Coastal real estate is a different beast than homes situated more inland. Buyers don’t care about granite countertops and open floor plans; they care about whether insurance premiums will increase and what renovations will best prepare homes and properties for storm systems.
Properties on the coast are different than those inland – how long materials last in salt air, how many storms specific materials withstand before missing shingles/wash away, and how quickly they can dissolve in surging tides. Selling on the coast means making different determinations than the average buyer.
What works in Arizona or Michigan does not appreciate equity where there’s more salt air and surging waters. This is what’s ultimately in your favor when selling to buyers – many of whom have lived through their storms and know a thing or two about investment protection.
It’s All About Storm Protection
When buyers enter a home, the first thing they look at is the windows.
It’s not subtle. Anyone who’s lived in a coastal territory has lived through a storm or knows someone who has. They’ve seen the claims, the back and forth with adjusters, the damage, and the months it takes to rebuild. Therefore, impact-resistant windows and reinforced entryways are top of mind upon entry. Why? Because they avoid unwanted penetration. But they also represent insurance credits down the line.
Many buyers will eliminate homes from consideration that lack such important details – and even those in V flood zones are less tolerant of homes lacking storm protections; they’d rather pay $5,000 post-purchase to get impact glass installed because they’re not budgeting accordingly when this is necessary. In reality, homes that lack these measures sit on the market longer or sell for less because buyers realize they’ve got to shell out for retrofits post-purchase.
What buyers don’t realize, however, is that shutter systems that are cosmetic can’t withstand sustained winds. If buyers are getting storm-rated upgrades, they need to work with companies that understand local building codes and are privy to Fortified standards and testing. When homes require complete retrofitting, for example, companies specialising in window replacement in Tampa Bay can handle everything from wind load requirements to impact ratings, as older homes are not up to modern-day standards.
Storm protection recoups 70%-85% of installation costs in coastal markets. However, this percentage does not account for longer average days on market and more serious buyers who aren’t looking to haggle about details once they’re inside.
Energy Efficiency is More Important Than You Know
They want it. But do they need it?
In coastal markets, they do. Air conditioning becomes life-saving for humid moats rife with overwhelming levels. Therefore, buyers look at energy bills like HOAs, and when energy efficiency adds up, homes with high thermal inefficiency lose value upon presentation and consideration before they’re even assessed at showing.
According to the Department of Energy, windows and doors account for 25-30% of cooling costs in hot regions; that means a single-pane window or an unattractive door without a proper seal can be costing residents an additional $150-200 each month in summer – and no buyer wants to tack on $1800-$2400 per year to their overall bill for a door that looks pretty but lacks a proper seal.
The difference energy-efficient replacements make is significant in low-E glass applications and added insulation values, ensuring seals on windows and doors actually keep cooled air inside without losing it into frame recesses. Therefore, when buyers notice new windows and high-performance doors with sound sealants versus ones that allow air loss all summer long, they appreciate lower utility costs more than merely admiring their appearance, as they care about their effectiveness.
Additionally, energy-efficient doors and windows save HVAC systems from wearing out too soon over their lifespans; the conversation during showings in which the A/C unit has already seen better days – 8-10 years old – opens up buyers’ minds previously closed over other aesthetics.
Materials That Withstand Salt Air
If there’s any lesson learned about coastal living throughout the years it’s materials do not stand the test of time based solely upon where they buy them; salt spray on metals corrode them faster than some metals can last; wood absorbs water and warps instead of looking pretty painted; every ten miles from the coast translates to additional degradation someone inevitably pays for – which buyers aren’t willing to do.
Vinyl and fiberglass hold up better than wood (and fiberglass does better than wood in high-moisture territories) because it won’t rot, it’s anti-salt corrosion resistant, and maintenance is cleaning once annually as opposed to constant re-sealing every season without guarantee it remains intact. Wood looks nice as an entry point, but painted frames need repainting – seasonally – unless one goes with composites – which costs more – and if a buyer shells out an additional $500/year just to make sure cedar doesn’t rot into kindling, it’s not worth it from a standpoint.
Aluminum frames work – but only if they’re properly treated. Powder-coated aluminum works well in coastal applications – but untreated aluminum starts corroding quickly; buyers who downsize their needs from a financial perspective suffer unnecessarily far too quickly; stainless steel hardware does not rust – but upfront cost is higher – and much like having buyers have half-dead windows inside of five years isn’t worth it.
It’s about materials because time spent becoming educated about what’s best is appreciated, versus re-purchasing corroded hinges or peeling frames every eighteen months – buyers see quality materials because they’ve had firsthand experience with bad ones first.
Outdoor Spaces Transitioned to Living Space
When square footage is square footage but also yards counted as square footage, outdoor entertaining options become extended living areas where buyers will want to enjoy, as opposed to looking at from the back window but only staring at it from inside unless there’s barbecue weather looming.
Covered patios, screened enclosures, and impact-rated sliding doors open major interior spaces to outdoor possibilities that add an enormous plus for any buyer if this exists upon showing. Functioning outdoor space during heat, humidity, and bug seasons is more than simply laying down concrete slabs; potential adds value, so sellers need to ensure ceiling fans exist for airflow, good lighting exists for nighttime occupancy (if that’s not thwarted by blackout conditions), and at the very least bug protection exists so mosquitoes don’t chew everyone apart after a long workweek.
Additionally, large sliding or folding glass doors connected indoor space with outdoor space become a luxurious addition central within the coast – as they photograph beautifully for listings – which adds appeal for resort-like vibes; otherwise, buyers will pay top dollar for the luxury of being out there. Just make sure whatever glass panels are standing up against meet local wind load requirements and impact requirements – decorative applications that cannot hold up in storms bring their overall value lower – real estate doesn’t need any negative value post-contract.
Moisture Control & Ventilation
Where many renovations fail on the coast that add aesthetic appeal benefit from what sits on top of them; if substructures are moisture-ridden, buyers aren’t going to be happy with the marketable aesthetic pieces surrounding them.
Cavities/ceilings must have exhaust fans that exit (not into attics), which prevent moisture before mold creates it; dehumidification systems for crawlspaces/attics maintain important structures from maintaining air quality-based efforts, so simple installations can be done inexpensively for extensive positive appeal.
Moisture problems pose significant concerns when inspectors come through; if issues are found during inspection, either negotiations occur or price decreases exist, or buyers drop out entirely – it’s better to clear moisture issues/prevent them before anything else comes into play under contract.
Which Renovations Don’t Add Value?
Some renovations that add incredible value elsewhere barely add anything here in coastal territories – high-end kitchen appliances may speak to some, but not others, who feel others should have gone through an upgrade first (bringing windows up to code).
Luxury bathrooms might catch interest, but homeowners care more about foundation drainage.
Pools are hit or miss as part of coastal communities – some buyers want pools, but at increased insurance premiums comes great responsibility – and pools yield barely recouped installation costs unless it’s a status quo neighborhood style, so scale back here.
Extensive landscaping adds wonderful street appeal, but buyer interest diminishes like hurricane cleanup; no one wants anything exotic being projectiles with whipping winds, so it’s better off getting native plants that require low effort versus high-maintenance gardens.
The Bottom Line
Value trumps concern more than average suburban homes; storm protection, energy performance, and materials that withstand daily tests create additional percentages of value that come through. They’re not cosmetic efforts/trendy renovations – they’re essential efforts with proven prior renovations that work better than those without, who’ve never had this unique experience before.
When selling a home, it’s prudent to focus on those components first – windows/doors/moisture-protection solutions/outdoor functionality – all cosmetic pieces come second, on how these first provide potential where there previously was none due to potential concern by those living outside looking in. They bring integrity, while vanity pieces can set everything up nicely after the fact, once foundations have been established for optimal pricing wanted by the buyer perspective, before coastal living ever began.
