Do you have the Home that Buyers want?

Knowing what appeals to today’s homebuyers can pay off when you sell your home.

Consider these trends if you are planning on upgrading your home to sell quickly:

1.      Privacy from neighbors remains at the top of the most-wanted list (important to 86% of buyers), according to the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS’® “2013 Community Preference Survey.” Mid-century ranches get a big thumb’s up on this with larger yards and more space between houses.

However, if your lot is smaller, adding a privacy fence will add value not just for privacy but also to keep pets and small children safe. Planting a living privacy screen of trees and shrubs is a great idea as trees also contribute to property value, energy savings and more.

2.      Homebuyers love energy efficiency. 85% of home buyers considered heating and cooling costs as important. If your home needs an energy-efficiency upgrade, go with projects that have a solid return on investment, like upgrading your HVAC system or adding a tank-less water heater. Sealing air leaks, adding attic insulation, installing energy-efficient appliances and energy-efficient lighting are all important. Also, tuck away manuals and energy-efficiency information when you buy new appliances and lighting for your buyers.

3.      More and more generations are living together. Another NAR survey, the “2013 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers,” found 14% of buyers purchased a home suited to a multigenerational household due to children over the age of 18 moving back into the house, cost savings, and the health and caretaking of aging parents. Adding a bath will always add value to the home. Add a full bath to the 1^st floor or basement to create an in-law apartment or teen suite to make it more appealing to a multigenerational family.

If you would like first-hand advice on how to sell your home quickly for top dollar, do give me a call at 803-348-9922 or email me at vsashikant@gmail.com for a weekly newsletter.

Check out all homes for sale in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net

Courtesy: HomeLogic

For… All Real Estate Matters!

What are the Gen Y-ers buying?

Today’s First-Time Home Buyers are Gen Y-ers – so… what are their characteristics?

Gen Y or Generation Y are those born between 1977~1982 and 1995~2001 making them 12 to 36 years of age today. They are the children of Baby Boomers, and in some cases, grandchildren.

Having spent their formative years or young adult lives in an unstable and unreliable economy, they may seem to be less caring and more self-centered. But various studies have shown that, in fact, it is the opposite.

Gen Y-ers have strong social and environmental values and concerns, and are in search of more caring and compassionate relationships, as is evident in the demand for same-sex marriages and environmental responsibility. They are techno-savvy and research everything from neighborhoods and schools to home loans and insurance.

Having been through a depression, they want value for their money.

How does this translate into home-buying? In 2 words: Going Green.

1.      They want energy efficiency - straight and simple. In appliances, insulation, windows, and roof.

2.      They strive for a more eco-conscious lifestyle in terms of water usage and use of up-cycled goods.

3.      They will shop around a lot more for a home.

 

Search for all available homes in Columbia and Lexington at www.homesincolumbiasc.net.