Home Features That Attract A Buyer

(If you are thinking of selling your home anytime in the near future, or are just thinking about making some improvements, you should always be in tune with current styles and trends, so when you go to sell you can get the most money for your home that you worked so hard on. )

With the slowing market, sellers should be especially aware of what attracts a potential buyer's attention since there is so much competition.

Everything from the appliance to the fixtures are important things to consider when doing home improvements. Also the style of home is also important for potential homeowners looking to buy.

An October 2, 2006 article by Elizabeth Weintraub of about.com, "Hot buttons for home buyers - What do home buyers want?" lists the styles, features and details that are important to today's home buyers.

To understand home buyers' hot buttons today, it's almost easier to look at what is not hot, at what buyers don't want to buy. There's a lot about the 1980s that many people don't appreciate such as much of the music -- except for U2 -- and most of the homes built in that decade. In fact, homes built from 1970 to 1999 are often passed over for older or newer homes. All of which means doing your best Nancy Reagan impersonation and just saying no to: Shag carpeting, Avocado-colored appliances, Walnut cabinets, baseboards, Formica counters and Gold-toned trim."

So it seems as if people are drifting towards very new things or very old things, and they are not interested in things say that are 20 years old.

The most popular styles and ages of homes are a bit surprising. Some of the most popular include: Pre WWII homes, which are styles such as Victorians, Tudors and Colonials; Mid-Century Homes, which encompass the sleek looks of the 1950s and Mediterranean, which incorporate Spanish or Italian details.

If your home encompasses one of these three styles, expect it to sell faster in this slow market than a traditional ranch home, or something of that nature.

When it comes to kitchens, most people navigate toward designs that are totally modern, or if not completely up-to-date, than at least very simple and clean.

"Herringbone floors; peach, pink or blue four-inch bathroom or kitchen tiles; art deco light fixtures and antique Wedgewood or O'Keefe & Merritt stoves are among the original features buyers crave. Never the twain shall meet in between, which means no wallpaper, no blue-and-yellow ducks with white neck-ribbons parading on borders, and no boxed ceiling lights."

This also includes installing the best appliances and up-to-date equipment in the kitchen.

Potential buyers are also looking for specialty rooms that were not normal features of homes until recently. Specialty rooms include fitness rooms, media centers and playrooms. If you are thinking of doing an addition, one of these could be a good choice.

And finally, make sure you chose a color scheme that is both classic and contemporary. "Earth-tone, soft colors. Lots of blues, greens, browns -- bringing the outdoors inside. Sharp contrasts with brilliant hues of red or orange accent walls."

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