Anian Tunney Shares the Seven Features Home Buyers Want Most

If you are getting ready to sell your home, remodeling projects are probably the last thing on your mind. After all, if you wanted the feature yourself, you would have added it already. The Kiplinger Report Article “Selling Your Home? Know the 7 Features Home Buyers Want Most” (1) makes a good case for investing in some highly desirable home features that are popular among home buyers. Even though the average return on investment for home improvements only increases the value of the home by 66.1 percent of the average cost of the project, Kiplinger suggests that time on the market and additional mortgage payments be taken into consideration in the return on the investment calculation of home improvement projects. Here is the list:

Separate Laundry Room--most home buyers want a separate laundry room which includes a cabinet, sink and a place for ironing, to keep the clutter of laundry separate from the rest of the living space. The cost runs around $3,000 for an 80 square foot space, depending on location.

Exterior Lighting--this is a very popular feature with home buyers, both because of the safety good exterior light provides and for aesthetic reasons, aka “curb appeal.” A well lighted exterior of a home creates a warm and inviting atmosphere. Cost range from $150 to $250 and more per fixture, depending on fixture type and available electricity.

Energy Start Qualified Windows--while this is one of the more expensive upgrades a homeowner would invest in, it does have the greatest long-term return on investment because these windows save energy and bring down heating costs. This could be a good investment even if you are not planning on selling your home anytime soon. The average cost is $270 to $800 per window.

Garage Storage Space--this is also a popular feature, as we all know how quickly a garage can become so cluttered that it becomes unusable. The cost to install cabinets in a 380 square foot space garage ranges from about $2,000 to $2,500 and more.

Eat-In Kitchens--having an eat-in kitchen as opposed to just a formal dining room, is a great feature for busy families, getting ready for work and school, and sitting down together for a family dinner. Some items to keep in mind if you need to knock down a wall is to consider if the wall is weight-bearing or if it contains electrical and plumbing components. Costs start at $1,000 and up.

Walk-in Kitchen Pantry--another popular feature which keeps clutter in the main living space down to a minimum, and provides easy access to an additional food storage area. The most popular pantries have shelving that can be reorganized as needs change. The cost will vary depending on design and location.

Wireless Home Security System--These days half of all buyers want some kind of a wireless home security system, where the home owner can use their smart phone or tablet to control the security, heating and lighting in their home. The cost to install ranges from $100 to $300 and up.

About Anian Tunney, Broker Associate

Anian Tunney is an agent broker with The Grubb Company. According to statistics collected by East Bay Regional Data, Inc., she was the 2014 number one real estate agent in Piedmont, CA for the number of units sold and sales volume. In 2014 she was The Grubb Company company-wide top producer. Additionally, Tunney has been number 1 in yearly real estate sales for The Grubb Company’s Piedmont office for the last 8 years. Anian was also ranked 129th in the Nation by REAL Trends the Thousand in July 2015. She is known for her knowledge, experience, and network in the Piedmont community; qualities which are invaluable for finding that special home or buyers for her clients.

A fifth generation Piedmont resident, Tunney has been with the Grubb Company for over 30 years. She raised her family of four in Piedmont and is active in community projects such as the Piedmont Beautification Foundation, the East Bay Museum Auxiliary, and the Piedmont school district. Her grandmother, Amy Sutton, was a real estate agent, and now Anian works with her daughter Adrienne Krumins, making Piedmont Realty truly a family vocation. Tunney negotiates with grace and clarity of purpose. She can be contacted at 510-339-0400 ext 217, and at tunney(at)grubbco(dot)com. Her website is aniantunney.com.

Contact Information 


Anian Tunney

The Grubb Company Real Estate Brokers 

Oakland, CA 94611 

510-339-0400 ext 217 

tunney(at)grubbco(dot)com
aniantunney.com 

aniantunney.com/blog

(1) http://www.kiplinger.com/slideshow/real-estate/T010-S001-7-features-home...