What Buyers Are Looking For In 2022
Amit Bhuta
I use non-traditional marketing to inspire the most motivated buyers to pay the max for Miami luxury homes...
I use non-traditional marketing to inspire the most motivated buyers to pay the max for Miami luxury homes...
This article was first published in February 2022. Treat it as a starting point for thinking about your home's features, not a current buyer survey, price forecast, or promise that a renovation will pay for itself.
If you've been thinking, "I should sell my home," start with current comparable sales and what buyers in your Miami neighborhood can actually choose from.
These ten areas can help you decide what to highlight or tidy before listing. Ask for local advice before spending on major changes; no feature is a must-have for every buyer.
#1. A Home Office
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, more people are working from home — and loving it!
This means that people need spaces in their homes that they can devote to working distraction-free.
If you don’t currently have a room that’s designated as the office, consider turning a spare bedroom into an office when you show your home.
A desk and chair can help show how an unused corner works as an office. Keep the room's scale and other uses in mind rather than assuming staging will secure an offer.
#2. A Laundry Room
A clean, organized laundry area makes it easier for visitors to see how everyday tasks fit into the home.
Show the available storage, work surface, and appliance connections rather than relying on an undated national preference percentage.
Make the laundry area's location and access clear. Moving it to another floor can involve plumbing, electrical work, permits, and a significant budget.
If an appliance needs replacement, compare its size, features, efficiency information, and full installed cost. Replacing a working washer or dryer is not automatically the best use of your pre-sale budget.
Also, consider adding cabinetry, countertops, and a sink — depending on what your budget allows.
#3. A Functional Kitchen
Did you know that the kitchen is the most scrutinized place as potential buyers tour a home?
Buyers put a lot of focus on the kitchen and its features and functions.
Show how the sink, pantry, counter space, storage, and appliances work together. Buyers have different priorities, so do not assume one layout or feature list suits everyone.
If you are considering appliance or window upgrades, compare the purchase and installation costs with your needs and expected use. Ask a qualified professional about the right options for the home.
Keep utility bills and appliance information available if you can. Do not promise a fixed energy saving or sale-price premium without evidence for the particular property.
#4. Open, Flowing Kitchens
An open kitchen may suit some buyers, but do not start removing walls just to follow a trend. Have a qualified professional check structural, electrical, plumbing, and permit requirements first.
A practical layout matters more than one universal open-plan rule. Show how the kitchen connects to dining and living areas while preserving useful storage and work space.
Before a major renovation, compare its cost and disruption with simpler repairs, cleaning, or staging. A new layout is not a guaranteed return at resale.
#5. Multi-Use Garages
Spending more time at home has also inspired many homeowners to create workspaces in their garages.
That means home buyers want reimagined spaces that serve more purpose than a conventional garage of days past.
If you’ve got some extra room in your garage, consider adding cabinets and shelving to transform your empty corner into a workman’s paradise.
#6. Outdoor Space
In Miami, an outdoor area can offer another way to enjoy the home. Start by showing the space you already have, clean and well maintained.
A seating area, garden, pool, or outdoor kitchen may appeal to different buyers. There is no need to add every feature, and larger projects bring maintenance, safety, and permit considerations.
Homebuyers are looking for backyards that are large and well-designed or that have the potential to be transformed into a comfortable outdoor living space.
#7. Pools
The original 2022 article discussed pandemic-era interest in pools. That is historical context, not proof of current demand or a reason to install a pool before selling.
A pool can be a lifestyle benefit for some buyers and an added responsibility for others. Keep safety barriers, maintenance, insurance, and running costs in the conversation.
Get a project-specific quote and check the applicable permit and safety requirements before considering a new pool. Costs depend on the site, design, equipment, and work needed.
If you already have a pool, present its condition and upkeep clearly. It is not a guaranteed goldmine or a promise of offers above the asking price.
#8. Exterior Lighting
With all these backyard upgrades, homebuyers want to show off their outdoor paradises.
Check that existing exterior lights work and illuminate paths and entrances appropriately. Do not treat an old national ranking as a requirement for your own property.
Options for exterior lighting include spotlights, pendant lighting, and walkway lights.
Pool lighting needs proper equipment and installation. Use a qualified professional for electrical work, and never place lights where they could fall into the water.
Lighting is also a great safety feature, for example, motion-sensor lights that turn on automatically when they sense movement outside of the home.
#9. Guest Suites
For the holidays and every day, buyers find it important to have a dedicated space for their loved ones to comfortably visit them.
This includes a bedroom and their own full bathroom.
Show any existing guest room or suite clearly. Before suggesting a conversion, check space, permits, and the buyer's needs rather than promising that an open area can become a legal bedroom or suite.
#10. Half Bathrooms
The lost art of the half bath is making a resurgence as people entertain more at home.
A half bathroom is a bathroom that only contains a toilet and a sink, no shower or bath.
Half bathrooms are perfect for short-term guests to use, so they don’t have to enter your master suite or the children’s rooms or bathrooms and instead have their own area free from bath toys, rainbow toothpaste splatter, and the socks your spouse leaves in the master bathroom every day!
Let's Get to Work
Use these ideas as a checklist, then ask what makes sense for your property and the current local market before deciding when to list or which improvements to make.
Let’s get your house on the market and sold! Contact us today to get started.
“Our home, priced at $1,225,000 was on the market for ONE YEAR with a local realtor without any offers...... the team sold it in 34 days at a price we were very happy with.”
- Alicia Sandoval
“His high-end, digital marketing for sellers is truly cutting-edge and worlds ahead of the competition. Amit also offers hands-on buyer services that are the best you will find in the Coral Gables area. Hire him for all your real estate needs!”
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