Outdoor rooms, high end appliances and lots of electronics are
on the list
Whoa, doggies! We finally got some really needed rain
… and that dread unwanted mud. (All right, I’ll quit
whining.)
Sunday is Christmas, and then the next Sunday is the New Year.
Let’s look ahead to what is in and what is out with homebuyers in
2006. This list was partially compiled from various sources found
during my daily study of trends and I added what I’ve found from
working intimately with many buyers and sellers.
Outdoor rooms, high end appliances and lots of electronics are on the list
Whoa, doggies! We finally got some really needed rain … and that dread unwanted mud. (All right, I’ll quit whining.)
Sunday is Christmas, and then the next Sunday is the New Year. Let’s look ahead to what is in and what is out with homebuyers in 2006. This list was partially compiled from various sources found during my daily study of trends and I added what I’ve found from working intimately with many buyers and sellers.
First of all, we are seeing a switch in interest from the years of “trophy homes” with gargantuan footprints to an interest in less space used more efficiently and finished with fine materials. Builder-grade light fixtures and interior fixtures are out. Quality is in.
The main focus of the desired home is a kitchen/great room. Many buyers are looking for furniture style and quality cabinets. Stainless steel appliances, which look so fabulous, seem to be on the way out because the upkeep on them is tremendous. The cleaning requirements for them are definitely a bummer. You look at them, they spot.
Flooring tastes have changed as well. Wood laminates are out (no matter what you do the sound of high heels on them is grating on the nerves) and the hottest new look is bamboo (very durable and ecologically sound). Good quality hardwood is a perennial favorite as well, with a preference toward lighter, warmer colors.
High tech is in, in, in. It seems we want multiple, high powered phone lines. We want to be wired. (Have some more coffee, dear.) We want home stereo systems and home theatres. Unfortunately, as of now, the wireless technology has not evolved to make pre-wired homes unnecessary.
Outdoor living is essential, especially here where we are blessed with near-perfect weather (except when we’re up to our knees in mud). Patios and decks are on almost everyone’s list of preferences. Small decks (those 3-feet-wide numbers you find in apartment buildings) are out. Space for a bistro table, chairs and a few pots for flowers and herbs is crucial. Luxury homes are rarely without an exterior kitchen or pizza oven, and a fire pit is a great addition as well. But don’t put in a gas grill that requires a tank! Today’s buyers want gas piped from the house. My, my, my. What will we think of next?
Wallpaper is out. Take it down carefully and paint. But be warned! Beware of bold accent colors. They’re great when you’re living there, because they match your stuff. But paint them out to a neutral when selling, because chances are they won’t match your buyer’s stuff. You know what I mean by stuff: Couch upholstery, bed ensembles, etc. The only exception might be kids’ rooms. Everyone understands that this kid wants a purple room or a pink room or a motor car theme. With any luck the buyer has kids, too!
Anything mirrored is out… way out, you might say. Mirrors scream, “1980s!” If you insist on mirrors, make sure they are not those tiles. And doubly make sure the tile doesn’t have a gold vein in it.
Low ceilings are considered undesirable. Apparently we all want vertical height in our homes. Never mind that it makes it impossible to paint or change a light bulb or get spiders out of the corners. We want what we want. And we seem to want more wall space while still wanting more windows. (Oxymoron, n’est-ce-pas?) Buyers more and more require wall space for flat-screen TVs which require power and cable boxes. The very latest cool location for such a system is over the fireplace. I’ve even seen installations where a lovely painting automatically comes down over the set when not in use. Wowser!
Bathrooms are vital centers in the most popular homes. Have you noticed that people are separated into two groups: Soakers and showers? The most popular master bathrooms have one of both. Not having the correct configuration can kill a deal.
Safety is critical. Add carbon monoxide detectors alongside your smoke detectors.
Finally, people in our area seem to want parking. A lot of parking. Room for the boat, room for the RV. Room for visitors. Room for SUVs and pickups.
Obviously these preferences are merely trends showing their faces right now. Not all people want all the same things. Good thing or we’d all want one house.
Next week we’ll look at what remodels can not only make your home more attractive for your own use but also aid you in selling your home. We will also explore which projects ultimately will pay for themselves, which will not, and which might make it more difficult to sell your home.
Until then, may your home be filled with cheer, glow with light and love, and echo with carols and laughter. Here’s wishing all your Christmas dreams come true.
Be kind to your Realtor!
