3 Backyard Trends That Can Help You Sell Your House for Up to 3% More

Spring usually ushers in the home-selling season, but this year's kick-off may have less fanfare than in the past. High mortgage interest rates and soaring house prices over the past few years have dampened mortgage demand.

But Zillow recently released some data showing backyard trends that may make your house sell faster -- and for up to 3% more than expected. Spoiler alert: Buyers want to watch TV and take showers outside.

Do this to boost your sales price

Zillow analyzed 1 million home sales last year, looking at hundreds of home features, and found that homes with these backyard trends commanded higher selling prices, and some helped the homes sell faster.

• Outdoor TV: Homes with an outdoor​​ TV sold for about 3.1% more, equal to an average of $10,749.
• Outdoor shower: Homes with an outdoor shower command a 2.6% premium.
• Outdoor kitchen: Houses with an outdoor cooking space sell for up to 1.7% more.

In addition to the backyard trends, Zillow says indoor countertops made of soapstone are now the most popular and help homes well for 3% more than expected, and matte black appliances help homes command a 2.9% premium.

Tried and true ways to sell a home faster

If you didn't make your backyard an oasis before listing your house for sale, you still have options to help make your home more desirable. Here's what the experts recommend.

Declutter

This is an often overlooked suggestion, but Zillow says it's one of the best ways to help your house sell faster. Buyers need to visualize themselves in your home instead of seeing your stuff everywhere. Rent a storage unit if needed, but don't cram things in closets. Zillow notes that 64% of buyers said storage space is essential.

Price it right

Zillow says 21% of sellers say selling a home within a desired time frame was their most significant difficulty. Even in a seller's market, it's still important to price the house to sell and have a strategy in place for when you'll do a price cut. Some experts recommend lowering the price as soon as two weeks after listing.

Use an agent

According to Clever Real Estate, homes sell for 30% less when listed as for-sale-by-owner (FSBO), and sellers have to pay more in buyer incentives when they sell a home themselves. Using an agent simplifies the selling process and gives you access to someone with extensive house-selling expertise.

Stage your home

Home staging may not be necessary to sell your house, but it will likely help it sell faster. National Association of Realtors data shows staged homes sell up to 10% faster. And 31% of sellers say they received a higher selling price because their house was staged.

Improve the curb appeal

A study by Virginia Tech found that homes with desirable curb appeal had a sales price up to 12.7% higher than those without. So, plant those flowers out front!

Don't forget this important step after selling

After you sell your house, you'll likely be on the hunt for another house. And while it can be tempting to go with the same mortgage lender you used for your previous home, it may not offer you the best rate. About one-third of buyers never shop around for a better rate.

You could save thousands of dollars simply by comparing a handful of mortgage lenders. Data from Freddie Mac found that buyers who compare mortgage lenders can save up to $1,200 annually on their mortgage payments.

With the housing market still tight for buyers, now is still a good time to sell a house. But making it more desirable than the surrounding competition could go a long way toward selling faster and for a potentially higher price.