What makes one home stand out while another sits?
It’s not always the biggest house. And it’s not always the one in the flashiest location, either.
Right now, buyers are paying more for homes that feel finished, inviting, and easy to picture themselves living in from day one. Zillow’s latest data shows certain features can boost a home’s sale price by as much as 5.4% — which works out to about $19,500 on a typical home.
That’s a meaningful difference.
And what’s especially interesting is this: many of the features driving those higher sale prices have less to do with square footage and more to do with lifestyle.
Let’s take a look at what buyers are responding to right now — and what that could mean if you’re thinking about selling your home in Brevard County.
The Lifestyle Features Buyers Are Paying a Premium For
Some of the strongest price boosts today are tied to how a home feels.
Buyers are drawn to homes that feel like a retreat. A place where they can picture themselves slowing down, enjoying their space, and actually living well. Zillow found that homes with lifestyle-driven features are often getting stronger offers, including:
Dock: about 5.4% more
Outdoor kitchen: 4.4% more
Outdoor shower: 4.3% more
Listings using the word “cottage”: 3.2% more
Waterfront: about 3% more
Outdoor fireplace: 2.8% more
That makes a lot of sense, especially here in Florida, where outdoor living is a huge part of everyday life. Buyers aren’t just shopping for a house. They’re shopping for a feeling. They want a home that feels like an escape from the busyness of everything else.
Zillow home trends expert Amanda Pendleton explained it this way:
“Cottagecore taps into a desire for homes that feel like an escape from everyday life.”
She also noted that buyers are drawn to spaces where they can imagine sunset dinners by the water, evenings around the fire, and a slower pace of life — even if the home isn’t technically a vacation property.
That’s the shift we’re seeing.
People are willing to pay more for homes that help everyday life feel a little more special.
So if your home already has one of these features, it’s worth highlighting it clearly in your listing and marketing. And if it doesn’t, that doesn’t mean you’re out of the running. It just means presentation matters even more. Buyers need to be able to picture the lifestyle your home offers.
High-Impact Upgrades That Add Value
Not all upgrades are viewed equally by buyers right now.
Some updates are standing out much more than others, and sellers are sometimes surprised by how wide that gap can be.
In the kitchen, for example, quartzite countertops are currently leading the way. Zillow found that homes mentioning quartzite sell for about 5.3% more.
That’s ahead of:
Quartz: 3%
Soapstone: 2.7%
Marble: 1.9%
Onyx: 1.6%
But it’s not just about premium materials.
Buyers are also responding to homes that feel customized and thoughtfully designed. Listings that mention custom features sell for about 3.2% more, while bespoke finishes add another 3%.
A couple of standout examples:
Gourmet kitchens designed for home chefs: about 3% more
Golf simulators: around 2.7% more
What this tells us is that buyers are noticing when a home feels intentional.
Instead of looking for a blank slate that they’ll have to improve later, many buyers are gravitating toward homes where the work is already done and the space feels ready to enjoy now.
That’s especially important in a market where time, money, and energy all feel a little tighter.
Why Move-In-Ready Homes Are Winning
This may be one of the clearest takeaways from Zillow’s data: buyers strongly prefer homes that don’t need much work.
According to the report:
Turnkey homes sell for about 2.9% more
Remodeled homes sell for about 2.2% more
Fixer-uppers sell for about 14% less
That’s a pretty dramatic gap.
And honestly, it reflects what many buyers are feeling. After stretching to buy a home, a lot of people don’t want to immediately take on renovation costs, contractor timelines, or months of unfinished projects. They’d rather move in, settle down, and make cosmetic changes over time if needed.
Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng summed it up well when she said buyers would rather roll those upgrade costs into their mortgage than pay for expensive improvements after closing.
That mindset matters if you’re preparing to sell.
If your home is already updated, you may be in a stronger position than you realize. And if your home still needs work, that doesn’t mean it can’t sell well — it just means pricing, preparation, and marketing strategy become even more important.
What This Means for Sellers in Today’s Market
The big picture is simple: buyers are willing to pay more for homes that feel complete, polished, and easy to enjoy right away.
That doesn’t always mean fully luxury. It means well-presented, well-marketed, and aligned with what today’s buyers care about.
Zillow also found that homes listed in late May sell for about 1.7% more, or around $6,000 on a typical home. Of course, that timing can vary depending on your local market, but it’s a good reminder that when you list can affect your bottom line too.
And none of this works without strong presentation.
Before buyers ever step inside, they’re already forming opinions online. That’s why the details matter:
Professional photos
Strong listing language
Virtual tours
Clear floor plans
Thoughtful staging and preparation
The right strategy helps buyers see the value in your home before they even schedule a showing.
Thinking About Selling? Start with What Your Home Already Has
Every home has something that stands out.
Sometimes it’s a dock, a waterfront view, or a beautiful outdoor entertaining space. Other times it’s a renovated kitchen, a move-in-ready layout, or just a home that feels warm, cared for, and easy to love the moment you walk in.
The key is knowing what today’s buyers are willing to pay more for — and then building your pricing and marketing strategy around that.
If you’re thinking about selling in Brevard County, I’d be happy to help you look at how your home stacks up in today’s market and which features could make the biggest difference. Reach out anytime — I’m always here to help you make the most of your move.
Source: Zillow
