What Modern Homebuyers Are Looking For (Hint: It’s NOT Granite Countertops)
When looking at homes, we all have our own preferences for different home features—one person might want a huge, modern kitchen and another might not care about the kitchen as much as they care about having walk-in closets. But which features are most commonly used as selling points for homes?
Trulia pulled data from homes for sale on the site over the past year to see what design features are most popular for listers, pitting different features against each other. While some trends and design staples unsurprisingly won out—looking at you, subway tile and hardwood floors—others didn’t necessarily come out on top, and some were just plain missing (seriously, no mention of granite countertops? I’m shocked!).
Here’s how the most popular design features fared against each other.
Marble Countertops vs. Quartz Countertops
The Winner: Quartz countertops—they’re more expensive up front, but marble countertops require more maintenance by comparison, which can add up.
Soaking Tubs vs. Claw Foot Tubs
The Winner: Soaking tubs. Claw foot tubs may seem more luxurious, but soaking tubs were far more popular according to the data.
Hardwood Floors vs. Carpet
The Winner: Hardwood floors. According to Trulia, real estate agents frequently see a strong preference for hardwood floors from clients, because they’re easier to clean and long-lasting.
Basketweave Tile vs. Subway Tile
The Winner: Subway tile—although Trulia admits the numbers for each were so close, it’s nearly a toss-up.
White Cabinets vs. Dark Cabinets
The Winner: White cabinets, and real estate agents point out that lighter, brighter cabinets can make a kitchen look bigger.
Sub-Zero Appliances vs. Viking Appliances
The Winner: Sub-Zero appliances—although, like the tile style toss-up, Viking appliances were just barely behind.
Bay Windows vs. Floor-to-Ceiling Windows
The Winner: Bay windows. Another close call, but bay windows were still the more popular selling point.
Electric Stoves vs. Gas Stoves
The Winner: Gas stoves—while they’re more expensive initially, they save money in the long run as gas in general is less expensive than electricity. Gas stoves were far more popular than electric stoves among listings.
Which of these popular home design features do you prefer? Tell us in the comments!