Dear Heather,

I am thinking of selling my house, what are buyers looking for? — Seller

Dear Seller,

Whether a house is bought for living purposes or just as an investment, there are certain aspects buyers always search for in a new property. I have outlined a wish list that every homebuyer has:

• The size

There is no doubt that the size of a property is the main criteria of selection among buyers of all ages.

It is useless if a property has only two bedrooms when the buyer needs four. However, if a buyer shows interest in a property and decides to visit it even though it doesn’t have the initial desired number of chambers then voila, this is the moment when compromise comes into play.

It’s all about presentation and touring — if you succeed to impress him/her, then it’s all done. You’ve caught their attention and the property is of interest.

So, whether we talk about compartmentalised spaces, traditional houses or open spaces, a fact is certain — there is a buyer out there for each type of house, too.

• Kerb appeal

The better the first impression that prospective buyers get as they drive up to a property, the greater are the chances that they will buy.

So do your best to provide a great first impression. Polish the look of the property before you put it on the market. This is why some may say that if the property is not ready for visitors, then it is not ready for buyers either.

Furthermore, always have in mind that buyers consider a variety of properties before deciding upon a single one.

So to maximise the property’s chances, you have to make sure it looks stunning.

The overall impression means more than you can think of. It’s the image that the buyer will have after leaving your house.

• Privacy

Depending on the placement of your property, the level of privacy can be another decisive factor for a buyer.

According to recent studies, that privacy is one of the things that people are least expected to compromise on — it must fit their values and life principles.

No two buyers are the same, therefore it is practically impossible to know in advance how to respond to the future owner’s life necessities. You just have to do your best and wait.

• Structure

Probably one of the most important issues that buyers will point out is the condition of the house in terms of safety. In other words, how old the property is and what the state of its foundation is.

Because a property’s main structure cannot really be renovated, buyers consider this as one of their top priorities. It must be in a good shape for those who do not want to invest large amounts of money.

• Spatial organisation

Both the floor plan and the storage space play an important role in deciding whether to buy a house or not. It has to satisfy the modern life necessities of the future owner.

Even though certain areas can be reorganised, in other situations there is nothing you can do. Therefore, there is no doubt that presenting the property as neutrally as possible, leaving the future owner plenty of space to imagine reorganisation of the space, is highly advisable.

This could involve some decluttering or putting things into storage on your part.

• The neighbourhood

Studies show that the selection of the neighbourhood is highly influenced by the age of the buyer. So, as some may search for areas close to recreational facilities or walking trails, others may be looking for nearby grocery stores, bus routes or schools.

Once the property has all the essentials that fit the personal preferences of the individual, the neighbourhood can help to erase most doubts left.

• The commute to work

Time is one of those aspects of modern life that appears to shorten day by day. As a result, prospective homebuyers look to purchase properties as near as possible to their jobs.

This is totally understandable — no one wants to spend most of their time commuting from work to home on a daily basis.

This has become such a burning issue that some buyers even list this factor as one of their top priorities.

• Energy-efficient features

Energy prices continue to soar, so more and more people are conscious of the importance of energy efficiency.

Some of the key elements that influence costs are the type of the appliances, the quality of the windows and the home insulation.

It’s now obvious why some get to say that energy efficiency goes hand in hand with personal health and happiness.

• Outdoor living

In Bermuda we entertain outside much of the year. People are looking for outdoor living areas that lend themselves to entertaining so that they can spend their leisure time outside with friends and family comfortably.

• Parking space

Where people park their cars has become a huge problem for many families.

The type, size and placement of parking spaces and garages can influence how a future owner perceives a new property.

Chances are that homebuyers’ checklists cannot be made without including such a necessity of modern life. If they have a car they surely need a garage, or certainly a convenient place to park it near to the house.

People shop for homes taking into account many factors. However, as some are willing to compromise on certain aspects, there is also the opposite category of buyers who can and will pay more if a property has some of the following features:

• Reverse-cycle wall-mounted air conditioning

The more modern it is, the more buyers are willing to pay to have it. The latest models of air-conditioning systems are energy efficient and in high demand for a significant number of potential buyers.

• Kitchen island

This is one of those small but effective features that may persuade a buyer to purchase a property.

If your house does not have a kitchen island, then consider this as a possible future investment. It’s in vogue. For many people, it’s a convenient kitchen aspect that makes their lives easier, and brings a family together.

• Stainless steel appliances

More and more buyers fall in love with stainless steel appliances, so chances are the buyer you are looking for will appreciate this, too.

Having stainless steel appliances may be the feature that will help you persuade the buyer to make his or her final decision.

The kitchen stands as one of the focus areas of the home. So selling a property with new kitchen appliances may turn out to be a smart idea indeed.

• Additional extras

Fireplaces, pools or other facilities can be included in the category of features people are willing to pay extra for. The size of the house, the interior features, the neighbourhood or the location of the house are just some of the most frequent factors that may affect a sale. However, you can never know what requests your next visitor has. Making your property appeal to a larger category of buyers is therefore advisable.

Heather Chilvers is among Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty’s leading sales representatives. She has been working in real estate for 25 years. If you have a question for Heather, please contact her at hchilvers@brcl.bm or 332-1793. All questions will be answered confidentially.