said this was the biggest red flag)
- Dated kitchen (23% said this was the biggest red flag)
- No curb appeal (9% said this was the biggest red flag)
If you’re thinking of selling soon, it might be time to update your space with the help of our partner, Curbio. Curbio partners with Allen Tate agents to “fix now, pay later,” deferring 100% of the fees until closing for those with enough equity in their home.
