13 Home Features Today's Buyers Want Most

1. Laundry room

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 86%
• Cost to install: $1,300 to $15,000, depending on location and finishes

More than anything else, homeowners want a dedicated laundry room where they can hide the dirty clothes and stack the clean ones until they get put away. A separate laundry room tops the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) list of most-wanted home features by buyers. "Having a separate room [to use for things such as folding or ironing clothes] helps to keep the mess out of your living space . . . Potential buyers will see it as a huge benefit," says Paul Sullivan, founder and president of the The Sullivan Company, a Newton, Mass., remodeling and custom-building firm.

If you don't have an existing laundry room and want to add one, the basement is usually the easiest (and cheapest) place to put it, Sullivan advises. The utility lines are already there, and in many cases the basement is unfinished, so you won't have to demolish anything first.

If you’re investing in a new washer and dryer, look for Energy Star-certified models that will save you energy and money. Add good lighting and a utility sink, where you can wash out or presoak heavily stained or dirty items. Depending on your budget and space, you can add stock or custom cabinetry, a folding table or countertops.

2. Patio

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 86%
• Cost to install: $1,965 - $5,856.

It's important for homeowners not to neglect the backyard area when prepping for resale, says Mike McGrew, chairman and CEO of McGrew Real Estate, a Lawrence, Kansas-based realty firm.

In today's housing market, outdoor living spaces have become one of the most coveted outdoor home features.

"When most buyers see a house with a really nice backyard, they start to envision themselves sitting outdoors with friends having drinks," McGrew adds. Also, outdoor areas offer more living space without the cost of a large-scale home addition.

With the popularity of home renovation reality shows, many buyers have come to expect the eye-catching features they see on TV in real life, the NAR's Lautz says. Some of these shows, such as HGTV's Curb Appeal and Backyard Takeover, focus on outdoor living spaces. The more expensive the home, the more buyers desire such exterior features as an outdoor fireplace, says the NAHB.

Because patios are generally made of concrete or pavers, they tend to cost less than a wood deck or porch to construct and are generally easier to maintain, say, with powerwashing versus periodic staining and resealing or painting. However, their resale value will likely be less than a deck or porch, according to BobVila.com.

3. Energy Star windows

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 83%
• Cost to install: $425 to $2,300 per window

Would-be buyers looking to limit utility bills will be drawn to properties with Energy Star-qualified windows and appliances. "Gone are the days when these types of features were an anomaly. Today's home buyers expect energy efficiencies," Compass's Lewis notes. If you don't already have these features, examine your remodeling budget and decide where you can afford to spend.

You can get up to $600 in federal tax credits on qualified Energy Star windows. Check the Department of Energy website for federal and local rebates and other offers, and read Kiplinger's overview of tax credits for energy-efficient home improvements.

Energy Star-qualified windows have two or three panes of glass with an invisible glass coating, vacuum-sealed spaces filled with air or inert gas between panes, sturdier weather stripping than regular windows and improved framing materials — all of which reduce undesirable heat gain and loss in the home. They can trim heating and cooling costs by 12%.

Once installed, sellers should be sure to play up these money-saving features in their home listings.

4. Exterior lighting

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 82%
• Cost to install: $100 for DIY up to $6,000 for professional installation

Illuminating a well-manicured lawn with exterior lighting can help grab potential buyers' attention before they even set foot in the front door. In fact, exterior lighting is the most-wanted outdoor feature after patios, according to the NAHB report. Options include spotlights, walkway lights and pendant lights.

Aesthetics aside, exterior lighting also serves as an added safety feature for your home, says Daniel Hurst, owner and general manager of Hurst Design-Build-Remodel, a Middleburg Heights, Ohio-based home remodeling company. Motion-sensor lights, for example, turn on automatically whenever there is movement outside your house.

5. Ceiling fan

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 81%
• Cost to purchase and install: $185 to $4,618 per fixture

In addition to improving a home's aesthetic, energy-efficient ceiling fans (ranging in price from $45 to $4,000 at Lowe's) can also help lower cooling costs when used in conjunction with or instead of an air conditioner during the warmer months.

Ceiling fans create a wind-chill effect that helps cool the people sitting in the room. Homeowners should be able to raise the thermostat level by four degrees without a reduction in comfort while the fan is in use with air conditioning, according to Energy.gov.

Energy.gov also recommends that ceiling fans only be used in rooms with a ceiling height of at least eight feet. The fans work best at that height and when they're hanging 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.

If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4°F with no reduction in comfort. In temperate climates, or during moderately hot weather, ceiling fans may allow you to avoid using your air conditioner altogether.

6. Garage storage space

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 81%
• Cost to install: $600 to $2,600 to add a storage system to an existing garage, or $10,500 to $57,000 to install a new garage

Buyers with growing families need lots of storage space. Would-be sellers should keep in mind that "streamlined living equates to more dollars in your pocket at sale time," Compass's Lewis says. Carving out some space in your garage to help keep clutter out of the main level could help your bottom line. "Make sure the bonus space is easily accessible and wonderfully organized," Lewis advises.

The installation cost listed here includes adding storage, electric circuits and lighting, plus peg wallboard for tool storage.

7. Front porch

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 81% (75% of buyers would like a rear porch or deck)
• Cost to install: $14,500 on average for a 200-square-foot porch

A front porch provides a place between curb and front door where homeowners can relax, watch the world go by, and interact with friends and neighbors, socially distanced if need be. Because it’s covered, it’s an extension of your living space. It protects you from the rain; if it’s screened in, you can avoid bugs, too. However, the overhanging roof will reduce the natural light your home receives through front windows (skylights in the porch roof will help).

According to ThisOldHouse.com, a porch should be at least 6 feet deep to allow for comfortable seating or 10 feet deep for outdoor dining. (Many newer homes are built with a shallow porch of say, 4 feet deep, more for looks than real-world use.) Make sure the style of the porch matches your home.

If you already have a porch, provide comfortable seating without overcrowding the space. Add pops of color with cushions, pillows and a rug meant for exterior use and containers of flowers. Add a ceiling fan rated for outdoor use to provide a cooling breeze when nature doesn’t.

If you want more privacy and less street noise or don’t want to reduce natural light in your home, a deck out back may be a better alternative than a porch. Because a deck doesn’t have a roof, it’s lighter than a porch and will need less structural support, so for the same square footage, it will probably cost less than a porch, according to BobVila.com. (According to Angi, the typical cost range is $4,349 to $12,361.)

As with any addition, make sure your project is permitted, conforms to building codes and doesn’t cause you to exceed lot coverage requirements in your area.

8. Hardwood floors in the main living area

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 81%
• Cost to install: between $6 and $25 per square foot to lay and finish hardwood floors

Hardwood flooring offers a natural look, is less allergenic, is easier to maintain and is more durable than carpet, which needs to be replaced every 10 years or so. It can be refinished periodically and lasts a lifetime.

Sellers on a budget may want to buy engineered wood flooring (which is a hardwood veneer on top of several layers of other types of wood that form a plywood core. One popular brand of engineered wood flooring, Pergo, will cost between $4 and $20 per square foot for materials and installation.

9. Full bath on the main level

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 80%
• Cost to install: Varies with the project

A full bath incorporates sink, toilet, and tub and shower. Families like one on the main floor it because parents can supervise bath time of older children while cleaning up the kitchen after dinner.

Mature people like it because of the potential to live on one floor, especially if an adjacent room could be converted to a bedroom. An existing powder room could be converted to a full bath by incorporating space from an adjacent closet, room or hallway.

The typical space required for a small bathroom, with a tub-and-shower combination, is 40 square feet (typically 5 feet by 8 feet), according to Modernize.com. Mature folks may want a separate walk-in shower, which requires a bit more space (45 square feet, or 5 feet by 9 feet). Consider swapping a swing door for a pocket door and adding features to enhance accessibility, such as a wider doorway, nonslip flooring and grab bars.

10. Energy Star appliances

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: N/A
• Cost to install: $123 to $298

Efficient home appliances will save you money and spruce up your house when it's time to sell. That's because they cost less to run over their lifetimes than less-efficient models and because they often come with incentives.

For example, an Energy Star clothes washer will save you about $550 in electricity costs over its lifetime. Some utilities also offer a $75 rebate for switching to an Energy Star model. Check the Energy Star Rebate Finder; enter your zip code to check for rebates on the appliance you want to replace. The largest rebates are for heat pumps (30% off up to $2,000) and geothermal heat pumps (26% off the project's cost in 2024).

11. Walk-in kitchen pantry

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: N/A
• Cost to install: Varies based on design

A walk-in pantry is a coveted kitchen feature among buyers polled in the NAHB's report. Why? Home buyers with families know that the kitchen can quickly become overcrowded when there's not enough space to store the essentials (think: canned goods, condiments and food storage containers). And those who shop in bulk at warehouse clubs or big box retailers or online to avoid making frequent trips and face in-store crowds will need extra space in the kitchen area to store their goods.

Unlike reach-in closet pantries with sliding doors that offer limited space, walk-in versions allow homeowners to store larger quantities of non-perishable food items and other kitchen essentials just steps away from the food prep area, suggests Neil Parsons, a project designer for Move or Improve a Matawan, N.J.-based home design firm.

Walk-in pantries are typically 5x5 feet and have U-shaped open shelves or cabinets with a countertop, according to ThisOldHouse.com. Make sure the pantry is situated somewhere that is cool and dry.

12. Landscaping

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: N/A
• Cost to install: Varies with the project

Sprucing up your lawn and plantings before a sale is a no-brainer. If done well, buyers can get a 104% return on investment. The typical cost for this type of project is between $1,300 to $6,000. 

Trees and hardscaping (walkways, walls, etc.) are the anchors of good landscape design. A well-placed, mature and healthy tree in a wealthy neighborhood can increase your home value between 10 and 15%, according to Home & Garden. Avoid invasive trees or those that might turn prospective buyers off with a bad odor. (Hello, female ginkgo trees!)

According to Angi, natural flagstone walkways can have a 100% return on investment.  If you have grass, ensure that it is healthy and trimmed. And of course, clean up and mulch your flower beds, but don't overdo it. If you add too many new plants or trim too much, your landscaping will lack charm and look fussy.

Landscaping projects to avoid include installing artificial grass and installing a large amount of concrete in the yard. 

13. Table space in the kitchen

• Percentage of buyers who want this feature: 78%
• Cost to install: Varies by design and structural needs

Eat-in kitchens — that is, table space for eating in a kitchen — are a must-have for second-time home buyers who the NAHB polled. They're especially attractive to families with children. It’s a space not just for eating, but also for doing homework, crafting and more.  If there isn't room for a separate table, most buyers are also happy with a banquette or island seating. According to the study, 53% of buyers want built-in kitchen seating.

Removing a non-load-bearing wall to create space for a small table and chairs in your kitchen is relatively inexpensive (as little as $1,000, according to Angi), but that price can quickly escalate if your demolition reveals plumbing, ductwork and electrical wiring that needs to be removed, Move or Improve's Parsons says. (If the wall is load-bearing, you’ll pay up to $1,200 in a single-story home or up to $10,000 in a multiple-story home.)

If you're on a tight budget and can't afford to knock out a wall to create more space for a table and chairs, consider adding a center island with room for bar stools, Parsons suggests. You can purchase prefabricated kitchen islands with space for seating. For example, at Wayfair.com, you can get an island with seating for $159 to $2,845.