Judie Docs, Executive Officer, North Coast Building Industry Association (NCBIA), CSP, MCSP, CGP, CMP, MIRM
Home builders spend significant amounts of time, effort, and money to find out how to make their homes appealing to prospective buyers. Do they want gourmet kitchens or a spa-like master bath? Great rooms with soaring ceilings or lots of flex space?
According to NAHB’s 2019 edition of “What Home Buyers Really Want,” (survey of home and community features) their needs and wants are much more down-to-earth, starting with a laundry room. After that, three of the next 10 most-wanted features are ENERGY STAR ratings for windows, appliances, and a whole-house rating.
At the other extreme, an elevator is the feature that would turn potential buyers away more than any other.
Using consumer panels maintained by the Home Innovation Research Labs, the survey collected responses in spring 2018 from 3,996 recent home buyers (those who purchased a home in the last three years) and prospective buyers (those expecting to buy a home in the next three years).
The 10 “most wanted” features:
- Laundry room
- ENERGY STAR rated windows
- Patio
- ENERGY STAR rated appliances
- Ceiling fans
- Garage storage
- Exterior lighting
- Walk-in pantry
- Hardwood flooring
- Double kitchen sink
The 10 “most unwanted” features:
- Elevator
- Wine cellar
- Daycare center
- Plant covered roof (partially or completely)
- Pet washing station
- Dual toilets in the master bath
- Cork flooring
- Golf course community
- Two story family room
- High density development
The Best in American LivingAwards (BALA) is the building industry’s premier residential design awards program. BALA spotlights the most creative and talented building industry professionals who have redefined design excellence for homes and communities nationally and internationally. Winning projects showcase what building industry professionals need to know to set their products apart and hit the right mark with today’s highly educated and discerning home buyers.
Selected from more than 150 winners across the home-building industry, including single-family, multifamily interior design and remodeling projects, the 2018 Best in American Living™ Awards (BALA) winners showcase top design trends that home buyers can expect to see in homes and communities over the next several years.
From added texture to creative use of space, these features are sure to be found in homes near you in 2019 and beyond:
- Black window frames.Now available at almost every price point, designers are gravitating to this purposeful frame choice.
- The ceiling as the fifth wall of design.Architects are taking advantage of this seemingly blank canvas and transforming it with creative textures, colors and lighting.
- Creative integration of outdoor spaces.Even on the smallest and narrowest of lots, inspired solutions can provide home owners with ample outdoor living.
- Delineation of spaces through mixed materials.Whether pairing two unique materials, like stone and brick, or switching directions of one material, homes have better defined spaces — both outdoor and in — through mixed materials.
- Indoor/outdoor connections.This trend gets stronger each year, with increased emphasis on easy physical and visual connections with outdoor spaces.
- Mid-century modern and modern farmhouse.These styles are both incredibly popular across the country, both in new homes and renovations that bring out the home’s original character.
- Mixed metals.Silver, brass, gold and more, there’s no telling where you’ll find metals and how they’ll be paired in today’s new homes.
- Multigenerational living.Homes are increasingly featuring designated multigenerational suites or transition spaces that can be quickly transformed into additional bedrooms, providing for the increasing number of multigenerational households in some parts of the country.
- Quiet but purposeful architecture.Forms and ratios are following best practices in a muted but memorable manner.
- Stairs as a focal piece.Stairs are taking on a life of their own and featuring fine detailing, unique materials and one-of-a-kind design.
- Texture on texture.Interiors are featuring curated texture palettes, from stone to raw wood details to manmade textured wallpaper offerings.
The North Coast Building Industry Association is your local not-for-profit trade association representing member companies involved in all aspects of home building, remodeling, and other aspects of services available to help you in the future. So, you can see it is for your protection that you use a NCBIA member. If you are unsure that your contractor is a member of the NCBIA or you are looking for a list of NCBIA members, you can visit our website at www.ncbia.com or call 440-934-1090. We also have a job posting board (under the Industry tab). Like us or better yet share us on Facebook!
Homeownership is truly a cornerstone of the American way of life. North Coast Building Industry – Come Build with Us!