I’m a Real Estate Expert: 7 Home Features Buyers Won’t Want in 2025
We could see more people buying homes in the new year. In November, Zillow predicted 4.3 million home sales in 2025, up from 4.1 million in 2023 and a projected 4 million in 2024. Helping to drive the momentum is the expectation that there will be an increase in inventory and lower mortgage rates.
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If you’re planning to sell your home in 2024, it’s critical to know what buyers are looking for. We’re not just talking about home size and location, we’re also talking about core features. What are folks looking for in a home? And, just as important, what are folks not looking for? What are some features that could cause interested buyers to say, “thank you, next?”
GOBankingRates spoke with Elizabeth Dodson, co-founder and co-owner of HomeZada, a digital home management platform, to learn about the seven home features buyers won’t want in 2025.
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Extravagant Bedrooms
Everyone wants spacious bedrooms with up-to-date amenities, but, perhaps paradoxically, they’re not so keen on over-the-top vanity bedrooms that are outwardly more outrageously luxurious than the rest of the house. They’re more interested in peaceful spaces that foster a good night’s sleep.
“Bedrooms that are too extravagant can turn-off buyers who are more interested in a simple bedroom meant for sleeping and quiet,” Dodson said. “This includes adding televisions, sound systems and extravagant technology. More than ever, bedrooms are designed for sleeping and not entertainment. Keep bedrooms simple and save money.”
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Home Offices That Can’t Be Easily Converted Into Other Types of Rooms
Thanks to the rise in remote work catalyzed by the pandemic, many of us have created or improved home offices. But buyers don’t want a home with an office that can’t be converted back into an additional bedroom.
“Despite the increase in working from home since COVID, most homebuyers still prefer a bedroom over an office (or at least want to have the choice),” Dodson said. “Also, do not add built-in shelving to an office. It restricts the next buyer’s ability to convert the room back into a bedroom. When areas of a room are fixed, buyers have trouble understanding how their furniture and vision for the room will fit. This forces them to start calculating the added cost of creating the room they really want. A home with built in shelving could restrict your pool of potential buyers.”
Personalized Kitchens That Aren’t Super Practical
The kitchen is the heart of the home and as such, people want kitchens that are exceedingly practical and that they can make their own. Personalized kitchens that don’t highlight convenience and ease of use are a dealbreaker for many homebuyers.
“Personalized kitchens that are great to look at but aren’t remotely practical for those who really want to cook,” Dodson said. “Kitchen renovations are expensive because of the nature of connecting gas, electric and water to large appliances, cabinets and countertops. Pay attention to how you use your kitchen and what you truly need.”
Be discerning when considering add-ons like an extra sink or a built-in appliance. These may seem like bonuses, but often, homebuyers want something simple that doesn’t require extra maintenance or take up valuable space. You should also resist splurging on pricey appliances that can be an expensive headache for buyers to deal with.
Swimming Pools
Swimming pools may seem like attractive luxury features, particularly in warm climates, but they’re also expensive to maintain and have safety risks. As such, a swimming pool can go straight to the “cons” section of a homebuyer’s list.
“Pools have significant maintenance needs and may be a buyer dealbreaker, and they also represent safety issues,” Dodson said. “Families with small children are less likely to be in the market for a house with a pool.”
Super Trendy Design Touches
Keeping up with home design trends may be exciting for you, but generally homebuyers want designs that are more classic, so they can make them their own and not worry about them becoming out of style soon.
“Any overly trendy feature with a short design life span can represent a hurdle for some buyers,” Dodson said. “For every aggressive design choice, you reduce the number of buyers who will ultimately be interested. While wallpaper on ceilings is a hot trend right now, we hear a lot of comments from clients who do not like patterned ceilings. Keeping your home clean with tasteful design will empower homebuyers to picture their own furniture and design aesthetic.”
Garages Turned Into ADUs or Other Custom Spaces
An ADU or home gym can be a perk for homeowners, but, often, not at the expense of losing the garage.
“We have fitness-minded customers who converted a garage into a workout space, which at first sounded like a good move, but they struggled with their car situation,” Dodson said. “Converting a garage can be challenging. If you add shelving or other permanent features, you may create space issues that prevent you from adding a car back into the equation. For most buyers, a functional garage is a bigger draw than a specialty room on a lot with parking issues or no parking at all. A home without adequate parking can be a buyer’s red flag, especially for a multivehicle family.”
Customized Built-Ins
Built-ins may seem like luxurious features that everybody will love, but if these restrict space or appliance configuration options, they could be a hard pass for buyers.
“Built-in shelving has restrictions, even shelving for appliances,” Dodson said. “One of our customers had a built-in microwave that stopped working. Since the model had been discontinued and couldn’t be repaired, they had to dissemble a large part of their cabinetry to replace. The same applies to replacement televisions, sound systems and the like.”
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I’m a Real Estate Expert: 7 Home Features Buyers Won’t Want in 2025
