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When you’re looking for a new home, you probably have at least a few specific must-haves in mind. Location might be the deal breaker, or perhaps you need a house with a big yard. However, there are a couple things that nearly everyone can agree on—at least according to brokers. A study from January 2020, by real-estate company Point2Homes, sifted through a whopping 1.2 million listings to find the most-used keywords, and across all price points, the top three remained the same: granite countertops, hardwood floors, and stainless steel appliances.
So if you’re trying to get your home off the market, you don’t necessarily need to invest all your money in staging and redecorating—updates to the countertops and floors could be a bigger help in securing you the best bang for your buck.
Granite Countertops
These amenities clearly have some swaying power if real-estate agents consistently point them out. We only have to look as far as another study for proof: A survey of 500 homeowners showed that 40 percent said they would choose granite countertops for their kitchen (just 23 percent said they’d opt for quartz instead). Need more convincing? This moody green kitchen renovation by Chris Loves Julia reveals just how versatile the material really is.
Hardwood Floors
Not only does wood flooring increase the resale value of a home, it’s also much more maintenance friendly (dish soap and a mop is all it takes to clean) than carpeting and warmer than tile (your feet will thank you in the winter).
Stainless Steel Appliances
Sleek and forever on-trend, stainless steel is a no-brainer material if you’re looking for durable and long-lasting appliances. It may show fingerprints easier than old-school textured finishes, but it naturally fights off rust and fire due to its heat-resistant makeup.
This story was originally published in January 2020 and has since been updated.