Real Estate Rules

5 ways to maximize your San Antonio home's value — and 5 features that'll cost you

Carpet is a no-no.

Photo courtesy of Opendoor

When it comes to selling a home, one thing is certain: homeowners always want to get top dollar. To boost their home's value, many embark on renovation projects hoping, but not knowing, that those upgrades will significantly increase their bottom line when it comes time to sell. Questions like, "Will I see my money back from that bathroom facelift?" or "Is installing quartz countertops in my kitchen worth it?" abound.

As we head into the slower fall real estate season, when many homeowners opt to stay put and contemplate selling next year, the list of potential projects might be top of mind. So what should you focus on? If you want to tackle just one project this year, what should it be?

Local real estate company Opendoor just launched a Home Improvement Value Calculator that eliminates the mystery by enabling homeowners to see how much certain upgrades can increase their overall home value.

Looking at Opendoor data for homes valued around $200,000 in San Antonio (close to the current median price), here are the five upgrades that typically provide the biggest boost, along with the average increase in value:

Add a pool: $19,450 (9.73 percent increase)
Add a second or third bedroom: $11,650 (5.82 percent)
Add 150 square feet of interior living space: $10,200 (5.10 percent)
Add a full bathroom: $9,900 (4.95 percent)
Remodel the kitchen: $9,750 (4.88 percent)

Opendoor also looked at data from the past year to identify which existing home features could be costing homeowners thousands. Here are the top five offenders, along with the average reduction in value for each:

Formica or tile kitchen counters: -$4,600
Carpet as primary floor type: -$4,200
Located on busy street: -$2,300
Low-quality cabinetry: -$1,800
Black or white appliances (as opposed to stainless steel): -$1,700

As one of the largest acquirers of single-family homes throughout San Antonio, Opendoor is able to analyze individual home features and understand how they add to (or detract from) the overall value of a home. The company has been keeping San Antonio buyers and sellers in the loop on real local estate trends since last year, and has served over 1,750 local customers.

For sellers not interested in undertaking stressful, pricey renovation projects to get their home "open-house ready," Opendoor is a dream come true. Homeowners can go to opendoor.com to begin the no-obligation process today and Opendoor will provide a competitive, all-cash offer within 24 hours, regardless of whether or not a home has been remodeled.

---

Opendoor's calculator is offered for educational purposes and is not a guarantee of return on investment. Individual results may vary.

home-for-sale promoted reports

Take A Walk

New multifamily community opens near Stone Oak restaurants and shopping

Rendering courtesy of Greyson Luxury Living

The new community offers 291 units.

A new multifamily community is now open to prospective residents in San Antonio. Greyson Luxury Living comprises 291 units at 1734 N. Loop 1604 West, with a focus on lifestyle amenities. But the location will be the main draw for many.

Apartment floor plans range from one to three bedrooms, starting at $1,317 for one bedroom and one bathroom, and working up to a base price of $2,611 for three bedrooms and two baths. The community's pet policy according to the website is: "We welcome all your furry friends at Greyson."

Residents will get reserved parking and a garage with EV charging stations, but it might not always be necessary to hop in the car. The apartments are directly adjacent to restaurants like Cover 3, Eddie V's Prime Seafood, and Blü Prime Steakhouse — not exactly everyday eats, but there's tons more at the Vineyard Shopping Center and the Stone Oak neighborhood's Blanco Market Shopping Center across the highway.

In addition to restaurants, the community is less than a five-minute drive from H-E-B Plus, Whole Foods Market, Target, fashion and furniture stores, and multiple fitness studios like StretchLab and LA Fitness.

A press release promises wood-style flooring, quartz and granite countertops, and ceramic tile backsplash. On the more utilitarian side, it offers single-basin sinks, kitchen islands, "spacious" pantries, a stainless-steel Energy Star appliance package, and washer and dryer connections. (Images shared by the complex so far appear to be more illustrative of the desired vibe than the actual space.)

Every floor plan also shows a private patio or balcony. The most expensive floor plan — the three-by-two — has a wraparound outdoor space.

For shared spaces, a resort-style pool with a tanning shelf (a very shallow area for placing lounge chairs) and bike storage encourage residents to get outside, and a dog wash station makes it easy to leave dirt and hair outside of apartments. There's also a fitness center, a clubhouse with wi-fi, elevators, and concierge services.

“We developed Greyson as a luxury multifamily community aimed to fit any type of lifestyle, and we are grateful for all of our partners that helped bring this project to life,” says Ed Garahan, partner and CEO at Carbon Companies, the development firm heading the project.

Carbon Companies also sold the Addison Medical Center Apartments, Ventura Ridge, Triomphe Apartments, and Pecan Springs Luxury Apartment Homes, with more in the works in San Antonio.

apartments shopping