7 Popular Home Design Features That Can Sell Your Property Faster

Popular home design features can be a key factor in selling your property. In fact, it is often one of the first things buyers notice when they walk into a home. It is also a detail that you, as a seller, can easily control.

According to Realtor.com’s 2022 housing market forecast, home for-sale inventory will increase from last year. Similarly, as will the projected number of overall sales.¹ Thus, if you are looking to sell soon, now is the time to consider how you can stand out.

Updating your home design features is one way to do that. For example, changes like new security features or upgraded siding can add value to your home now. Moreover, it can be highlighted when you market it for sale later. To get the most out of your updates, focus on these popular home design features that will wow buyers.

Keep in mind, not all of these will work well in every house. If you plan to buy, list, or renovate a property, please call us. B&B Consulting can help you realize your vision and maximize the impact of your investment.

Eco-Friendly Fixtures

Millennials account for the largest share of current homebuyers, according to the National Association of Realtors.² For example, did you know that sustainable living tops the list of priorities for this generation? A recent Deloitte survey found nearly one-third of millennials initiate or deepen their consumer investment in products or services that help the environment. This also includes the houses they choose to live in.³

Here are a few eco-friendly home design features that will be attractive to these millennial buyers in 2022. In addition, they can also net a significant return on investment (ROI) for you, as a seller.

Energy-Efficient Windows: Heat gain or loss from low-performance windows drives 25–30 percent of home heating and cooling costs, according to Energy.gov.⁴ Therefore, energy-efficient windows can help homeowners save money.
Low-Flow Water Fixtures: According to the EPA, replacing your shower head with one labeled with WaterSense can save four gallons of water with each shower.⁵ Doing the same with your faucet can save 700 gallons per year. Thus, this leads to cost savings and environmental support.
Native Landscaping: According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, 58 percent of members report increased client demand for native trees and plants. This is to combat biodiversity loss from climate change.⁶ As a result, enhance the eco-friendly appeal of your home with some native plants in the front yard.

Wellness Retreat Nooks

The pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health. For example, many people are relocating to quieter, more peaceful homes to prioritize mental health. 22 percent of city dwellers plan to move to less congested residential areas, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute’s (HIRI) 2021 Insights Summit.⁷

However, no matter where you live, you can still interest buyers by jumping on this trend. At-home wellness amenities, once viewed as luxuries. Now they are on many homeowners’ and guests’ must-have lists. For instance, indoor spaces that function as a retreat for wellness and self-care have become popular, according to HIRI.

Improve your quality of life in your home with reading nooks, spa-inspired bathrooms, and exercise or meditation spaces. Making simple tweaks to natural light, air purifiers, and indoor plants can help guests feel better in your home now. Furthermore, this enables future buyers to see the opportunity for their own space.

Calming Paint Colors

Paint colors that produce a calming atmosphere will also be a key selling point in 2022. In particular, soft earth tones and natural hues will prevail this year. For example, this includes various shades of blue, green, brown, and beige. Recent research suggests avoiding trendy paint colors. Rather, favor more of a classic palette to bring the feel of nature indoors (in a subtle and soothing way).⁸

In fact, the same research found that buyers often pay an extra $4,698 for a house with a light blue bathroom. An extra $1,491 for a house with a dark blue bedroom. Another crowd-pleasing hue to refresh the walls with is BEHR’s 2022 paint color of the year, known as Breezeway.⁹

This shade of green with silver undertones was created to mimic sea glass. As the BEHR website describes it, Breezeway “evokes feelings of coolness and peace, while representing a desire to move forward and discover newfound passions.”

Home Safety Features

Buyers want peace of mind more now than ever before. According to a 2021 survey from the American Institute of Architects, members report an increase in popularity of these home safety features¹⁰:

Emergency backup power generation
Accommodations for multiple generations
Wider accessible doorways and hallways
Home security monitoring equipment
Interior ramps and home elevator features

Consider how you can build home safety features like these into the design of your home to enhance your guests’ quality of life now and attract more buyers later. For example, you can install a backup generator in the garage and sell it with the house. In addition, you can also update your major doorways to be wider.

Before investing in expensive home safety upgrades, please contact us. B&B Consulting can help you determine what will deliver the greatest ROI for your location and goals.

Luxury Kitchen Retouches

The kitchen has always been a main focal point of interior design. That is no different in 2022. This year’s buyers want a kitchen with new upgrades and retouches. However, you do not have to renovate the entire kitchen to make an impact. If you are not sure where to start, here are a few tips. You can create a kitchen with home design features that buyers will love. Plus, there is no need to spend too much money on renovations:

Repaint the kitchen, keeping the calm and nature-inspired colors in mind. Painting cabinets and walls with a lighter color can make all the difference.
Update the hardware. These kitchen “accessories” stand out and add personality to an otherwise standard kitchen.
Update light fixtures to bring in more light, while also adding a fresh look and feel to the space.

Unique Accent Walls

In a recent interview with the National Association of Realtors, Brian Santos, the director of education for Fresh Coat Painters, explains that bold, unique accent walls are trendy right now.¹² An accent wall gives a home character, while maintaining the calming feel of natural- and neutral-colored walls.

Santos also explains that this is part of a design aesthetic that draws inspiration from the Roaring Twenties. It is likely to remain a sought-after home feature in 2022. Here are some bold colors to consider for your home’s accent walls:

Solid black
Jewel or metallic tones
Textured wallpaper
Painted ceilings
Built-in shelves

If you are planning to sell in the next year, talk to us before adding an accent wall. Depending on your target buyer, it may be a home design feature that hurts your home’s value. B&B Consulting can run a free Comparative Market Analysis to help you understand what would resell best.

Exterior Siding Updates

A new exterior siding refresh is one of the most affordable renovation projects you can do to increase a home’s resale value. The average cost is just $12 per square foot, but higher-end material options can push costs closer to $50 per square foot.¹³ What is more, there are many siding materials available, from fiber-cement, brick, and wood to vinyl, metal, and stone.

While all these options can infuse the exterior with character and add curb appeal, fiber-cement and vinyl deliver the highest ROI. According to a 2021 Cost vs. Value Report, a vinyl siding replacement can boost resale value by $11,315 (68.3 percent cost recoup). A fiber-cement siding replacement can boost resale value by $13,618 (69.4 percent cost recoup).¹⁴

Give your home this simple, affordable, and attractive facelift before putting it on the market. If you are not sure how to get started yourself, realtor Rob Sales can connect you to a trusted vendor to guide you through the process.

However, do not cover a historic home with vinyl or aluminum siding. People are attracted to older homes made of natural materials. Trying to make a historic home look “like new” will remove the authentic charm that makes it so special.

Furthermore, if you own a designated historic property, there are likely preservation ordinances that govern design guidelines. Thus, there are procedures for proposing alterations to it. These are meant to preserve architectural character and protect your long-term investment. Before making any home improvements, contact your local historic board or the National Register of Historic Places.

Keep These Home Design Features on Your Radar

These home design features can infuse personality into your home. This can help close the deal faster if you plan to sell in 2022. The average buyer knows exactly what they are looking for in a space they plan to call home and/or operate as a B&B inn. With some investment and foresight, you can give your house an edge over the competition. Furthermore, you will boost resale value in the process.

B & B Consulting

However, you do not need to make all these changes to your home design features to attract more buyers. B&B Consulting can help you determine which home design features you should add to your property. We will share insights and tips on how to maximize your return on investment.

We can also run a Comparative Market Analysis on your home to find out how it compares to similar properties. This will help us decide what changes need to be made. Contact us to schedule a free consultation!