Top Features Home Buyers Want In 2020

As the world changes, and we pivot to adjust, one thing that remains constant in America is the desire to own a home. Our quest for homeownership is steadfast regardless of what is going on around us. But Phoenix real estate is experiencing a shift in terms of what homebuyers are looking for in 2020. To offer guidance on how this may impact selling your home, I compiled property features that top the wish list for today’s home buyers along with my recommendations for relative home selling tips.

Flexibility

There are more people staying home due to the pandemic, but even prior to that, telecommuting was on the rise. Buyers are looking for spaces that have the potential to offer more than their primordial function. This includes bedrooms and basements that could be converted to home offices, study rooms, and craft rooms. Families with children who have always been drawn to homes where the exterior incorporates a secondary play area are now mindful that this may be a primary recreation venue for children and adults for some time to come.

Large kitchens have historically been a focal point for home buyers, but now it extends beyond the vision of robust family gatherings, group cookery, and prodigious holiday events. As work and studies continue at home, overlapping lunch hours that had primarily been outside the home now compete for space in the kitchen. For some people, the kitchen also serves as a study area and an office.

Take a look around your home to see where clutter can be removed to help prospective buyers envision multipurpose spaces. Consider the lighting in the bedrooms, which may suffice for its basic function but may not showcase the rooms as potential office space. Recessed lighting, ceiling fans, and neutral-colored walls can broaden the possibilities from a buyer’s perspective.

Sustainability

While remote workers and students may be saving money on driving-related expenses, this may be offset by higher utility bills. There is a surge of interest in homes that are energy-efficient and limit our carbon footprint. While you may not own a net-zero home, there are steps you can take toward energy efficiency.

Consider Energy Star-rated replacements of old doors, windows, and air conditioning units. Research energy-efficient systems that may add value to your home for a future buyer like tankless or solar water heaters or solar panels to offset electricity costs. At a minimum, repair any cracks leaking air, install LED light bulbs, and purchase water-saving showerheads. As part of Brian Eastwood Real Estate services, I can help you identify which upgrades may be a worthwhile investment for Phoenix real estate and your home, in particular, based on your targeted time frame for selling your home and on what homebuyers are looking for in 2020.

Technology

The 2020 buyer’s ideal home is equipped with or has the capacity for integrated smart technology. This includes overarching innovation that involves easy control of heat, light, and security from a smartphone; voice-command assistance from smart speakers to control various home fixtures; and remote-controlled, video-enabled surveillance with a range of automated functions.

The Washington Post reports that millennials, also known as Generation Y, represent the largest population of homebuyers. This is an age group that ranges from the mid-20s to mid-40s. Having been raised in the digital age, they are accustomed to immediate information and virtual capability. Home selling tips that may give you an advantage include replacing standard outlets with USB outlets, adding smartphone charging outlets in the kitchen and installing an electrical outlet in the garage to accommodate an electric car or a second refrigerator/freezer.

Home selling tips

If you are selling your home with me, then you are probably familiar with my recommended marketing strategies, which zero in on flexibility, sustainability, and technology. In addition to extensive experience in Greater Phoenix real estate and all throughout the valley, I stay current on market trends. Please give me a call at 602-330-6813 or email me at brian@brianeastwood.com to discuss further insights and any concerns you may have about what homebuyers are looking for in 2020.