Photo courtesy of Redfin
Stainless steel appliances are one trend that gained popularity fast, but leveled off.
Wondering which home-improvement trends are in and which are out? Based on listing metrics, Redfin real estate brokerage has a few theories.
The real estate company, which provides online real estate stats and services, crunched data from the past five years to see how many listings mentioned various trends. The trends were chosen for their variable popularity over the years.
“I keep a close eye on luxury real estate because those tend to trickle down,” explains Alanna Finn, a lifestyle specialist at Redfin. Some trends—such as smart-home technology, quartz countertops, and freestanding tubs—have grown significantly more popular over time. The built-in bar has also gained speed, after diving in popularity in 2012.
Other items—such as stainless-steel appliances and marble countertops—have maintained steady growth over the past few years. Bamboo floors haven’t become less popular, but they aren’t increasing much in number either (suggesting, according to Finn, that they might be on their way out, along with the breakfast nook).
“This is useful information for homeowners concerned with staying on trend or for a homeowner looking to sell their home within the next year," says Redfin real estate agent Timothy Maller. "It's a good idea to make certain updates to a home before listing since home buyers will be looking for those newer features.”
If potential sellers aren't able to update their homes with trendy features, however, Maller suggests more time-tested approaches, such as painting the walls a neutral color, hanging lightweight curtains, and decreasing clutter.
