Table of Contents
‘She Sheds’, steam ovens and terrazzo floors can help homes sell for up to $17,400 MORE than their value – but walk-in closets and open shelving can devalue properties
- Data analysis by Zillow showed how certain features could increase the value of a house, or speed up the time it takes to sell
- The biggest value increase comes with a steam oven, which adds a potential $17,400 to the value of a property priced at the U.S. average of $328,301
- Having a walk-in closet or tiles reduces the value of a home: having a doorbell camera speeds the sale
Home sellers looking to boost the value of their property should consider installing a steam over, pizza oven or ‘She Shed’, according to new research from Zillow – and remove the walk-in wardrobe.
Data analyzed by the home sales and rental company found that significant gains could be made in a property’s value by installing certain features.
A steam oven was the top of the list, adding a potential $17,400 to the value of a property priced at the U.S. average of $328,301.
Steam ovens are currently for sale for around $4,000.
A pizza oven added 3.7 percent, or $12,147, while terrazzo tiles on the floor added 2.6 percent, or $8,535.
Installing a ‘She Shed’ can increase the value of your house by 2.5 percent, or $8,207 for the average property, according to Zillow
The ‘She Shed’ is designed as an alternative to the ‘Man Cave’
A steam oven adds the most value to a home, Zillow found
Zillow pointed to an article in Vogue magazine, from 2019, which said that searches for terrazzo tiles were soaring throughout 2018, and demand for some editions rose by 50 percent in 2018, according to Artistic Tile, which has showrooms across the country.
Another sure-fire way to increase the value of your home was to install a ‘She Shed’ in the garden – a female version of the ‘man cave’.
The trend was initially highlighted by DailyMail.com in 2016, with ‘She Sheds’ being described as anything from a place with a comfortable sofa and a spot to balance a cup of tea or glass of wine, to enjoy a moment’s peace, to a mini art studio, craft room, yoga studio, greenhouse or music room.
Installing a ‘She Shed’ can increase the value of your house by 2.5 percent, or $8,207.
Zillow also noted ways to make your house sell faster, even if not necessarily for more money.
Top of the list was a doorbell camera, which can make your house sell 5.1 days quicker than houses without.
Soapstone countertops, open shelving and a fenced-in backyard would also speed the sale of your home.
Terrazzo flooring (pictured) adds significant value to a property
A walk-in wardrobe can actually reduce the value of a property, Zillow found
Some features of a house might increase the value, but slow down the sale.
Listings that mention wine cellars can command a 1.2 percent sale premium, but take five days longer to sell than similar homes.
And some factors reduce the value of a property.
Homes with tile countertops can sell for 1.1 percent less than expected, reducing the price by $3,611.
Homes with laminate flooring or countertops can sell for 0.6 percent less than similar homes.
Perhaps surprisingly, walk-in closets can hurt a home’s value by 0.7 percent, or $2,298.
And while a swimming pool increases the value of a home in Arizona, it is seen as a hassle in Indiana.
‘Homeowners looking to sell for top dollar this spring will want to highlight these home features if they’ve got them,’ Zillow concludes.
