Wellness Features Pay Off for Remodels, Sales, and New Homes

As Americans become more attuned to wellness within their homes, properties with wellness features are selling faster and for more money, according to Zillow. To discover which wellness features are most attractive to buyers, Zillow analyzed 220 features and 1.4 million home sales from last year. It discovered steam ovens received a 4.9% sale premium, hot tubs and inground spas resulted in a 1.7% sale premium, zen gardens gained a 1.5% sale premium, and smart or touchless toilets created a 1% sale premium. Home builders are infusing wellness and health into new construction, such as Shea Homes and its Pure Living package. It includes hands free faucets and air and water quality monitoring, says Forbes.

“It is all about clean air, clean water and lighting,” comments Gina Nixon with West Coast builder Thomas James Homes. “Air quality is the minimum standard,” she notes. 

National builder Tri Pointe Homes is including indoor air quality-enhancing features like home products with low to no-VOC paints, adhesive or sealants in its standard offerings, according to Kevin Wilson, vice president of strategic sourcing and sustainability. They’re also using MERV 8 or higher air filters to reduce airborne contaminants, (which means installing HVAC systems that can handle them, not always the case in older resale homes).

Wellness upgrade packages include central vacuum systems, humidity sensing bathroom fans and whole house water filtration.