11. One or more fireplaces
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 40%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,400
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN – Some 40% of home buyers without a fireplace said they would spend additional money for at least one and cough up an extra $1,400. The fireplace, while always popular, was less necessary when several TVs were going in the house all at once, Samuelson said. But he speculated that having a home with fireplaces may become more popular in the future as people spend less time watching TV and more time on tablets and e-readers. These people may find the fireplace a good place to cozy up and use their devices, he said.
I have 2 gas fireplaces in my home and I don’t use them all that often. The one on the porch gets used a lot more than the one in the house but if I am, to be honest, if they were wood-burning fireplaces, I would never use either.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
10. Eat-in kitchen
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 40%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,770
The people most interested in an eat-in kitchen tend to be in the 35-to-54 age range, with 30% of those prospective home buyers indicating this is “very important” in a house. Meanwhile, just 21% of those under 35 years of age and 20% over 55 feel the same way. More people, especially those who are raising families, want kitchens that look into family entertainment rooms. Some have even made it a family hangout by placing big-screen TVs and other electronics in the kitchen. “Buyers who are in families want to be in one space and do it all,” DeSimone said.
I the last 10 years or so, the formal dining room has all but disappeared in favor of the eat-in kitchen. I personally love having a large formal dining room for holidays and family get-togethers but then again, I also have a large eat-in kitchen to go along with my dining room.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
9. Home less than 5 years old
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 40%
Amount willing to pay extra: $5,020
Some people simply want a newer home. For those willing to pay more for a newer home, the median that people would dole out was more than $5,000. Although this is a lot of money compared to most features, that money could be a wise investment in the long run. Maintenance costs are considerably less in newer homes compared to older homes, Samuelson pointed out. He also noted that newer homes tend to be much more efficient, attracting people who are environmentally conscious.
This one I don’t agree with at all. A remodeled older home is often times of higher quality and in more desirable locations. You end up with more equity with an older home that has been remodeled and there is oftentimes a lot more character in the older homes that make them highly desirable. – Ron Dayley
Most Desirable Home Features in Clarksville TN
8. Stainless steel appliances
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 41%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,850
Like most features, stainless steel appliances are most important to people between the ages of 35 to 54, with 23% considering them to be a “very important” investment, compared with just 16% of those under the age of 35 and a mere 11% of those over the age of 55. From a cost perspective, stainless steel appliances are not necessarily the best investment. Samuelson noted that stainless steel wears out far easier than most other common materials. Also, the children in the house can also get their fingerprints on the appliances, requiring more cleaning. However, Samuelson said people are primarily driven to buy stainless steel appliances because they look more attractive.
This one I see being less important in recent months, the Slate Gray and Black appliances are starting to come on strong with buyers.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
7. Kitchen island
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 48%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,370
Kitchen islands are most important to people ages 35 to 54, with 24% indicating that it is a “very important” characteristic. Just 19% of people under 35 and 13% over 55 considered this feature important. DeSimone noted that kitchen islands often come in handy for those who are raising a family. It provides additional room to put out food for the family and allows the kitchen to become more organized. Although the desire for a kitchen island is high, those who do not have one but want one are only willing to shell out $1,370, less than most other features.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
6. Ensuite master bath
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 49%
Amount willing to pay extra: $2,030
Once again, the ensuite master bathroom tends to be more important to people ages 35 and older. “It kind of goes to the ‘home is my sanctuary’ mentality,” Samuelson said. This, along with a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, has become more important in the past 10 years or so. Many people are eager to make their bathroom more “homey” by doing things such as installing televisions on the wall. The fact that many master bathrooms have two sinks is also an appealing option for married couples, Samuelson added.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
5. Hardwood floors
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 54%
Amount willing to pay extra: $2,080
Some 25% of buyers under the age of 35, and 28% of those between 35 and 54, considered hardwood floors “very important” when looking for a home. Only 17% of people ages 55 and up felt the same way. In previous generations, homes with carpets were considered better in order to conserve energy, DeSimone said. Even today, older people are more likely to feel more comfortable with carpeting because the insulation makes the home a little bit warmer. But for younger people looking to have many guests at the house and for people with children, hardwood floors are desirable because they are easier to clean than carpets.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
4. Granite countertops
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 55%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,620
Among homeowners between the ages of 35 and 54, 24% viewed granite countertops as “very important,” compared to 18% of people under 35 and 18% of people over 55. Although just one in every five prospective home buyers said granite countertops were very important, 55% of those who bought a home without such a countertop said they would pay extra for it. Both DeSimone and Samuelson agreed that the granite countertop is more of a style issue than anything else. “There has been more emphasis on the beautiful kitchen these days, and granite countertops are a part of that,” Samuelson said.
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
3. Walk-in closet in master bedroom
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 60%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,350
A whopping 60% of homeowners were willing to pay extra for a walk-in closet in the master bedroom, with 44% of people between the ages of 35 and 54 viewing this feature as “very important,” compared to just 35% under the age of 35 and 36% of people 55 and older. DeSimone said the walk-in closet is desired for two main reasons: space and status. Space is very desirable for people as they get older and acquire more clothes, allowing people to be more organized. Having a walk-in closet in the master bedroom is also a status symbol. When giving a house tour, DeSimone said, people want to say, “Hey, check out my closet,” in the same way they say, “Hey, have you seen my new kitchen?”
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
2. New kitchen appliances
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 69%
Amount willing to pay extra: $1,840
About 69% of homeowners said they were willing to spend more money on new kitchen appliances. Unsurprisingly, people who are looking to buy a new home find this far more important than people who are eyeing previously owned homes. People who are the first to live in a specific house tend to want everything to be new in the house because they consider the house truly “their own,” DeSimone said. People also do not want to have to deal with the stress of broken appliances. “They don’t want to come home after a horribly stressful day at work and find the dishwasher isn’t working or the fridge is making noises.”
Most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
1. Central air conditioning
Percentage of home buyers willing to pay more: 69%
Amount willing to pay extra: $2,520
This one came as a big surprise to me, I took it as a given that all home buyers would expect Central Air Conditioning to be in their new home.
Nearly seven in 10 homeowners said they would be willing to pay more on central air conditioning — the same as new kitchen appliances and more than any other feature. Central air conditioning was considered “very important” by more than 60% of people in all age groups. Samuelson noted that although people were willing to shell out approximately $2,500 for the feature, that is far less than what it would actually cost to install central air conditioning. “There is a difference in people’s preference and what they are willing to pay for,” Samuelson said. “They may want the steak but are on a macaroni budget.”
Most Desirable Home Features in Clarksville TN
Most if not all of these features can be found in Clarksville’s Premier Neighborhoods.
Ron Dayley
Coldwell Banker CM&H
111 S. Riverside Dr.
Clarksville TN 37040
931-552-1700 office
931-249-6598 cell
Homes for Sales in Clarksville TN
*USA Today Samuel Weigley, 24/7 Wall St.
most desirable home features in Clarksville TN
