Short answer: Features that increase home value are not always the ones that get clicks. In 2026 Zillow research, quartzite countertops were linked to about 5% more and move-in ready about 3% more, while exposed beams drew about 20% more engagement and Victorian style was linked to a price about 1.5% lower.
Some features make a listing stop the scroll. Others make buyers pay more. They are not always the same thing, according to Zillow’s 2026 research on listings and sale prices.
Features that get attention
| Feature | Extra daily buyer engagement |
|---|---|
| Exposed beams | About 20% |
| Victorian style | About 19% |
| Exposed brick | About 15% |
| Open shelving | About 15% |
Attention is useful: more people see the home and book showings. But Victorian style, for one, was also linked to a sale price about 1.5% lower. Clicks are not the same as offers.
Features linked to a higher sale price
| Feature or listing word | Sale price vs expected |
|---|---|
| Quartzite countertops | About 5% more |
| Quartz countertops | About 3% more |
| Custom or bespoke finishes | About 3% more |
| Move-in ready | About 3% more |
| Remodeled | About 2% more |
| Marble countertops | About 2% more |
Source: Zillow 2026 home features research. Outdoor kitchens and white oak floors were also on Zillow’s list of features buyers pay for.
What that is worth on Staten Island
The median home on Staten Island sold for $800,000 in October 2026. At that price, 5% is about $40,000, 3% about $24,000 and 2% about $16,000. On the other side, the 1.5% linked to Victorian style is about $12,000. Small percentages, big checks.
What this means if you are selling
- Name the good stuff in the listing. If your counters are quartzite, say quartzite, not just stone. The words buyers search for are the words that show up in the research.
- Photograph what earns money first. Lead with the kitchen and the finished spaces, then the character details that get the clicks.
- Do not renovate to chase a trend. These are national averages. What matters is what buyers on your street pay. See projects that will not pay you back.
Want to know which features in your home to lead with? Ask us what it is worth and we will tell you what we would put first.
Quick answers
Which countertop adds the most value?
In Zillow’s 2026 research, quartzite was linked to about 5% more than expected, quartz about 3% and marble about 2%.
Does move-in ready raise the price?
Zillow found move-in ready homes sold for about 3% more than expected.
What is 3% on a Staten Island home?
About $24,000 at the October 2026 median sale of $800,000.
Keep reading
- Home projects that will not pay you back when you sell
- Several offers on your home: how to pick the best one
- Selling your Staten Island home this winter
- What is my home worth?
- The Pinnacle selling guide
Questions about your own move? Call or text the office at 718-490-0393, or send us a note.
Sources: Zillow, read November 8, 2026. National research, not a promise for any one home.
RE/MAX Edge · 651 Willowbrook Rd, Staten Island, NY 10314 · 718-612-3088. Each office independently owned and operated. Equal Housing Opportunity.
