ORLANDO, FL --When it comes to purchasing a home, buyers do indeed judge a book by its cover, according to a new nationwide survey of real estate agents commissioned by JELD-WEN Windows & Doors.
Curb appeal has traditionally been an important part of the sales process; however, the recently released Real Estate Agent Community Trends (REACT) survey found that it is absolutely essential to getting buyers in the door and fostering a sale. Specifically, 82 percent of agent respondents said they have had potential buyers decline to look at the interior of a home based on the exterior appearance.
To find out what it takes to attract buyers in today's tough market, JELD-WEN went straight to the source. Nearly 500 real estate agents weighed in on the most important exterior and performance features of selling a home. Often that means replacing old windows and doors with new designs that are both stylish and energy efficient. JELD-WEN discovered in the study that more than half, 56 percent, of agents have advised sellers to update windows and doors.
"Real estate agents told us that home buyers today are looking for energy efficiency, increased property values and to see if a home has been updated," said Souders. "Windows and doors are keys to all these attributes, which is why JELD-WEN makes such a broad range of products for remodeling and enhancing curb appeal."
Other notable findings from the REACT survey include:
First impressions: Nearly all respondents, 90 percent, felt a buyer's first impression of the front entry was important to their ability to sell a home; 91 percent of agents agreed that a prospect's impression of a home's outer shell is equally important as the interior.
Help me sell: Other than first impressions, real estate agents pointed out the amount of a home's natural light (75 percent), overall appearance of windows and doors (71 percent), energy efficient products (63 percent) and environmentally friendly materials (29 percent) helps them appeal to potential home buyers.
Energy efficiency is hot: With rising gas prices and a tight economy, a majority of agents have used energy efficiency as a selling feature. Two-thirds, 66 percent, said they have mentioned energy efficient doors and windows in their home listings.
Universal design booming: The baby boom generation and those planning for retirement are driving demand for easy-to-use features and floor plans. Sixty five percent of agents in the REACT survey said that the number of buyers looking for universal design features, such as a master bedroom on the main floor or a single story home, has increased in the last few years.
Doors add value: Given the importance of the front entry in the sale of a home, agents were shown pictures of an average 2,000-square-foot home and asked to estimate its value in their area. When shown the same home with updated entry and garage doors, agents estimated the property to be worth an additional $16,000.
The REACT survey is an inside look at current real estate agent attitudes on the housing market and the top selling features that today's home buyers are seeking. For more information on the survey findings contact Darcie Meihoff, 503-274-7006 or JELD-WEN@cmdagency.com
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