3 min readSelling a home can have its share of high-stress moments. Even in the strongest real estate markets, the days leading up to a listing are a blur of rushed cleanings, last-minute emergencies, and triple-checking your finances—because you usually have to spend money on updating your home to get it to sell for over the asking price. So, if there were a feature you could add to your home that could potentially make it sell not only faster, but also for more money, would you do it?
If your answer is “yes,” then you’re in luck. Zillow recently shared data with House Beautiful, highlighting the home features that can help listings move more quickly and command higher prices. If your home already includes one of these elements, that’s a great advantage, but don’t feel pressured to add them just to sell. Think of them as value-boosting extras that can make your listing more appealing.
So, if you know you aren’t already living in your forever home and want to boost your property value, consider investing in at least one of these three features, so Future You can reap the rewards.
Pergolas
Well-maintained outdoor features always add to your curb appeal, but pergolas in particular are really what excite prospective home buyers, according to Zillow. The real estate marketplace reports that home listings with pergolas sell more than three days faster and for 2.2 percent more than similar homes without.
“Buyers are craving functional outdoor living spaces that feel like a natural extension of their indoor square footage,” Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert, explains. “Pergolas create a shady, defined gathering spot that makes the backyard usable for more months of the year.”
Not only do these additions offer shade and architectural interest—like the one in designer Parris McKenna’s backyard above—but they can also help visually section out different backyard zones. A pergola can transform any basic patio or patch of grass into basically an open-air room.
Turf
Turf, yet another outdoor feature, is the second-best element to have if you want your home to sell faster. According to Zillow’s findings, homes with turf sell more than two days faster than similar homes without, and they sell for 1.7 percent more. Prospective buyers like turf because they want an alfresco place to hang out at home, but lawn upkeep can be quite the burden.
“In a world where many homeowners are juggling busy schedules, drought restrictions, or simply don’t want to spend weekends mowing and watering, low-maintenance landscaping that stays picture-perfect year-round is a major selling point,” Pendleton says.
Open Shelving
Finally stepping inside the home, open shelving is another feature that’ll make your house sell faster—approximately two days faster and for 0.1 percent more than a similar home, reports Zillow.
Proper storage is an extremely important element within a home, and it’s surprisingly easy to mess up. But open shelving doesn’t just provide storage; it allows for an opportunity to bring more character to your space since everything is essentially on display. Shelves create a more custom feel (perfect for a rental home too) and don’t feel as heavy as bulky cabinets or armoires.
“That mix of function and personality helps homes with open shelving stand out online and can ultimately help them sell faster and for more,” Pendleton adds. It’s easier for a prospective buyer to imagine their own belongings in a home if they can actually see where they’d be displayed.
