Thanksgiving is the ultimate test for kitchens, with every appliance and inch of countertop space pushed to the limit. However, Zillow has identified eight kitchen features that are not only better equipped to handle the pressures of entertaining, but they also could boost a home’s sale price when it comes time to move.
“The kitchen has long been the heart of the home, and it’s become even more important this past year,” says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow’s home trends expert. “As a result, pandemic-era home buyers appear willing to pay a premium for high-end kitchen amenities. Homeowners who plan to put their home on the market would be wise to flaunt these features if they’ve got them. But resale aside, these value-boosting features also increase a kitchen’s functionality, especially during the holidays.”
1. Steam oven: Of the more than 220 features Zillow researched, steam ovens topped the 2021 list of home features that sell. When this appliance is mentioned in listing descriptions, those homes can sell for 4.9% more than similar homes without one.
2. Butcher block: Butcher block is the only countertop material that can also serve as a cutting surface. Buyers snap up homes that include butcher block in their listing descriptions nearly four days faster and for 2.7% more than expected.
3. Smart appliances: Tech-connected appliances allow cooks to control everything from their phone or tablet. When it’s time to move, homes with smart appliances can sell for 3% more than expected.
4. Quartz: Homes with this durable countertop material can sell for 3.2% more than expected, and for good reason, according to wellness design consultant Jamie Gold. “This countertop material has grown in popularity for its heat, stain, and scratch resistance, and for increasingly realistic stone looks,” explains Gold.
5. Dual-fuel range: A dual-fuel range is a stove with a gas cooktop and an electric oven. Electric ovens can offer more consistent results for baking, while a gas cooktop heats quickly and offers more precise temperature control. Buyers can spend 2.2% more on homes that include mention of a dual-fuel range in their listing description.
6. Wine fridge: Extra beverage storage is always helpful when serving a crowd, and a wine fridge can chill more than wine. Homes with this useful feature can sell for 1.7% more and nearly two days faster than expected.
7. Pot filler: A pot filler installed over a cooktop or range swings out from the wall and extends over a pot, saving cooks the trouble of carrying a heavy pot of water from the sink to the stove. Zillow research finds this faucet can contribute to homes selling for 1.5% more.
8. Touchless faucet: With health and safety top of mind for today’s buyers, homes with touchless faucets can sell nearly two days faster than expected and for 0.6% more. Motion-activated technology turns on the kitchen faucet, making for easier cleanup and preventing the spread of bacteria and viruses.
