Buyers these days are looking for increasingly functional home design. When investing in a major remodel, remember that while a quick paint job or some new tile will assuredly spiff up the place, truly appealing to today’s buyers means giving some thought to functionality.
Here are three home remodeling trends buyers love—that promise to deliver on your investment.
An open floor plan
The popularity of open floor plans is undeniable, but remember that achieving this trend doesn’t mean additional square footage, it’s more about reimagining the space you have to create that larger kitchen and eliminating the dining room.
ROI: Percent of value recovered from the cost to open up a home’s floor plan is tough to pin down, because construction issues affect final costs. However, a survey by Harris Poll for Trulia reports that 46 percent of today’s homebuyers, regardless of generation, want an open floor plan.
Kitchen storage with personality and purpose
According to a National Association of Home Builders survey, 79 percent of remodelers cite kitchen overhauls as the second most popular renovation project in 2016. White kitchens have seen a resurgence in popularity, with soft grey or deep charcoal accents.
For storage, homeowners want options that serve a purpose. They’re choosing more and deeper drawer banks, eliminating the need for pricey pullout cabinet baskets that make deep base cabinets functional. There’s also a strong emphasis on the kitchen island, which provides additional storage, helps anchor an open floor plan and gives homeowners a spot to express their personal style with creative finishes and countertop materials.
Return on investment (ROI) for kitchen update: 67 percent*
ROI for kitchen renovation: 67 percent*
A personally and environmentally superior bathroom
In a 2016 National Association of Home Builders study, 81 percent of those surveyed gave bathroom renovations the top spot for the most common remodeling project. A strong bathroom trend is replacing that enormous whirlpool bathtub—so popular in the 1980s—with an oversized walk-in shower. Replacing the tub with a shower is not recommended in a one-bathroom home because young couples or families want a tub for their children.
Bigger tiles on bathroom walls and floors are another trend, from 12 by 24 inches up to square or rectangular extra-large tiles measuring 40 by 120 inches.
ROI for a bathroom renovation: 58 percent*
If you need some help figuring out what kind of remodeling trend works best in your neighborhood, a Certified Residential Specialist can help. These CRS real estate agents know their markets better than anyone and can tell you if remodeling your kitchen or bathroom will help your home sell faster and at a higher price point.
* 2015 Remodeling Impact Report, a joint study from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR)