From its gorgeous mountainous landscape to its big-city amenities, Denver has been trending as one of the hottest cities to live for quite some time now. As locals ourselves, we can’t deny the Mile High City’s charm. However, with rising housing prices, daunting market trends, limited supply, and growing populations, we were curious; What are people really looking for and how likely are they to find it here in Denver?

There are many factors to consider when searching for a new place to call home. Does it have central air? Is it close to top-rated schools? What’s the neighborhood like? These considerations and priorities dictate which properties are the most attractive options to homebuyers. To determine what makes a home desirable in the Denver area, we surveyed 500 residents to see what things they love about their home, what they’re hoping to find in their next one, and if they’re planning on calling Denver home for the long run.

Housing Must-Haves

Home shoppers often make a list of which amenities matter most to them before beginning their search. While many new-construction homes boast similar floorplans and quartz countertops, many Denver homes are a bit more rich in history and may be outdated. How much does that really matter in the 303?

It would appear – quite a bit! The number one feature shoppers desire, both men and women, is a newly renovated kitchen. After all, the kitchen is the heart of the home. Sellers, breathe a sigh of relief, a new interior paint job came in second (that one’s a bit easier on your wallet, don’t you think?) Next was a fenced in yard for all the Denver dogs who love to enjoy the year-round sunshine.

Greener Pastures

So, are these desired amenities a reflection of features people simply cannot live without? Or are Denver residents looking to improve their living situation?

Turns out, only about 40 percent of respondents currently enjoy a newly renovated kitchen, and even less have a fresh paint job on the interior and exterior of their home, all of which were listed as their top priorities. At least 47 percent can come inside from adventuring to some chilly central air, before heading back outside to their fenced-in yard.

Move-in Matters

Blame it on HGTV, but shoppers aren’t excited by the idea of taking on a fixer upper. A whopping 95 percent of respondents say they’re looking for a move-in ready home, with 40 percent saying it’s actually ‘extremely desirable’ to just unpack and unwind in their new home. If you’re looking to make a quick sale, you’d be wise to ditch the shag carpets.

Listen Up, Sellers!

It’s not always in the budget to completely renovate a kitchen before selling. So, will these buyers put their money where their mouth is and pay up for the amenities they desire most? 64 percent say yes! At an average of $34,000. With even a fraction of that amount, you can take care of an interior paint job, exterior paint job, and fenced in a yard no problem!

Location, Location, Location

Denver home shoppers aren’t just looking anywhere for their home, 85 percent know exactly which neighborhoods they’d consider, and which are totally out of the question. Respondents say they chose their ideal location based mostly on the average price of homes in the area, the cost of living, and their commute to work. So for those fleeing our city’s center, we can blame rising costs!

Shockingly enough, proximity to recreation didn’t rank high on the list of importance when choosing a location. The traffic on I-70 is bumper to bumper regardless of which Denver neighborhood you live in, after all.

Denver’s Most Desired

Since so many Denverites know exactly where they want to live, we got the deets! Turns out, most want to stay right in the city center, with 44 percent claiming they aren’t at all tempted by the suburban lifestyle. Golden came in second at 23 percent, followed by Littleton. Wheatridge and Edgewater were the least desirable Denver suburbs according to our respondents. Shockingly enough, 18% say they’re ditching Denver for good! Hey, we’ll miss ya!

Finding a Balance

Buying a home is a stressful situation for most people. It makes sense that the most expensive purchase of your life will hold a bit of weight. With that price tag, we found that most homebuyers expect certain features to come home to. In exchange for not having to renovate it themselves, homeowners were willing to increase their budget if it meant securing an updated kitchen and fresh coat of paint.

If you’re looking to get your home up to buyers’ standards, we’re here to help. Paint Denver is your most trusted local Denver painting company with over a decade of professional interior and exterior painting experience. From our top-tier customer service and prompt responses, to being a resource for paint color selection and always following up after the paint dries, we don’t consider a job done until you’re completely satisfied. Give us a call today if you’re ready to get started.

Methodology and Limitations

The data was gathered by running a survey using SurveyMonkey. Of the respondents, 305 were female, 195 were male, and one chose to identify as neither. To qualify for this survey, respondents had to be a Denver area resident. 54 respondents were 18-24 years old, 145 were 25-34 years old, 127 were 35-44 years old, 69 were 45-54 years old, 48 were 55-64 years old, 58 were 65+. To find out how much over budget respondents would go for each feature, we first asked what the most important features for a prospective home were, and then asked how much over their budget they’d have been willing to go for those items on a sliding scale.

All survey data presented relies on self-reporting, which can have issues such as telescoping and exaggeration.

Fair use statement

Want to help homeowners make the best investment renovations? Or interested in sharing these Denver housing priorities? We’d love to see the results of this survey shared with your readers for any noncommercial use. Be a good neighbor and include a link back to this page in your story so that our team gets credit for their work too.