With more homes coming on to the market across the Portland metro, real estate can be a competitive sport – both for buyers and sellers. Buyers are competing for homes and sellers are competing for buyers and to achieve the highest price. That’s why it’s important to look for an edge that will attract buyers to your property if you’re selling in the spring and summer.
To win the attention of buyers, you should work with your real estate agent to ensure you highlight the features of your home that will not only attract buyers, but also a premium price. And if a bidding war breaks out to win your property, that's best-case scenario.
Below, you'll find some of the features hot with buyers right now. They're based on trends picked up from data on Zillow.
Going Green: Home solar wins the vote with many of today's buyers. It is a feature that has appeared in nearly one-fifth of Zillow listings in the past 12 months. If you have a storage battery on site, then you have a “wow factor.” The same goes for an electric vehicle charger.
Climate Chops: With the California fires and the seemingly increasing frequency of extreme weather events across the country, many buyers want their next home to have resilience to climate change. Drought-tolerant lawns are a big plus, as well as water-catching systems.
Vintage: If your home was designed and built in a particular era of construction, such as Victorian or Colonial, you're packing serious selling power. Your home will be even more compelling if you furnish it in a style that matches the period. Think classy, not thrift store. Period-appropriate wallpapers are a good place to start.
Read the Room: In an era of Netflix and on-tap entertainment, it's fascinating to see buyers being attracted to homes with a reading room. If you've got a wall-to-ceiling bookcase and a ladder that slides, buyers are going to love you.
Hot Tubs: Luxury bathrooms have always had pulling power, but folks with a budget want to buy a home that combines a shower and tub in a waterproof room. Make sure the jets in the tub are powerful, too. A stone tile floor is another tick in the box.
