What's in, what's out with home buyers
This list of home-buyer preferences was compiled by Mark Nash,
Chicago author of five books on real estate.
The list of what's in and what's out is based on a survey of 923 real estate agents, managing brokers and association executives who responded to a survey request in Agent to Agent ezine, which is published by Nash. His ezine is distributed monthly to real estate professionals in all 50 states and Canada.
What's in:
Upscale garages: It's no longer the out-of-sight-out-of-mind dumping ground. Today's garage owners want them decked out with cabinet and storage systems, mini-refrigerators, insulation, heating and air conditioning and durable but residential-looking flooring.
Man caves and Mom caves are coming out of the closet. Personal dedicated space for one person in a household is space where one can work on projects or "chill" without being disturbed and, if so, only in an emergency.
Two home offices: Rising gas prices and commuting times have created more two-work-at-home families. Size matters, so make sure each is at least 10-by-10 feet. And because home offices are on the rise, those who work from one need more than a coffee shop or hotel lobby to hold business meetings. Look for alternative work spaces that bridge the home office with hourly rentals of conference room-type spaces that offer technology and privacy.
Rejuvenation rooms: A one-stop space for exercising, meditation, yoga, sauna and fancy steam showers. Showers are going upscale, too. Waterfall fixtures, programmable temperature and water flow are the next trend for people who prefer showers.
Heated patios, walkways and driveways: Northern Baby Boomers are tired of shoveling and are looking for ways to decrease winter maintenance. Also, many have discovered how heating the patio can add an extra couple of weeks to enjoy the outdoor "room" in spring and fall.
Snoring rooms: Offered as options in new homes, snoring rooms are second bedrooms adjacent to master bedrooms to offer relief from the spouse who is a "buzz saw." A snoring room is a welcome alternative to the couch and a godsend for millions of relationships nationwide.
Modular housing: Many think of the outdated double wide as the typical modular, but modular options and quality have exploded from the top end 11,000-square-foot home, with every whistle and bell, to the bread and butter 1,200-square-foot starter home. Low-cost, factory-built construction and quick conception to foundation times, make this the affordable wave of the future.
Sustainable design is based on three areas; energy conservation, indoor air quality, and resource conservation. Viewed as New Age in construction circles, sustainable design looks at homes holistically, and not just a group of unrelated systems thrown together. Natural forms of energy, such as wind, solar and geo-thermal, if available on site, are maximized.
Structured wiring is right up there with all the buzz about green homes. It's now a must-have for technology-savvy home buyers. Coaxial TV cable (RG-6), Category 5E voice and data lines, distributed radio and remote camera security are wired throughout a home into multi-outlet boxes called in the trade "home network centers."
Different finishes: Matchy-matchy is out in kitchen design. The new look is to have stained-wood base cabinets and painted-wood upper cabinets. The Old-Europe look rules, but with today's appliances.
Glass tiles have been rediscovered because, compared to ceramic tiles, glass tiles reflect light and add a glisten and glow to kitchens and bathrooms. The cost difference is minimal.
Drawer-style refrigerators/freezers and dishwashers. Buyers love the design flexibility, and they're perfect for contemporary kitchens with only base cabinets and open shelves above.
Engineered-stone compound countertops are less expensive than granite and available in a variety of colors and finishes. This synthetic alternative to nature will be cutting edge in 2007 kitchens.
Exotic and reclaimed woods. Recycled wood salvages from soon-to-be-demolished buildings and eco-friendly rosewood is in growing demand as homeowners strive for individualism and earth-friendly materials.
Luggage rooms: Today's on-the-go families need a space for stashing all their luggage. Harried travelers want it all in one place so they can find the right pieces at a glance to suit a specific trip and the new airline regulations.
Bolder, deeper colors for house trim, such as shutters, doors and window frames. Professional color forecasters have predicted this as the next big trend.
A second laundry in the master bedroom. Walk-in closets are everywhere, so why not put a laundry where the dirty clothes pile up? These secondary wash-and-dry spaces popped up in 2006 and are sure to go mainstream among homebuyers' wishes in 2007.
A wrought-iron fence, as opposed to wood or a chain-link fence, says luxury to homebuyers.
What's out:
"As is" in home-sale marketing. Anything went in the boom market just past, but if you're planning to use "as is" in 2007, forget it. Buyers see those two words as a red flag about the home and you the seller. You may have too much competition in the 2007 market to be chasing buyers away.
Buyer incentives: Free cars don't sell houses; realistic pricing does. Gimmicks only confuse and distract buyers. Cut to the chase and deduct the cost of your free-with-purchase from your current price and send the signal to buyers that you're selling real property not personal property.
Endless open houses: The open house pendulum has swung from "the house sold in the first day" to "we need to have our house open every Sunday." Desperation is when your home is open every Sunday. Buyers know and track it. Plan on every three weeks to have a public open house.
Offers over full price: It was a strategy in the boom market to underprice a home and let the market set the selling price. Not today; one thing that won't change in 2007 is that every buyer will want a deal.
Small bedrooms: In the boom, rehabbers and developers learned the fastest way to profit was to increase the room count of an existing home. Bedrooms shrank to walk-in-closet size and savvy agents kept having to ask, "Can you fit a queen-size bed in here?"
Loads of upper cabinet doors with glass fronts in the kitchen: Buyers say it looks great, but many who specified and experienced it firsthand now say they don't have the time to keep their kitchen cabinets organized. Plus, if you hate washing windows, having more glass in a greasy room like a kitchen is high-maintenance.
Vessel sinks: Bowl-shaped, above-counter bathroom sinks have caused some owners to despair over the splashing and overall upkeep. These high-end sinks have earned the reputation of "nice to look at, but don't want one."
Any shiny metal finish: Brushed nickels and pewters are in; and antiqued brass and polished brass are out.
Stainless-steel refrigerators and dishwashers are a fading trend. Their cold look and higher maintenance have shifted buyers to specify warmer colors in kitchen appliances.
Spiral staircases: Once the rage for the mid-'70s makeovers, these staircases are now deal-killers for home-sellers. Boomers have aged, and their kids don't like them either. This style of stairs is also unfriendly to pets and young children. Take yours out and put in a standard staircase (inside or out) before you try to sell.
Buyers prefer a comfortable breakfast-bar countertop overhang, so their legs will fit underneath after they pull up the stools to enjoy a cup of coffee.
No trim around interior window openings will not attract buyers. Drywall finishes-only around windows doesn't say "contemporary." It says, like a bullhorn, "cheap."
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