Listing Language

These amenities can help your Dallas-Fort Worth home sell for 25 percent more than expected

Buyers want to cook under the big Texas sky.

Photo courtesy of HGTV Smart Home

Knowing when to list your home is only half the battle — the way you describe it also has a huge impact on the final sale price. Zillow analyzed listing descriptions from nearly 4 million homes nationwide that sold between January 2016 and December 2017, and boiled down which keywords for home features, amenities, and design styles had the greatest effect with buyers.

Dallas-Fort Worth, for example, really values an outdoor kitchen. It was the most common metro to include that specific term in the listings, and overall a dedicated place to cook al fresco brings in 25 percent more than expected.

Steam showers and professional appliances top the list with a 29 percent premium each, while pizza ovens and their 26 percent take the third spot. Other "chef's kitchen" (yes, that's one of the terms) must-haves include prep and farmhouse sinks, wine fridges, and Carrara marble (but no mention if that's on the counters or as the backsplash).

In addition to steam showers, bathroom-centric buyers love to hear when a home has heated floors or radiant heat and a freestanding tub. Other indoor perks include coffered ceilings and a home theater.

Outdoors, it's not just kitchens that rake in the dough. Shed or garage studios, solar panels, and outdoor fireplaces all bring in at least 20 percent more.

Some terms suggest regionally specific preferences, such as Los Angeles' love for meditation rooms, Seattle's penchant for Craftsman styles, and New York's appreciation of herringbone or parquet floors. Outdoorsy Coloradans find a dedicated pet shower to be an extra plus.

If owners are more interested in a quick sale than top dollar, there are a few other terms that Zillow says decreased time spent on the market. Touting a home's "exposed brick" helped it sell a full two weeks faster in 2016-17, while "open shelving," "dual flush," "subway tile," and "midcentury" all shortened sale time by more than 10 days.

zillow reports

farm for sale

Unusual ultra-modern Grapevine ranch is on the market for $7.2 million

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

A stunning 10-acre property in North Texas that looks like it was made for an ultra modern cowboy family has just hit the market for $7.2 million.

Called the Willow Wood Horse Farm, this one-of-a-kind equestrian paradise is located on West Kimball Avenue in Grapevine, about 30 miles northeast from downtown Fort Worth.

The ranch is an extraordinary combination of elegant and thoughtful modern design paired with all of the practicality required of a fully functioning farm.

According to the listing, which is held by Burgher-Ray Ranch Group and managed by David Burgher and Harlan Ray, the farm includes several fenced pastures, an enclosed and insulated shop storage building with concrete flooring, and a seven-stall horse barn.

A covered and irrigated riding arena is attached to the barn, every stall has its own turnout, and six of the stalls are 12 feet by 12 feet wide, and the seventh is designated as a foaling stall. An additional turnout for grazing is located adjacent to the barn, as well as a training pen.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The horse barn has seven stalls with individual turnouts.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

But the focal point of the entire estate is the 4,353-square-foot, three-story primary residence that sits at the highest point of the gently sloped property. The home was custom-designed and completed in 2022, featuring an exterior made of metal cladding, concrete, durable ipe hardwood, and glass.

Upon entering the front door, guests will notice unparalleled views that lead through the home's living areas and into the 3,000-square-foot back deck, past the 80-foot-long saltwater swimming pool, and out toward the pastures.

The chef's kitchen is outfitted with luxurious Gaggenau appliances, such as a steam convection oven, a conventional convection oven, a coffee machine, stove, dishwasher, a separate paneled refrigerator and freezer, and a warming drawer. A half bathroom and full butler's pantry is located to the side of the kitchen, which is equipped with a prep space and a dishwasher.

Additional features of the home include:

Koi ponds located on either side of the main door that welcome guests to the home
An open concept living space that contains the living room, kitchen, and dining rooms
A primary suite with a spacious walk-in closet and en-suite bathroom
Two additional bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms
Soft opening/closing doors in all main bedrooms
Dynaudio speakers installed throughout the home
Geo-thermal heating/cooling system

A custom-built metal spiraling staircase connects all three levels of the home. The second floor contains a viewing area with floor-to-ceiling windows and access to the covered porch and rooftop deck. The lower level leads to an "acoustically balanced" underground home theater featuring eight-foot concert walls, Dynaudio speakers, an Ember Audio sound system, a 250-bottle wine cooler, and a powder bathroom. The listing notes that this area could be converted into a storm cellar.

Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine, ranch for sale The underground home theater has an impressive Ember Audio sound system with Dynaudio speakers.Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

A detached three-car garage is located next to the home, which contains one EV charging station and two additional outlets for charging. Discreetly designed solar panels are hidden on top of the garage, which are capable of powering the entire residence.

The horse barn, irrigation system, and stock pond all run off of a water well located on the property, while the primary residence uses city water with a filtration system.

"Situated in the heart of the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, just minutes from Lake Grapevine, Southlake, and an easy commute to DFW International Airport, this property affords someone the ability to have all the comforts of the city, while living just slightly removed from it all," the listing says.

Photo courtesy of Briggs Freeman Sotheby’s International Realty

The Willow Wood Horse Farm in Grapevine is on the market for $7.2 million.

real estate grapevine dallas fort worth ranches home for sale