Which Features Will Make Your Home Sell for More?

(3/24/26)  Which features are likely to make buyers pay more for a house?

New Zillow research found that homes with lifestyle-driven amenities and move-in-ready finishes are selling for as much as 5.4% more than expected – or about $19,500 extra on the typical home.

Features likely to attract buyers today – and, more importantly, get them to open their wallets, include:

·      Cottage-inspired lifestyle features, such as docks and outdoor fireplaces. These features can help a home sell for as much as 5.4% more.

·      Quartzite. This material sells homes for more than any other countertop material, including soapstone or marble.

·      Customized, turnkey homes, which can sell for upward of 3% more than similar homes.

Zillow analyzed over 2 million homes listed for sale in 2025, looking for more than 600 common phrases used in listing descriptions. Zillow first estimated what each home was likely to sell for based on factors such as location, size, type of home, number of bedrooms and baths and when it was listed. It next compared that estimate to the home’s actual sales price to measure whether certain listing features or phrases were linked to a higher sales price than expected.

The analysis also found one more important data point for sellers: Buyers today don’t want fixer-uppers. Turnkey homes sell for 2.9% more than expected, and remodeled homes command 2.2% more than similar homes that don’t tout renovations. Meanwhile, fixer-uppers sell for 14% less.

“When affordability is tight, the last thing buyers want is another expensive project waiting for them,” said Kara Ng, Zillow’s senior economist. “Homes that are already updated and thoughtfully designed can command higher prices because buyers can roll those costs into their mortgage, rather than paying for expensive improvements after closing.”