‘She Sheds’, steam ovens and terrazzo floors can help homes sell for up to $17,400 MORE than their value – but walk-in closets and open shelving can devalue properties
- Data analysis by Zillow showed how certain features could increase a home’s value or speed up sales time
- The biggest increase in value comes with a steam oven, which adds a potential $17,400 to the value of a property priced at the US average of $328,301
- Having a walk-in closet or tiles lowers the value of a home: having a doorbell camera speeds up sales
Home sellers looking to increase the value of their property should consider installing a steam oven, pizza oven or “She Shed” and getting rid of the walk-in closet, according to new research from Zillow.
Data analyzed by the home sales and rental company showed that significant gains in a home’s value could be made by installing certain features.
A steam oven topped the list, adding a potential $17,400 to the value of a property with an average price of $328,301 in the US.
Steam ovens currently retail for around $4,000.
A pizza oven added 3.7 percent, or $12,147, while floor terrazzo tiles added 2.6 percent, or $8,535.
Installing a ‘She Shed’ can increase the value of your home by 2.5 percent, or $8,207 for the average home, according to Zillow
The ‘She Shed’ was designed as an alternative to the ‘Man Cave’
A steam oven adds the most value to a home, Zillow found
Zillow pointed to a 2019 Vogue magazine article that said that searches for terrazzo tiles skyrocketed in 2018 and that demand for some editions increased 50 percent in 2018, according to Artistic Tile, which has showrooms across the country.
Another surefire way to increase the value of your home was to put a ‘She Shed’ in the yard – a feminine version of the ‘man cave’.
The trend was first highlighted by DailyMail.com in 2016, describing “She Sheds” as anything from a place with a comfy couch and a place to balance a cup of tea or glass of wine, to enjoy a moment of tranquility, to a mini art studio, craft room, yoga studio, conservatory or music room.
Installing a “She Shed” can increase the value of your home by 2.5 percent or $8,207.
Zillow also noted ways to help your home sell faster, even if not necessarily for more money.
At the top of the list was a doorbell camera, which can sell your house 5.1 days faster than houses without it.
Soapstone countertops, open shelving and a fenced backyard would also speed up the sale of your home.
Terrazzo floors (pictured) add significant value to a home
A walk-in closet can actually reduce a home’s value, Zillow found
Some features of a home can increase its value but slow sales.
Listings that list wine cellars can command a 1.2 percent sales premium, but take five days longer to sell than comparable homes.
And some factors reduce the value of a home.
Homes with tile countertops may sell 1.1 percent less than expected, driving the price down by $3,611.
Homes with laminate flooring or countertops can sell 0.6 percent less than comparable homes.
Perhaps surprisingly, walk-in closets can hurt a home’s value by 0.7 percent, or $2,298.
And while a swimming pool increases the value of a home in Arizona, in Indiana it is seen as a hassle.
“Homeowners looking to sell for a top price this spring will want to highlight these home features if they have them,” concludes Zillow.