Top 10 Home Features That Boosts A Property's Resale Value

Whether you are buying, selling, investing, or simply enjoying being a homeowner, there's no reason why you wouldn't want your house to be in its best shape.

For buyers (especially first-time home buyers), you may already have a list of the features you want in a home, but it would be great to consider adding the following to your list just to be sure that you can sell your home at a great price in the future. For sellers, knowing what features in your home you can use as leverage for a better price will help you take fair advantage of your most powerful selling points.

1. Huge primary suite

The master's bedroom is the ultimate private space in a home, so if it's made in tiptop condition, both home buyers and sellers will be at an advantage. If you're a seller, consider having this room remodeled, but try not to overdo it so that you can still leave space for imagination.

2. Beautiful landscape

A home's "curb appeal" will continue improving a home's value—and, by extension, the overall value of properties in the neighborhood where it is located. You can improve curb appeal without spending a ton of cash by simply adding new attractive plants, repainting your fence, and cleaning out overgrown bushes.

3. An extra guest bathroom

To a lot of home buyers, bathrooms are a huge deal. While two is a suitable number, an extra bathroom can add tons of value to a home and attract more potential buyers. However, according to the NAR, new bathrooms only return an average of 60 percent of their costs at sale time, so think twice before adding one purely to raise the price.

4. A functional porch or patio

A house's porch or patio adds visual interest to it and is also a spot where family and friends can cook, have meals, and relax. Home sellers can add in a nice table and chair set or a grilling station to suggest functionality to buyers.

5. Multi-purpose rooms

Extra rooms which can be turned into a home office, a playroom, a TV room, or a guest room are sure to add value to a home. These flex rooms are growing popular with today's home buyers because they make a house more functional for telecommuting jobs and indoor hobbies.

6. Stainless steel appliances

Stainless steel appliances will assuredly be for the long haul, and the best thing is: it never goes out of style! Do take note that some stainless steel appliances may not look good in some areas of the house, so you may want to limit this to the kitchen.

7. Walk-in closets

Having a spacious closet as one of the features of a home adds to the value of it and enhances every room in the house that has it. The idea of having enough storage will make a positive impact on home buyers.

8. Original wood floors

Engineered wood flooring is replacing carpets now as the new trend. It's long-wearing, durable, and gives off the illusion of more floor space. Instead of the usual structural plywood, wood floors nowadays are made of a thin veneer of real wood or bamboo — this costs less but has the same look.

9. Efficient technology such as sprinkler systems and green-tech additions

Sprinkler systems, when used properly, help cut down waste and minimize the inconvenience of pulling a hose or sprinkler around the house. Home buyers would add built-in sprinkler systems to boost the value of the house and maintain lush green lawns.

10. Well-maintained attic or basement rooms

Make sure that the attic or basement room has a stairway in good condition, interior walls, adequate insulation, as well as windows for air, daylight, and emergency egress. Having these spaces in good condition adds functionality to the house since they can serve as an extra room, a study, storage space, or laundry space.