One-third of Americans who purchase a home don’t bother to see the property in person before making a bid. Once they find a house that has the features they want, they pounce on it.

The question is, what are home buyers looking for during their search?

Some things are out of your control. For example, over 70 percent of home buyers admit that school boundaries are a key determining factor when deciding on the right home.

However, there are several new house must-haves that homebuyers go crazy for, and you just have to keep reading to find out what they are!

1. Separate Laundry Room

What would you rather live without a living room or a laundry room?

If you said living room, you’re in the minority. In fact, seven out of 10 veteran home buyers consider the laundry room to be a necessary feature in a new home. Less than 60% of them said the same about a living room.

Even first-time homebuyers want a laundry room just as much as they want a living room.

Do you own a two-story home? Put your laundry room on the first floor, as this is where the vast majority of buyers prefer their washing machines and dryers to be.

2. Plenty of Garage Storage

About four in five American house shoppers are on the hunt for ample garage storage space. So you’ll need to declutter your garage before you even think about showing your home to potential buyers.

Garages that double as mudrooms attract more attention. Consider creating a small mudroom in a section of your garage by attaching metallic coat hooks next to the door. Include a couple of wall baskets for shopping bags and accessories.

Lastly, don’t forget that a new garage door can add value to your property and boost your curb appeal.

3. Brand-Spanking-New Roof

Homebuyers are well aware of the fact that replacing a roof can cost them upwards of $20k. And if they delay the replacement, they can expect to deal with issues like inflated energy bills, pests, water damage, and mold growth, to name a few.

You may be able to convince a potential buyer to split the costs with you. But curled, moldy, damaged, loose, or missing shingles ruin online listing photos. Plus, it doesn’t take longer than a few days for experienced residential and commercial roofing contractors to install a new roof.

Final Thoughts on New House Must-Haves

The features listed above are some of the most sought-after right now, but keep in mind that many preferences are regional.

Rural homebuyers, for example, prefer homes with large pantries, and a significant chunk of home buyers in the Midwest want a paved patio. So conduct online research on your target market to sell your home faster and at a higher price.

Now that you’re all caught up on today’s new house must-haves, do you want to learn how to make the inside and outside of your home look more lively in photos? If so, be sure to check out our article on deep cleaning your house before selling!