What are buyers looking for in a home...How does your home measure up???

The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) just released its 2007 Profile of Buyers’ Home Feature Preferences. Their survey measures national trends in buyer preferences.

By understanding what buyers want most in their new home, you can better determine your home's appeal to today's buyers.

Let's look at the questions NAR asked and the answers to those questions...

1. What single home feature do buyers say they want most in a new home? (Central air conditioning)

2. What’s the median size of homes purchased between late 2005 and early 2007? (1,840 square feet)

3. Repeat buyers tend to be choosier than first-time buyers. In particular, repeat buyers place much more emphasis on these home features: (Oversized garages and master bedroom walk-in closets)

4. Within three months after buying their new home, nearly half of all buyers remodeled or made improvements to which part of the house? (Kitchen)

5. Which home feature saw the biggest jump in buyer popularity since 2004, when NAR conducted its previous buyer preference survey? (Oversized garage)

6. What three features did buyers say they’d be most willing to pay extra for in a home? (Central air conditioning, walk-in closets, and hardwood floors)

7. A home’s energy efficiency is most important to which segment of buyers? (New-home buyers)

8. Where do first-time home buyers tend to purchase a home? (Suburb or subdivision)

9. What’s the most common type of home purchased? (Single level)

10. What did new-home buyers most wish their home had more of? (Storage)

Now that you know what buyers are looking for...
perhaps, you are asking yourself..."What if my home doesn't have what they want?"

No worries! One thing I've learned is that there IS a buyer for every home. However, as a REALTOR®, I can tell you that it is much easier to market and sell a home that fits the needs and desires of the majority of buyers. A 'unique' home will appeal to a small pool of potential buyers. Although it only takes one buyer to buy your home, it is easier to find that 'one' buyer if you have a large buyer pool in which to fish!

By knowing what 'they' (the buyers) want...you can better evaluate how your home measures up. Once you recognize your home's strengths and weaknesses, you can decide what you need to do to increase your home's appeal. Often...small changes make huge differences.

Even if you choose to do nothing, you will be making your decision from an informed perspective.


If you, or someone you know, is planning to buy or sale...I'd love to help!
Please contact me, Elizabeth Nieves, Broker, REALTOR®
The Elizabeth Nieves Realty Group @ Keller Williams
(919)749-3749 or Elizabeth@ElizabethNieves.com


To search EVERY HOME FOR SALE IN THE MLS...visit my website @ www.ElizabethNieves.com.