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Keep buying shiplap and sliding barn doors, Houston.
The home style made popular by HGTV's "Fixer Upper" super-couple Chip and Joanna Gaines — modern-farmhouse chic — reportedly adds more than 10 percent value to on-the-market homes.
That’s according to a new report from Zillow, which explains that it’s the home design most people will pay a premium to have — approximately $25,000 for the average American house.
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“Some design trends look great in a photograph, but don’t reflect the way most Americans live,” Zillow Lifestyle Expert Amanda Pendleton said in a prepared statement. “The modern farmhouse trend seems to be enduring because of its livability.”
While formal finishes and Federal-style red-brick homes with elaborate moldings have had their fair share in the spotlight, farmhouse-inspired design features a more welcoming, less formal atmosphere.
“It has a more casual, rustic aesthetic that is meant to be lived in,” Pendleton said. Nothing is precious and the more wear and patina, the better, which makes it so appealing to buyers with children or pets.”
Other features that contributed to homes selling for more than expected include waterfall countertops, Moroccan tile, Craftsman and exposed brick.
Keep in mind, however, that while it’s a beloved architectural look, studies haven’t shown a promised that you’ll see your money back for creating the changes. So if you’re in a Victorian-style property, you might want to hold-off on the overhaul.
“This analysis didn’t look at return on investment, so don’t rush out to install a waterfall countertop in your kitchen and assume you’ll earn your money back in a sale,” said Zillow economist Jeff Tucker. “However, if you have these features in your home, make sure to flaunt them in your listing description during the competitive spring home shopping season."
Darla Guillen Gilthorpe joined the Houston Chronicle in 2014.