Homes with 'Subway Tiles,' 'Barn Doors' or 'Farmhouse Sinks' Can Sell for Up to 13 Percent More and 60 Days Faster

For-sale listings touting craftsman or farmhouse-style design features sell faster and for more money than expected, according to Zillow Digs analysis

Why do some homes sell for a premium? In addition to timing, a home's listing description can have a significant impact on its final sale price. Listings mentioning keywords like "barn door," "shaker cabinets" or "subway tiles," sell faster and for up to 13 percent more than expected, according to a Zillow Digs® analysisi.

Zillow Digs analyzed listing descriptions from over 2 million homes nationwide sold between January 2014 and March 2016 to see how certain keywords referring to home features, amenities and design styles impacted their sale price.

Of the 60 keywords analyzed, listings mentioning "barn doors," a rustic sliding door often used on bedroom closets and kitchen pantries, saw the highest sale premium (13 percent above expected values). Other common craftsman-style keywords like "farmhouse sink" were also found in top-performing listings. Furthermore, homes described as "craftsman" performed better than any other design style analyzed. While people may think the rustic mason jar-vibe is out, it is still very popular with today's buyers.

"When it comes to real estate listing descriptions – words matter," says Dr. Svenja Gudell, Zillow chief economist. "Your listing description is an opportunity to highlight specific details and finishes that might not be visible in photos. Craftsman-style homes and amenities resonate incredibly well with today's buyers – so if you've got them, flaunt them! Meanwhile, not only are subway tiles and shaker cabinets popular with home buyers, they may also signal that the home has other desirable features like an open floor plan or a well-appointed kitchen."

Understanding what's popular among buyers can also help homeowners who are considering remodeling. For example, listings descriptions that included "new carpets" had no effect on the home's sale price, but listings mentioning "hardwood floors" sold for two percent more than expected. While everyone has different preferences, when it's time to sell, a listing mentioning hardwood floors may be more likely to catch a future buyer's eye.

This report stems from an analysis in the New York Times best-seller, "Zillow Talk: Rewriting the Rules of Real Estate," which looks at how certain listing descriptors like "unique" or "captivating" can impact final sale prices. More information can be found at http://www.zillow.com/zillowtalk/.

Home Feature Keyword	Effect (percent homes sells for above expected values)	Effect (how many days faster than expected the home sells)	Most Common Metro
Barn Door	13.4%	57	Phoenix, AZ
Shaker Cabinet	9.6%	45	Los Angeles, CA
Farmhouse Sink	7.9%	58	Los Angeles, CA
Subway Tile	6.9%	63	Philadelphia, PA
Quartz	6.0%	50	Los Angeles, CA
Craftsman	5.4%	14	Seattle, WA
Exposed Brick	4.9%	36	New York, NY
Pendant Light	4.6%	48	Phoenix, AZ
Frameless Shower	4.6%	38	Dallas, TX
Heated Floors	4.3%	28	Seattle, WA
Stainless Steel	4.2%	42	Chicago, IL
Granite	4.1%	38	Dallas, TX
Backsplash	4.1%	46	Philadelphia, PA
Tankless Water Heater	4.0%	43	Los Angeles, CA
Outdoor Kitchen	3.7%	19	Tampa, FL