Social media trends can influence all areas of our lives, from fashion to interior decorating and everything in between. And according to a recent report by Zillow, TikTok trends might influence which homes sell the fastest too.
According to a March 2024 report, Zillow found that homes listed on their platform featuring plant ledges in the listing description sold more than five days faster than expected. This finding is based on an analysis of the platform’s internal data, which includes over a million homes listed and sold on Zillow in 2023.
With the popularity of biophilic design trends and social media trends in general, experts say it’s no surprise that plant ledges are a popular feature among homebuyers—particularly the Millennial and Gen Z populations. (After all, videos related to plant ledges currently have over 6.5 million views on TikTok.) However, experts also caution that these statistics should be taken with a grain of salt. Here are a few things real estate pros want you to know about this trend, and what’s likely behind Zillow’s interesting new findings.
What Are Plant Ledges?
As the name suggests, plant ledges are shelves or built-in ledges specifically designed to display houseplants. They are typically found near windows or high up on walls where cascading greenery can add visual appeal and interest to a space.
These ledges were a popular feature in the early 2000s and are frequently found in homes built during that period, explains Samantha Sousa, owner and broker of Sousa Valley Real Estate. Occasionally, they will feature built-in lights to help better illuminate the contents of the ledge. While plant ledges are known for holding potted houseplants, they can be utilized for displaying other items. Picture frames, artwork, collectibles, and decor can all be displayed on plant ledges, making them a truly versatile design feature.
Why Are They So Popular?
If you think plant ledges seem like a relatively minor feature to impact a home’s time-on-market, you’re not alone in this sentiment. The key to understanding this trend is understanding what such features indicate about the home in general. Experts advise that design features such as plant ledges usually suggest to buyers that the house is modern and well-designed.
“This can be particularly appealing to younger buyers who are attuned to the latest design trends," says Nicholas McMillan, founder and owner of Hire Realty LLC. "Additionally, plant ledges can be a relatively inexpensive way to add visual interest and a sense of warmth to a room."
In that way, the shorter time-on-market is likely not just a result of the home featuring plant ledges but what the house has to offer more broadly. Unique features such as plant ledges merely indicate what more is to come.
Do Plant Ledges Actually Make a Home Sell Faster?
So, are plant ledges the key to helping your home sell faster? Likely not, experts agree.
“Homeowners looking to sell for top dollar this spring will want to highlight these home features if they’ve got them. However, installing [any] of these individual features solely for resale may not deliver these kinds of returns. Instead, these keywords should be viewed as signals about everything else a home has going for it,” Zillow's report states.
Sousa echos this sentiment, noting that this interesting statistic is likely due to a combination of the aesthetic appeal of plant ledges, current market conditions, and the fact that many early 2000s-built homes with this iconic feature are currently on the market.
“Just because a home has plant ledges, doesn't mean that it is the main reason the home is selling faster," she says. "Right now, many homes on the market are 2000s builds which means they're more modern, have vaulted ceilings [and] open floorplans, and are usually less expensive than new builds but still have the modern amenities."
The final verdict? If you’ve got them, flaunt them! If your home has plant ledges and you are in the process of selling, it’s a feature that is definitely worth highlighting in your home’s listing description. However, they are unlikely to be the sole reason your home sells faster, so if you don’t already have plant ledges, investing in them probably won’t be worth the time and money in the long run.