Three Weird Things That May Increase Your Home’s Value

When most people think about increasing a home’s value, they picture a remodeled kitchen, a new roof or an extra bathroom.

But real estate can be surprisingly emotional. Buyers do not make decisions based on square footage alone. Neighborhood signals, cultural beliefs and even the lifestyle suggested by an unusual feature can influence how a property is perceived.

Here are three weird things that have been associated with higher home values or sale prices.

1. Living Near a Starbucks

Could your neighborhood coffee shop affect the value of your home?

A well-known real estate analysis tracked homes near Starbucks locations in 20 major metropolitan areas between 1997 and 2013. It found that homes near Starbucks generally appreciated more than the typical homes in those markets during the period studied. (Zillow)

Before we give all the credit to the coffee, there is an important distinction: this does not prove that opening a Starbucks causes surrounding property values to rise.

Starbucks carefully researches demographics, traffic patterns, spending habits and growth potential before selecting a location. The company may simply be skilled at identifying neighborhoods that are already positioned for increased demand.

In that sense, a nearby Starbucks could be viewed as a neighborhood signal rather than a magic home-value booster.

It may suggest that the area has:

• Consistent vehicle or pedestrian traffic
• A strong base of potential customers
• Convenient neighborhood amenities
• Signs of continued commercial investment

The larger lesson is that buyers often value convenience. Coffee shops, restaurants, grocery stores and other recognizable businesses can help make a neighborhood feel active, established and enjoyable.

2. Having the Number Eight in Your Address

Your house number may seem like a tiny detail, but numbers can carry powerful meanings.

In many communities, the number eight is associated with wealth, success and good fortune. As a result, an address containing multiple eights may attract extra attention from buyers who consider the number auspicious.

This does not mean every home with an eight in its address is automatically worth more. The effect depends heavily on the location, the local buyer pool and the importance individual buyers place on traditions.

Still, it is a fascinating reminder that value is not always purely physical.

Two nearly identical houses can create different emotional responses because of an address, street name, view, history or another feature that does not appear on an appraisal worksheet.

A lucky address is unlikely to overcome problems such as poor condition or an unrealistic asking price. However, in the right market, it may become a memorable marketing detail.

3. Having a Pizza Oven

Apparently, buyers may be willing to pay more for the promise of really good pizza.

Zillow has found that listings mentioning pizza ovens were associated with higher-than-expected sale prices. In one analysis, personalized features such as pizza ovens and putting greens were associated with sale-price premiums of as much as 3.7%. (Zillow)

Does that mean installing a pizza oven will guarantee a profitable return? No, it does not.

Homes with pizza ovens may also have upgraded kitchens, attractive patios, larger entertainment areas or other luxury improvements. The pizza oven could be part of a larger package rather than the sole reason the property sold for more.

However, it does demonstrate the importance of lifestyle marketing.

A buyer may look at a pizza oven and picture:

• Family dinners on the patio
• Summer parties with friends
• Relaxed weekends at home
• A more distinctive entertaining space

The feature is not merely an appliance. It helps buyers imagine an experience.

That emotional connection can make a property stand out, especially when several similar homes are competing for attention.

Should You Add One of These Features?

Probably not solely because it appeared on a list of features associated with higher sale prices.

Building a pizza oven may make sense when you will use and enjoy it. Purchasing a home near shops and cafés may support the lifestyle you want. A lucky house number may be a fun selling point for the right audience.

None of these factors guarantees a specific increase in value.

A home’s market value still depends primarily on factors such as:

• Location
• Condition
• Lot size
• Floor plan
• Recent comparable sales
• Supply and demand
• Quality of improvements
• Current market conditions

Research showing that a feature is associated with a higher sale price does not necessarily mean the feature caused that result.

Buyers Purchase a Story

The most useful takeaway is that buyers purchase more than bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.

They also purchase convenience, identity and the life they imagine living in the home.

A nearby Starbucks may suggest that the neighborhood is growing. A lucky address may create a positive emotional connection. A pizza oven may turn an ordinary patio into the setting for years of family gatherings.

These details may not determine a home’s appraised value, but they can affect attention, desirability and buyer enthusiasm.  And when it is time to sell, those qualities can help a home stand apart.

What Is the Unexpected Selling Point of Your Home?

Every Sonoma County property has features that are easy to overlook.

Sometimes the most effective selling point is not an expensive renovation. It may be a special view, a quiet location, a flexible room, an unusual outdoor feature or a neighborhood amenity buyers would love.

A thoughtful real estate strategy identifies those details and presents them in a way that helps buyers understand the complete value of the property.