According to recent data from Redfin, homes in Phoenix sold after an average of 45 days on the market during this year compared to the 37-day average of 2023. If you’re looking to quickly sell your property this summer and minimize the time your property takes to close, consider implementing cost-effective upgrades and installations to increase your home’s aesthetic and financial appeal to home buyers. Here are five features that are selling homes fast in 2024.
MORE NEWS: Ranking Arizona: Top 10 home builders for 2024
Energy Efficiency
Properties that incorporate Energy Star appliances, triple-pane windows and energy-saving lighting are attractive to both ecologically minded buyers and the financially conscious, as energy-efficient features can reduce both one’s carbon footprint as well as monthly water, gas and electrical expenses.
When considering a home’s energy efficiency beyond equipment and amenities, it is also important to examine the weather stripping on doors and check windows around the house to ensure the argon gas between the panes is still present. If the windows appear foggy or have humidity built up between the glass, it’s time for a change as buyers will notice.
For external energy-efficient renovations, consider installing artificial turf to your property instead of keeping or installing real grass, as artificial turf can save a homeowner thousands of dollars in landscaping, maintenance and water utility bills each year. Due to Arizona’s year-round dry, desert climate, many homeowners may find maintaining grass and keeping it green and aesthetically pleasing to be a costly investment. Turf is much more accessible to a larger pool of buyers in this regard.
Smart Home Features
‘Smart home features’ are defined as systems or amenities that utilize Internet-controlled or remote devices to monitor a property or automate a task. This genre of home improvement is highly diverse, encompassing everything from security systems to water sensors that detect plumbing faults like leaks and abnormal moisture levels.
If a property doesn’t already include smart home features, there are lower-cost updates that sellers can opt for to increase appeal with buyers. I recommend focusing on simpler tech like Bluetooth speakers and integrated charging docks in convenient areas. Charging electrical outlets are great, attractive installations to kitchens and bedrooms, and are not overly expensive for sellers to implement prior to listing their home. I also recommend the implementation of ‘smart’ thermostat and climate control systems, as these can have great return on investment reflected through costs saved on utility bills each month.
Modern Ceiling Fans
Much like a fresh coat of paint can invigorate and liven up a room, updating ceiling fans throughout a home can make a property feel modern and like-new. When advising clients
looking to replace old fans, I recommend selecting fans in neutral colors (such as white or black) that can be easily controlled by switch and remote. Ceiling fans also cost little to run and cool people, not rooms – thus equating to lower utility bills during Phoenix’s scorching summers as the room’s temperature doesn’t change.
Outdoor Lighting
Arizona’s consistently sunny climate makes it an ideal environment for hosting year-round outdoor gatherings, whether it’s lounging in the pool to escape the summer heat or hosting cookouts during the Valley’s more temperate winters. Regardless of the occasion, home buyers who value entertaining guests and hosting parties will appreciate the presence of outdoor lighting to illuminate the property. Outdoor lighting showcases a home’s features all day long. If installing lighting prior to listing your home, choose stylish accent lights on trees, wall wash lights that illuminate expanses of the home’s exterior, and install lighting to sidewalks and paths around your backyard. I recommend my clients stick with warm-toned lightbulbs to keep the home inviting and easy on the eyes. It is also advisable that lighting fixtures be cohesive in appearance across the property, whether this means sticking with fixtures from a single collection or keeping everything all one color.
Updated Bathrooms
The bathroom is a high-traffic location in the home, and home sellers will benefit from keeping this room appearing clean and new. There are many ways one can update their bathroom to make it attractive to buyers, from inserting vanity countertops and updating lighting fixtures to installing new tile flooring or giving the room a fresh coat of paint. Prior to listing your home or inviting buyers to tour the property, check the bathroom’s toilet, sink, shower and/or bath – if they are dated and worn, adding brand-new features can instantly add perceived value to the space. If a bathroom is dark, consider adding a window to allow natural lighting in.
While it is also commonplace for home sellers to continue living in a home while waiting for the property to sell, I advise that all toiletries and personal care items be kept to a minimum and stowed away (this includes one’s toothbrushes, toothpaste and shower soaps.) Prospective buyers will want to envision how their own belongings might appear in the space, and personal items strewn across countertops or inside of cabinets will break the illusion, or worse, detract from the ‘newness’ of the space.
If you are preparing to list your property for sale and are seeking advice for maximizing your home’s curb appeal to buyers, visit fineprop.com to connect with a licensed REALTOR®.
Author: Jeremy Eatherton is a REALTOR at RE/MAX Fine Properties. RE/MAX Fine Properties is a locally owned and operated full-service real estate brokerage with offices across Arizona. Founded in 2008, the brokerage has more than 300 REALTORS® and specializes in both residential and commercial real estate. To learn more, visit www.fineprop.com.
