When you think of design features that increase the value of your home, barn doors probably aren’t on the top of your list. Perhaps they should be. Real Estate website Zillow Digs recently analyzed their 2.8 million listings and came to a conclusion that shouldn’t be all that surprising for those of us who love barn doors.
According to a report released in April, the phrase “barn door” might help homes on the market sell 57 days faster and fetch a 13.4 percent higher price than homes without a sliding door. “Barn doors” rank higher than any other design term Zillow’s study analyzed in their listings. The study covered homes of various price points and locations.
Barn Doors Catch Buyers’ Eyes
If you’re trying to sell a home, simply replacing a swing door with a barn door doesn’t guarantee a higher final selling price. However, if you already have a home design that would appeal to barn door enthusiasts, being able to include that keyword in your listing can help make the home easier to sell. Even if you’re not planning to sell in the near future, using a barn door in your remodeling could increase the home value.
Skylar Olsen, Zillow’s senior economist, explains that the relationship between barn doors in the home and higher value isn’t automatic. You can’t just slap on a barn door and increase the value of any home. “Barn doors are a signal of a strong design sense,” Zillow said in an interview with Bloomberg. She continues, “People that design homes or fix them up with barn doors might have their eyes toward other key design elements that people value, like a farmhouse sink or an open kitchen.”
Design Style and Barn Doors
Many home buyers are looking for a design aesthetic that lends itself well to barn doors. In Zillow’s report, “Craftsmen style” and related keywords rated highly in listings that buyers were looking for. Keywords like “farmhouse sink” and “shaker cabinets” rated right behind “barn doors” in terms of popularity.
Barn doors also work well with industrial and modern styles, another popular design trend. The keyword ranked 4th on Zillow’s list was “subway tile.” A little farther down on the list, we find other keywords like “exposed brick” and “pendant lighting,” which are associated with modern and industrial design. Barn doors with metal hardware fit right into these decorating styles.
Choosing A Barn Door
Rustic + Modern’s barn doors are of the highest quality and work well with popular design trends as well as classic home styles. If increasing your home value is one of the reasons you’re thinking of installing a barn door, you’re in the right place.
We offer several different barn door designs that are custom-made to your exact specifications. You choose the size, wood type, stain or paint color, and style. We also offer different styles of hardware, and installation and delivery if you live close enough to our design center. You can order online or contact us to set up an appointment with our design center and see barn door examples in-person.