When competition is high in the real estate market, it can be helpful to take a step back and understand your target buyer’s motivations and buying preferences. By doing so, you can promote your listing in a way that is more likely to resonate with a wider audience.

Millennials are currently the largest generation in the United States, and they also represented the largest share of homebuyers (38%) in 2023. As a result, there is a good chance you will be selling your home to a millennial. Because they make up such a large portion of the market, stepping into the mindset of this generation can provide some valuable insights that can make your home sale a success.

Below, we’ll look to understand millennials’ approach to buying a home and share some tips for how you can stage and market your listing in a way that appeals to this generation of buyers.

What Motivates Millennials When Buying A Home?

Millennials make up the generation that comes after Gen X and before Gen Z. The group includes anyone born between 1981 and 1996. This population is now hitting its stride on career growth, and many millennials are highly focused on building a family. They typically get married and have children later than previous generations, and they have a major affinity for pets. Millennials are also more likely to prioritize mental health and work/life balance.

Millennials have faced hardships in the real estate market with high home prices and interest rates creating affordability challenges over the last several years. As a result, many have had to delay their homebuying journey. Today, many younger millennials are still searching for their first home, while many older ones are looking to upgrade to more space to accommodate their growing families.

So, what are millennials prioritizing when home shopping? Here are some of their top priorities.

• Size – Having plenty of space is a current priority for this generation, but they also want every space in the home to have a defined purpose. Most millennials are on the hunt for three to four bedrooms and three or more bathrooms as well as large living rooms, finished basements, and spacious kitchens.
• Location – The pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work, which created a few years of location flexibility for many employees; however, most companies have pulled workers back into the office a few days per week. Therefore, proximity to a job is a top-of-the-house-hunting wishlist for many millennials. Strong communities and good school districts are also important as well as living near local amenities such as parks, restaurants, and shopping.
• Home Office – Working from home once or twice a week requires a dedicated home office space. Large, bright, comfortable home offices are almost always at the top of a millennial’s wishlist too. The home office should be isolated to enable an easier transition between work and personal living.
• Open Floor Plans – Large, open floor plans are highly appealing to millennials who are growing their families. Having little to no separation between the kitchen, living room, and dining room enables more flexibility and makes for more of a kid-friendly environment.
• Energy Efficiency – Millennials are highly attuned to their carbon footprints and are always looking for new ways to optimize energy consumption. Combating climate change and lowering energy costs are the main motivators. Green features, such as energy-efficient doors and windows, appliances, insulation, solar panels, and programmable thermostats are all features that stand out to millennials.
• Outdoor Space – Quality outdoor space became so important during the pandemic, so it’s no surprise it remains on the top of many millennials’ wish lists. Millennials want lots of space for kids and dogs to play. Entertaining guests outdoors is also a popular pastime. Therefore, large backyards and nice patios are important considerations for this generation when buying a home.

How To Market Your Listing To Millennials 

Once you understand what your target audience is looking for then you have to build the right marketing strategy to drive attention to your listing. Here are some tips on how you can market your property to millennials:

• Take The Right Listing Photos – Attention spans are short and listing photos is your most important tool for grabbing online attention. If your home has features on the millennial wish list, make sure you’re promoting front and center. Open floor plans, outdoor space, and energy-efficient features should all be on display in your photos. Work with your real estate agent to ensure your listing photos adhere to best practices, and you may even want to consider hiring a professional photographer to maximize quality.
• Go Digital – Millennials aren’t looking through magazines or newspaper ads for their next home. They’re scrolling social media, skimming emails, and texting their agents. It’s important to market to them on their preferred channels. Good photos, 3D tours, and videos are effective ways to grab their attention digitally. Make sure your property is getting attention on social media.
• Stage A Modern Look – Staging your home is effective because it makes it easier for millennials to envision themselves living in the space. When staging, less is always more. Minimal clutter, neutral colors, and modern decor can go a long way toward winning over a millennial. 
• Make Some Energy-Efficient Upgrades – Not all upgrades generate an ROI when it comes time to sell, but energy-efficient upgrades are a good way to impress this generation. Invest in double pane windows, ENERGY STAR® appliances, and LED lighting. These features are sure to stand out when millennials are touring your home.

Understanding millennials’ mindsets can be a helpful sales technique, but the best way to improve the outcome of your home sale is to hire a good REALTOR®. Bee Realty Corp is one of the most well-known real estate brokers in Central Florida, and we have some of the best REALTORS® in the industry. We know this market, and we can help you sell your home fast. Give us a call today at 386-279-7522.