The features buyers look for...and the ones they loathe

When selling, it pays to understand which features will really float the boat of potential home buyers.

Spa bath? Pool room? Patio?

Jackson Jones brings you the latest research on what buyers value most in a potential home, and what they’d prefer to donate to the jumble…

The most valued features are:

1) Separate living spaces

Remember when open plan was the essential selling tool? Not anymore. The concept has evolved, and buyers now want more than one living zone so family members don’t feel they’re constantly on top of one another.

Having a dedicated games room separate from the kitchen and dining area is highly sought-after. It’s worth rebranding your seldom-used formal dining room. Or even putting in a partition wall to create a separate living space - if the floor plan allows.

2) An office

In the post-COVID era, working remotely is a big deal. Office space may be essential for making a living and can become one of the big draw cards for potential buyers.

Staging one of the bedrooms in the house as a home office can help, particularly as a pokey bedroom can look far more appealing as a well-configured workspace.

3) Inside-outside flow

Making your outdoor space feel like an extension of the home can play a major part in improving its value and appeal. According to Forbes Home, in a world where average internal floorspaces are shrinking, it allows homeowners to feel like their home is bigger and their living space is expansive. 

When renovating, choose materials that work both inside and outside to emphasise the connectedness of the spaces. Amplifying the outside as an entertaining space with quality lighting, ceiling fans, luxe outdoor settings, bi-fold doors and even an outdoor kitchen can amplify your results at sale time. 

If you have a pool - bingo! Data from realestate.com.au shows swimming pools are the number one feature Aussie buyers are searching for.

According to Roy Morgan, More than 3.1 million Aussies live in a house with a pool or spa, equivalent to one in seven of us (14%).

4) Garage space

Over the past three years, garages have jumped up from realestate.com.au’s seventh most searched-for feature to its second. But ask most Australians what’s stored in their garage and the answer is rarely cars.

As suburban lot sizes continue to shrink, storage space is at a premium and a garage is a flexible space which can store most of our toys - big and small. Buyers are very aware that a garage adds to resale value, even if it’s not a priority for them.

5) Practical positives

Buyers are good at identifying whether changes are cosmetic or structural. If a property is priced fairly, they will often appreciate the value-add potential of tired finishes, rather than being phased by them. Our advice is to touch up paint and dints where necessary and always present your home as clean and fresh, but don’t over capitalise.

Most buyers are turned on by features like built-in storage, walk-in closets, separate laundries and standalone showers. 

Modern buyers, particularly millennials, love high-tech energy savers. Solar is a big selling plus, while energy efficient insulation and windows systems are popular and fast-charge electric points are becoming increasingly prized.

The least valued are: 

OK, so we know what buyers want, but here are the features that see them running for the door.

1) Spa baths

Nice on holiday but increasingly a no-no at home. As real estate personality media personality Veronica Morgan told homestolove.com.au:

"They aren't luxe, and most buyers hate them - particularly the oversized corner ones."

Replacing a spa bath with a freestanding tub or walk-in shower might be worth investigating.

2) Personality overload

Seller quirks littered throughout a home can stop a buyer picturing themselves living there. Got a collection of crocheted tea cozies? Be sure to box them on open home day.

Using colour to personalise a space is great for a hotel looking to differentiate its brand, but not advisable when looking to sell a home.

As Megan Vella, sales specialist at Jackson Jones, says:

“Vivid paint colours can limit your pool of buyers and may be worth toning down pre-sale.”

3) Lack of sunlight

It’s vital to plan natural light into your design choices when sprucing your home up for sale.

According to realestate.com.au:

“Buyers aren’t necessary seeking a skyline or beach view above other features. But being able to see as much blue sky as possible is important to anyone considering purchasing a home”.

Strategically placed mirrors, light-coloured walls and furniture, sheer curtains and skylights all help amplify natural light in a dark space.

4) Impractical kitchens

As the heart of a home, the kitchen is a space which will immediately attract buyers or turn them off. This doesn’t, however, mean you should rush into a reno which costs thousands but fails to deliver on practicality.

Veronica Morgan says a sparkling new kitchen will fall as flat as its stone-effect countertops if the design lacks common sense.

"Buyers see this as money that the vendor has recently poured into the home and will expect to have returned. But a poorly designed new kitchen is also a major expense for the potential buyer, as they'll have to have it ripped out all over again because they won't want to live with it."

Low cost touch-ups like tapware, door handles and paint can add appeal without costing a bomb.

5) Trendy renos

Classic features like hardwood floors and fireplaces never go out of fashion, but trendy decor choices lose their lustre fast, with gold-coloured fittings, all-white kitchens and light grey paint colours on the wane in 2024.

According to US website todayshomeowner.com, the average return on investment for home remodeling projects is 69% - meaning homeowners will recoup only 69% of the money they put into their renos come sale time.

So think carefully about letting loose on a series of stylish upgrades. Any changes must add value and appeal when it comes to taking your home to market.