Updating your home with the most popular home features is a great way to add value to your home. Many home features that are popular across the country are also very popular among San Francisco residents. However, unlike some areas of the country, San Francisco homeowners and homebuyers are very knowledgeable and interested in-home features that will benefit the planet and save money in the long run. Below are five home features in San Francisco that add value.
Energy-Efficient Features
Energy efficiency is a front-of-mind concern for many homebuyers in the San Francisco area and in the Pacific region as a whole. Over 58% of real estate agents believe homebuyers on the Pacific Coast are likely to care about energy efficiency. Nationally, the most sought-after energy-efficient feature is windows according to 61% of real estate agents. Homebuyers are looking for Energy-Star certified windows that will reduce energy consumption in their home. According to over 53% of top real estate agents, buyers in the Pacific region are also very interested in solar panels as an energy-efficient upgrade. The interest in solar panels differentiates the Pacific region from the rest of the country where solar panels are not very popular. Buyers are also interested in LED or CFL lighting, sufficient insulation in attics, basements, and crawl spaces, and ceiling fans that enhance air conditioning. Of course, energy-efficient appliances are also of interest to San Francisco homebuyers.
Dedicated Work Space
While the pandemic may have momentarily forced some adults to work remotely, it allowed others to completely switch from in-office work to fully remote. This permanent transition has left many homebuyers searching for a space that will allow them the privacy that remote work requires. Many San Francisco home buyers are searching for a home with a dedicated workspace. Homebuyers are interested in a home office that is more than 100 square feet, however, just having a dedicated workspace is a bonus. Homebuyers prefer their home office to be painted in neutral colors with plenty of natural light.
Great Curb Appeal
Just like the rest of the nation, Pacific region homebuyers love a home with beautiful curb appeal. This includes neatly cut grass, low-maintenance landscaping, and well-lit exteriors. Landscaping in San Francisco is simple, modern, and minimalistic. Natural features such as stone and brick pavers are preferred by homebuyers as are areas that provide shade. Landscaped areas should be easy to maintain and drought tolerant while still providing a burst of colorful foliage. Adding solar-powered pathway lights, hanging lights, and tree lights are popular ways to add warmth to a home while conserving energy. In-ground stake lights can also be placed on railings, steps, and walkways for an additional glow. Investing in your curb appeal won’t just make your home look more beautiful, it will add to the value of your home when you go to sell. HomeLight agents agree that buyers will pay 7% more for a house with great curb appeal.
Smart Features
Members of the San Francisco community are ahead of most of the country when it comes to smart technology. After all, California is one of the leading states in technological advancement. When it comes to home buying, members of the San Francisco community are looking for smart features that will make their lives more secure and more efficient. Some favorite smart features are those that double as environmentally-friendly amenities. Smart water faucets in the kitchen and bathrooms reduce water consumption, smart refrigerators reduce energy usage, and smart thermostats cool homes on the hottest of California days while using smart technology to limit excess energy usage. Homebuyers are also interested in smart home technology such as smart locks with motion-activated cameras, motion-activated security lights, and smart fire and carbon monoxide alarms. Adding even a few of these smart features to a home will increase the home’s value and marketability, as nearly 61% of millennial homebuyers favor a home with smart technology.
Expanded Your Outdoor Space
Homeowners across the country have spent the past several years sprucing up their outdoor space. San Francisco homebuyers are just as interested as buyers across the country to find a home that includes outdoor features such as an in-ground pool, fireplace, outdoor kitchen, and patio. Homebuyers in the Pacific area are very interested in a spacious outdoor living room, according to 62% of local real estate agents. Something that provides a relaxing and comfortable environment where they can kick their feet up or entertain family and friends. Of course, you can’t have an outdoor living room without a spacious patio. Homebuyers are interested in patios made from natural materials such as wood, stone, or brick. They are also interested in a patio that features some form of a shade element. This can be a full or partial shade element In addition to an outdoor living room, an outdoor kitchen is very popular among homebuyers. Most buyers would like to see at least a built-in grill, counter space, and sink. The home’s within a higher price range benefit from outdoor kitchens that are more extensive with high-end materials, a large built-in grill, pizza oven, sink, small refrigerator, and shade element. Finally, the ultimate outdoor upgrade that is top of the list according to 76% of real estate agents is a firepit. There are a variety of fire pits to choose from some that burn gas and others that burn wood. They vary greatly in size, height, and construction materials so the options are endless.
Updating your home with features that are popular among home buyers is a great way to add value to your home. San Francisco homeowners can choose from a variety of smart and energy-efficient home features as well as outdoor features that will delight many homebuyers and in the process add value to their home.
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