Looking to Sell? Zillow Finds Most Profitable Home Amenities

Editor's Note: This was originally published on RISMedia's blog, Housecall. See what else is cookin' now at blog.rismedia.com:

Every homeowner has one question in mind before updating their house: Which upgrades will command top dollar when it's time to sell? The answer can be complicated, since each buyer offers a different perspective; however, there's one universal truth: Everyone likes bonus amenities.

Zillow recently analyzed the listing descriptions of nearly four million homes across the U.S. (sold between January 2016 and December 2017). By using keywords related to home features, Zillow determined which amenities most impacted home sale prices and time on market.

The findings? Specialty features like heated floors, steam showers and outdoor kitchens typically had a 30 percent effect (how much a home sells for above the expected value), and also sold in a shorter amount of time. Some add-ons were more prominent in certain states than others; however, there was one standout: Buyers in Los Angeles, Calif., generally pay premium prices for bonus features.

The top 10 amenities are:

1. Steam Shower
Effect: 29 percent
Most Common Metro: Chicago, Ill.

2. Professional Appliance
Effect: 29 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

3. Pizza Oven
Effect: 26 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

4. Pet Shower
Effect: 25 percent
Most Common Metro: Denver, Colo.

5. Outdoor Kitchen
Effect: 25 percent
Most Common Metro: Dallas, Texas

6. Entertainer or Prep Sink
Effect: 25 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

7. Shed or Garage Studio
Effect: 24 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

8. Heated Floors/Radiant Heat
Effect: 24 percent
Most Common Metro: New York, N.Y.

9. Meditation Room
Effect: 24 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

10. Wine Fridge
Effect: 22 percent
Most Common Metro: Los Angeles, Calif.

The trick to successfully selling these amenities and getting over your asking price? Strategically marketing them through professional photos and listing descriptions, says Zillow.

"While everyone has different style preferences, when it's time to sell, being specific and strategic with your home's listing description can have a big financial payoff," said Jeremy Wacksman, Zillow's chief marketing officer, in a statement. "Homes with spa-inspired bathrooms, chef-like kitchen amenities and certain craftsman or farmhouse features are very popular among today's buyers. If you have these features in your home, try to highlight them in listing photos and descriptions as it may help catch a future buyer's eye."

View the full report.

Liz Dominguez is RISMedia's associate content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at ldominguez@rismedia.com.