Buyers Pay More for Homes with These 12 Features

You can't go wrong with white cabinets—42% of millennials prefer the trend, which is still on the upward swing, according to research by Houzz. Grey paint is also trending upward, while wood tones (darker versus lighter) are still holding strong.

Related: 9 Simple DIY Ways to Reinvent Your Kitchen Cabinets

Where square footage allows, walk-in closets are a given these days, but in the age of Costco, the walk-in pantry is a must, too. Where else will you (or your home’s next owners) store your cases of LaCroix and bulk packs of paper towels?

Related: 14 Instant Fixes for a Total Pantry Makeover

Few things are ickier than old carpet—and it ages quickly in a busy home. While more and more buyers prefer wood floors throughout, carpeting in the bedrooms is OK as long as its in good shape. If not, it’s a deal breaker.

Related: 9 Sneaky Ways to Get New Floors for Under $50

While fewer and fewer buyers are looking for a formal dining room, more are looking for a guest room on the main floor. Youngers buyers are imagining less-agile parents who come to stay—or may even live with them in the not-too-distant future, says Worters.

Related: 8 Ways to Buy a Better Guest Room for Under $30

Mudrooms are a hit on Pinterest and in real life, too. Buyers with kids, especially, are looking for well-designed drop zones to corral clutter on their way in and out the door. “Think, benches with storage and hooks for backpacks, sports equipment, and all that stuff constantly entering the house,” says Worters.

Related: 14 Ultrafunctional Ideas to Steal for Your Entryway

While fancy landscaping may actually hurt your chance of a sale (“People see it and just think it looks like work,” says Worters), having adequate fencing and plantings around the edge of the yard to have some separation from the neighbors is a big bonus.

Related: The Best 10 Plants to Grow for Backyard Privacy

That desk area in the kitchen? It’s out, says Worters. “What people like now is a little office nook—it doesn’t have to be big—either off the the kitchen or a loft space at the top of the stairs to do the occasional work from home,” he says.

Related: 10 Space-Smart Ways to Squeeze In a Home Office

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