Eye On Housing
Successful businesses stay on top of what their competitors are doing. For home builders, this involves knowing what features other builders are putting in their new homes. In December 2015, a nationwide survey asked builders about the likelihood that a number of features would be included in the typical single-family home they will build in 2016.
Using a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 meant not at all likely to be included in typical home and 5 meant very likely, builders reported the following as the most likely features to show up in the typical 2016 home:
- Walk-in closet in the master bedroom (avg. rating 4.9)
- Laundry room (4.8)
- Great room (4.7)
Several features that help owners with energy conservation are also very likely to be included in new homes built this year: low-e windows, ENERGY STAR® appliances and windows, and a programmable thermostat. Other likely candidates: 9’+ ceilings in the first floor, a central island and granite countertops in the kitchen.
On the other hand, builders reported the following features as the least likely to appear in homes in 2016:
- Cork flooring in the living areas of the main level (1.3)
- Pet washing station (1.6)
- Laminate countertops in the kitchen (1.7)
- Outdoor kitchen (1.9)
Two-story spaces (family room and foyer) also seem to be unlikely features, as well as an outdoor fireplace, a sunroom and a media room.
In our area of Western North Carolina (Highlands/Cashiers area) we see the biggest request from home buyers is the Open Floor Plan. Buyers also want a large deck and garage.
Different regions have different requirements. Living in the mountains, buyers want a deck to view and entertain guests. Decks with a fireplace are more attractive as the evenings can be cool in the mountains, where homes in Florida do not want a fireplace on the deck. Maybe all they want is a yard with no deck.
It would be interesting to see this broken down by geographical region.
People will be disappointed to find out they don’t get a tax credit for energy star rated windows when installed in new construction.
Thanks for your information on the features that most likely to be present in a typical single-family home. I’ve been looking through single-family homes online, and I’m thinking of buying one next year. It’s interesting to know that there’s a possibility that there’ll be a walk-in closet in the master bedroom as well as a laundry room. With that considered, I’ll then ask a realtor about the features these homes have.