ᐅ Which features add value for resale?

Hello everyone,

What features are currently advisable to ensure a good resale value for a detached house?

For example, (things that can still be influenced)
- Underfloor heating
- Electric shutters / blinds
- Basement
- Triple-glazed windows
- Second bathroom

Or (things that can be partially influenced)
- Bathroom with natural daylight
- South-facing garden
- Subdivision of the lot
- ...

Are there any popular features that should definitely be included to make a sale easier in a few years?

Do you have any lists, experiences, or links on this topic?

Thanks!

haus_hessen schrieb:

For example (things you can still influence)
- Underfloor heating
- Electric roller shutters / blinds
- Basement / cellar
- Triple-glazed windows
- Second bathroom

In my opinion, everything except the basement here is pretty much standard. But whether the extra costs for the basement can be recouped through a sale after 15 years is questionable. It’s just too expensive for that.

haus_hessen schrieb:

Or (things you can partially influence)
- Bathroom with natural daylight
- Garden facing south
- Subdivision of the plot
- ...

A bathroom with natural daylight is also standard in my opinion; otherwise, the floor plan is flawed. The rest really depends on the plot. A typical building lot can rarely be further subdivided.

Unfortunately, I don’t have general advice. Who knows what will be "modern" in 15/20/30 years? Right now it might be a home theater, but in a few years that will be just as outdated as having a private party basement with a draft beer system. It seemed like every second family with a house had that when I was a kid.

I would avoid any extras that might limit the potential buyer pool. A sauna, for example.

The resale value does not depend on roller shutters or aluminum doors, but rather on the location of the house and its maintenance condition. Therefore, it doesn’t matter whether the windows are gray, white, or blue; they just need to be good quality. Facades should not be overgrown with algae, etc. But the most important factor is the location. In this case, a 70 m² (750 sq ft) lighthouse keeper’s cottage in a distressed state, old and dilapidated, was sold at a forced auction for over 600,000 simply because it is right on the beach.

That is all irrelevant. Whether the blinds are electric or operated by a strap does not matter. Triple glazing is, I think, a requirement of energy-saving regulations and there are no alternatives. Many people do not need a second bathroom.

What matters is the location! And the building structure. If you have a lot of features, you have to ask a high price when reselling. That means a small buyer group. Few features also mean a small buyer group. So, it doesn't really matter.

The original poster specifically asks about features. It’s clear that location is a priority.

When we sold our townhouse this year, the real estate agent listed several features in the appraisal that positively influenced the price. These included:

• Underfloor heating (only about 5% of the houses in the development had this)
• Second bathroom
• Converted attic with plenty of natural light
• Attractive outdoor area
• Double garage
• Basement
• Awning

Features that didn’t matter were

• Kitchen
• High-quality tiles
• Electric shutters
• LAN wiring

What will matter in a few years—who knows…

Anything that is mainstream supports the resale value. Maintenance of the property is generally more important than the initial equipment.

Others have already covered what counts as standard. Good quality means that the house should have above-average features in most details. For example, ALL windows should have triple glazing plus sun protection, ALL rooms should have a high number of lighting outlets, switches, and power sockets, two bathrooms; CONSISTENTLY high-quality flooring throughout (tiles from 60cm (24 inches) x 60cm (24 inches), hardwood, no vinyl or laminate). This should be consistent throughout. You simply need to be somewhat better than average.