What’s New In New Homes?

If you’re a baby boomer, you probably remember that homes looked quite different than they do now. You had things like formal living rooms and dining rooms versus the “great room.” So if you’re looking to update your home for resale, here is what today’s buyers are looking for in new homes.

Less Frills and More Space
Buyers are moving away from the marble foyer and solid cherry cabinets. Instead they want more space, more value, normal sized ceilings (sorry cathedral ceiling dwellers) and huge bedrooms.

Normal Bathrooms
Forget the “power bathrooms” of the 80’s with their giant whirlpools and designer faucets. While the luxury homes still require these types of bathrooms, buyers of normal homes are shying away from these frills.

Lots of Storage
Three-Car garages are becoming a standard. Not because of a third car, but as a place to store items. The more nooks and crannies to put stuff the better.

Entertain Me
Media rooms are big. As consumers stay in their homes more than ever, they want the best in entertainment. After all, with price of movie tickets and popcorn, you can probably finance a media room.

Home Offices
Who likes to commute? Whether you’re working full-time or part-time from your home, having a real home office is essential. This includes all of the latest wiring technology.
Larger Kid’s Bedrooms
Long gone are the days of three kids to a room. Today’s children are looking for large rooms to accommodate all of their stuff (just like mom and dad) and their technology. This includes computer desks and the wiring that goes with it.

Double Duty
Rooms need to be flexible. The new trends require one to two rooms to do double duty. Maybe one day it’s a sitting room and the next it’s a guest room. This also means that people are looking to turn these spaces into mother-in-law suites or nanny’s quarters.

Front Porches
Remember the Norman Rockwell scene of sipping lemonade on the front porch of a southern home? Well, that trend is coming back. New homebuilders are quickly adding front porches to their homes all over the country.

Nerve Center Kitchen
There used to be a time when the kitchen was used to cook meals. Now, it’s being transformed into a planning center complete with computer and storage. This also means that the formal dining room is being replaced by casual eating spaces that have everyday function.

So, if you’re looking to update your home, I hope these tips help you. Don’t forget to contact me if I can help you finance those improvements, or if you decide to buy a new home to accommodate your ever-changing needs.