New Home Finder

By Erik J. Martin CTW FEATURES Home sellers have been on autopilot for quite a while now. Simply by staking a For Sale sign on their lawns, the pre- sumption is that they will fetch top dollar for their listed properties. And that has held true for a long spell. But with mortgage interest rates rising and home affordability becoming a more signif- icant challenge for pro- spective buyers, sellers today may want to think about spiffing up their domiciles a bit more to attract shoppers — es- pecially if buyer demand begins to wane. A recent study by Angi and Zillow reveals that implementing par- ticular home features in specific rooms may increase your home's sale price. Case in point: A pot filler could up your home's value by 3.2%, while a double-sink van- ity may amp your sales price by 2.35%. Add- ing an outdoor kitchen could boost your sale by 2.05% versus the 1.97% and 1.41% increases, respectively, that a new fireplace or en suite may bring. These and other report findings caught Tyler Gaudet, a partner at Sprague & Curtis Real Estate in Augusta, Maine, by surprise. "There were several items in the study that were surprising to me. I was taken aback that a garage only adds 1.5% and hardwood flooring 1.31% to a home's sale price. According to this report, many small-ticket items like under-cabinet lighting and double- vanity sinks seem to add bigger values to a home, while some larger ticket items like garages add relatively smaller value," he says. Regardless of how you interpret that report's results, the takeaway is clear to Tomas Satas, founder/CEO of Windy City HomeBuyer in Chi- cago. "Adding key amenities to a home you intend to sell is important to con- sider because not only does it add to the sale price, but it also makes your home more desir- able and will shorten the time to sale," Satas says. Andrew Westphal, a licensed associate real estate broker with Corco- ran in New York City, agrees. "Trends are hard to argue with, and there will be home features that buyers nowadays expect to see — amenities that will be noticed when they are omitted," Westphal says. "If under-cabinet lighting is found in three of your competitor's list- ings, why isn't it found in yours? Buyers have a way of deducting the costs of future work from their offers. So, if you can maximize a room's use, it might drive up your price considerably if you ease buyers into realizing that they won't have to complete necessary work after the close." Even smaller-priced improvements can give a home a more upscale feel and often make a big difference in impressing home hunters. "Double-vanity sinks are especially popular with couples because they give each person individual space to get ready and while both people are using the bathroom," says Gaudet, a fan of this amenity. Meanwhile, a pot filler can make your kitchen pop and appear more practical. "As magazine-worthy kitchens with profes- sional accessories and tools become more popular, today's kitchens emulate industrial ones. Pot fillers are hip and very helpful, making the kitchen look like your fa- vorite restaurant space," Westphal says. Ask Gaudet and he'll tell you that virtually every abode can benefit from a fireplace. "Fireplaces give a space a cozy, warm feel- ing. There's something about a flame that gives a room a certain ambi- ence that almost all buy- ers can appreciate, and they serve as a secondary source of heat during power outages in winter," he explains. Outdoor kitchens are a no-brainer, too. "They are ideal for anyone who loves to cook and entertain out- side. In my experience, outdoor kitchens are a huge selling point for a home," Satas notes. Just be careful not to over-improve a space thinking that you' ll get your money back dollar for dollar, cautions Jodi Dough- erty, a real estate agent and director of broker development for Chi- cago-based Downtown Realty Company. "Keep in mind that not all buyers will want your pot filler or steam room," she says. "Al- though you may see the benefits of making an improvement, others may not and could be unwilling to price that feature into the home's overall value." Want to increase your home's sales price? Add these features Twin Oaks from page 2 Resort & Golf, the lead- ing provider of com- munity management services in active lifestyle communities. Twin Oaks is conve- niently located in Hol- lister, less than an hour from San Jose and 30 miles from Monterey Bay. Enjoy walkable, small-town living in- cluding a charming downtown, restaurants, shopping and top-notch medical facilities. Twin Oaks is less than a mile to Hazel Hawkins Hos- pital and a large shop- ping center with Target, eateries and more. Hol- lister hometown events include a farmers mar- ket, downtown parades and a summer concert series. The San Benito County Wine Trail also surrounds the beautiful rolling hills around Hol- lister. Twin Oaks is the vision of local home- builder Marty Miller, the patriarch of the local family-owned company based in the Bay Area. An engineer by trade, Marty began in real es- tate development in the early 1990s. For more than two decades, he has worked hard to bring this community to life. New homes are avail- able and selling now. Visit the beautiful model homes at Twin Oaks, open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (except closed on Wednesdays) at 2071 Red Oak Drive in Hol- lister. For more informa- tion, call (831) 800-2334 or visit the website at TwinOaksHollister.com. Content provided by Twin Oaks Hollister Welcome to Ellis, a new master- planned community now selling in Tracy. Explore family-friendly neighborhoods paired with a modern lifestyle, featuring out- door social spaces and play- groundsplusaplanneddogpark, aquatic park and on-site market- place with shopping and dining. Follow @LiveAtEllis on Facebook and Instagram for news and up- dates! 58TRACY ELLIS NewHomesfromthe$800,000s EllisTracy.com/New-Homes Welcome to Bristowe - the newest addition to the North Village mas- ter planned community! Bristowe at North Village features single and two story homes ranging in size from approximately 1,815- 3,344 sq. ft. Four different floor plans offer 4-5 bedrooms, 2-4.5 bathrooms, and room options to customize your new home. North Village is close to commute routes, shopping, schools, and recreation. Find your dream home at Bris- towe at North Village! Located at 225 Gannet Street, Vacaville, CA 95688. Open daily 10AM-6PM No waitlist!* (*certain floorplans may be excluded.) 59 VACAVILLE BRISTOWE AT NORTH VILLAGE From the Low $700,000s (707) 474-9918 seenohomes.com Riverchase is a new home com- munity in West Sacramento, featuring a collection of 222 two story contemporary homes wrapped around a private, central park. Homes range in size from 1,559 to 1,835 sq. ft. Riverchase offers close proximity to down- town with the comfort and peace of mind of a quiet suburb. Call to schedule a private walk through. Located at 3131 Bobwhite Court in West Sacramento. 60 WEST SACRAMENTO RIVERCHASE Purchase a Model Home (916) 462-6888 Riverchase.net Welcome to The Tides at Newport, West Sacramento's premier new home community. Find spacious two-story homes ranging in size from approxi- mately 2,377-2,812 sq. ft., with 4-5 bedrooms and 2.5-4 bathrooms. En- joy an ideal setting just minutes from downtown Sacramento, the Sacra- mento River, and the American River. Shopping and dining are just a short walk away at the Southport Town Center, including a Nugget Market. The Tides at Newport is located off I-80 at Lake Washington Blvd. Open daily 10AM-6PM No waitlist!* (*certain floorplans may be excluded.) 61 WEST SACRAMENTO THE TIDES AT NEWPORT From the Low $800,000s (916) 572-0636 seenohomes.com Lavender, Crestada & Iris offer single-family home designs with 1,438-2,971 sq. ft., 3-5 bedrooms and options for every stage of life, such as Next Gen®— The Home Within a Home® designs for those in search of extra space. Each home boasts added value with our Everything's Included® program, which adds popular upgrades and features at no ad- ditional cost. 62 WOODLAND LAVENDER, CRESTADA & IRIS From the High $500,000s (916) 304-9711 Lennar.com/Sacramento Reservedfor your New Home C ommunity . ContactSandyLekat slek@bayareanewsgroup.com H8 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section

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