Expert consulted: Preparing to sell your home is no small endeavor. From hiring a real estate agent and getting your home appraised to passing every inspection, selling your home is often a months long feat. One of the most important elements of selling your home is ensuring that you’re getting the most bang for your buck and maximizing your home’s asking price.
Of course, you can paint your front door and stage your home to give potential buyers the best first impression, but there are a few more simple projects you can check off that are proven to boost that sale price. According to Zillow, there are 10 home additions, ranging from simple swaps to full renovation projects, that can make your home sell for well above asking. New Zillow research finds outdoor TVs, outdoor showers, and outdoor kitchens can help homes sell for as much as 3.1 percent more than expected, according to Zillow trend expert Amanda Pendleton.
“These projects are pricey upgrades for a homeowner who’s in the middle of a renovation project,” Pendleton says. “But they are features valued by today’s home buyer who may be willing to pay a bit more to have them in their home. Certain little luxuries can put a home a head above the competition and make it stand out.”
If you’re looking to give your on-the-market home some momentum, opt for one of the 10 projects to make your home sell for more than you’re asking. We break down each project below.
Outdoor TV
Percent Above Asking: 3.1
Average Cost to Complete: According to Angi, an outdoor TV/home theater system will run you at least $550. TV systems can cost between $500 and $5,000, depending on the TV size.
Zillow’s new research has found that homes equipped with an outdoor TV draw offers 3.1 percent more than expected—or $10,749 on a typical U.S. home. That’s a lot of return on a simple addition to your outdoor space. You’ll want to be sure to choose a TV unit that’s made specifically for outdoor use.
Soapstone Countertops
Percent Above Asking: 3.0
Average Cost to Complete: Soapstone slabs cost $70 to $120 per square foot on average, according to Caesarstone.
Soapstone is quickly becoming the most sought-after countertop stone for kitchens. Beloved by designers and chefs (like Bobby Flay, Ina Garten, and Martha Stewart) alike, the stone is more durable than marble and easier to clean than other types of stone. “While it may come with a slightly higher price tag, this natural, nonporous stone can help a home sell for 3 percent more than expected,” Pendleton says. “This is compared with a 1.7 percent price premium for quartz and 0.5 percent for marble countertops.”
Matte Black Hardware
Percent Above Asking: 2.9
Average Cost to Complete: Hardware has a wide price range, so you could spend anywhere from $5 for a single cabinet pull to over $200 for shower fittings from a luxury retailer.
Often associated with modern and farmhouse interior design, matte black hardware is sought after by the majority of potential home buyers this year. The finish is versatile and won’t show fingerprints like stainless steel or brass finishes. Homes with matte black hardware can sell for up to 2.9 percent above asking.
Outdoor Shower
Percent Above Asking: 2.6
Average Cost to Complete: To install an outdoor shower, the average cost, including installation, is between $1,000 and $5,000, according to House Digest.
These days, buyers want the laid-back energy of a beachfront home in their own backyard. The addition of an outdoor shower can prompt potential buyers to offer up to 2.6 percent above asking.
Beverage Center
Percent Above Asking: 2.4
Average Cost to Complete: At Home Depot, undercounter refridgerators range from $600 for a dual-sided drinks fridge to more than $3,000 for drawer-style appliances with a paneled front that blends in with your cabinetry.
According to Pendleton, a beverage center is the new wine fridge. These functional features often include undercounter refrigerators that offer different temperature settings, ice drawers, and more. When a beverage center is mentioned in a for-sale home’s listing description, that home can sell for 2.4 percent more, compared with 0.9 percent more for a wine fridge.
If you already have a home bar, it’s time for a little rebrand. Home bars help a home sell for only 0.1 percent more than asking.
Bluestone Patio
Percent Above Asking: 2.3
Average Cost to Complete: According to Home Guide, Bluestone pavers cost $6 to $14 per square foot on average.
While patios are commonly finished in brick, concrete, or other stone slabs, bluestone is a more elegant natural stone alternative. This durable stone is more expensive than other patio materials, but it comes with a tempting ROI. A home with a bluestone patio could sell for 2.3 percent more than expected.
She Shed
Percent Above Asking: 2.0
Average Cost to Complete: On the lower end, a she shed could cost you around $350, while a larger, more luxurious option could be priced as high as $13,000.
New research from Zillow suggests that homes with she sheds can sell for up to 2 percent more than expected. (That number might seem low, but depending on the price of your home, it can be thousands of dollars extra to pocket. For instance, if your home sells for $800,000, the she shed could account for $16,000.) These spaces can be used as additional storage, office spaces, hobby rooms, and even home gyms. The best part is that there is a shed option for every yard size, budget, and design style.
Pizza Oven
Percent Above Asking: 1.9
Average Cost to Complete: According to Angi data, the national average is $5,000 for an outdoor pizza oven, including installation. However, you can expect to spend anywhere between $2,000 and $8,000 depending on project scale.
Whether brick, ceramic, or metal, outdoor pizza kitchens are becoming all the rage for summer entertaining. Adding one to your outdoor room or kitchen can help to boost your home’s selling price.
Quartz Countertops
Percent Above Asking: 1.7
Average Cost to Complete: You can expect to spend anywhere between $50 to $200 per square foot depending on material size, coloring, and grade, according to Angi.
Just because soapstone is the number-one requested countertop material right now, that doesn’t mean quartz has lost its value. In fact, the addition of quartz in your kitchen or bathroom can result in your home selling for 1.7 percent above the asking price.
Outdoor Kitchen
Percent Above Asking: 1.7
Average Cost to Complete: According to Angi, the average range of outdoor kitchen costs is between $6,127 for a simple setup (such as a grill and countertop), and $26,163 for a full high-end kitchen installation outdoors.
Outdoor kitchens extend your culinary potential and your entertaining space. And while they vary greatly in both form and amenities, even a simple one can lead buyers to offer an average of 1.7 percent above asking.
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Amanda is Zillow's Home Trends expert. Her practical, data-driven advice on real estate and design has been featured on TODAY, Real Simple, Glamour, Forbes and NBC, ABC, CBS and FOX affiliates around the country. She is an Emmy-award winning storyteller and television personality with more than 15 years’ experience as a major-market news anchor. She is passionate about renovating and restoring historic homes, with design projects published in Apartment Therapy, Seattle Magazine and Boston Home magazine.
