2009 Home Trends – What’s In/What’s Out
February 10, 2009 – 9:11 amIn January, Las Vegas hosted the 2009 International Builder’s Show & NextBuild. A highlight of this convention is the annual New American Home, a model that displays the latest trends in architecture, decorating, construction materials, as well as green features. What are the home trends seen for 2009?
This article is from staging experts, ecomodpod. My comments are in purple.
1. Greater outdoor living space: Patios and outside spaces are increasingly being seen as an extension of the indoor space.
Our climate is so temperate that most buyers expect to spend the majority of their time outdoors. The better you can stage the backyard patio the higher your chances of selling. Designate areas by function: Sitting and cooking close to the house, playing and landscaping storage areas further to the back.
2. Increased use of basements even in the south: In many areas where lots are small, home owners are using basements to increase their square footage either by finishing the basement for living space or using it for storage.
Down here that means buyers expect elevated contruction to have usable space under the home. Even though flood insurance will not allow you to consider this as finished square footage, buyers will expect to be able to use the space for storage, recreation and workshop uses. Designating these areas is a good idea before you put the home on the market.
3. Fewer walls, less rooms, increased family gathering spaces: Families are gravitating to larger, common rooms that better suit the way they live. Each year, fewer and fewer homes are built with a formal living room. In fact, thirty-four percent of consumers say they’re willing to buy a home without a living room.
If you don’t want to knock out walls, increase spaciousness by removing most of the furniture and brightening up the color of the room. Switch out heavy drapes for lightweight curtains gently draped over the valance. Better yet, bamboo roll blinds are still in vogue and give the home a “greener” look.
4. Wood floors are king: Hardwood floors are very desirable. 17% of new homes were built with hardwood floors throughout the entire home.
Here’s a money saver: most buyers do not know the difference between high and medium grades of wood. Don’t break the bank when you install hardwood floors but do match the finish to the look you want. In other words, lighter colors are contemporary, darker colors are more traditional. If you want to appeal to the most people, go with a medium color finish. That way you can incorporate it in either direction.
5. Home offices get more attention: With many working from home or working late at home, the home office has taken on greater importance. Some new homes have separate entries allowing a more professional way of conducting business. Others are simply set off from the rest of the home for greater privacy.
If you don’t have a home office room, take the smallest bedroom and stage it as an office. Keep it light and uncluttered. A simple laptop area with a book shelf and chair will communicate your intentions. It will also make the room look bigger and turn a tiny bedroom into a functional space.
6. Wi-Fi makes computer nooks unnecessary – Charging stations are in: Why have a dedicated spot in the kitchen or back hall for a computer when you can use your laptop anywhere in the house? Instead small nooks are now holding charging stations for all of the electronics we carry… cell phones, iPods, etc.
The best place for charging areas is an office closet or the utility room. Stage it with a cordless battery charger and make sure that all cords are tied neatly. The last thing you want is a mess.
7. Extravagant extras are out: Wood trim and iron work is less ornate. Staircases no longer serve as a centerpiece of an entryway, but are again relegated to their functional origins. Even fireplaces are considered expendable – only 51% of new homes were built with a fireplace in 2007, according to the U.S. Census.
If you have a fireplace, make sure it is spotless and staged ready for use. Many people put decorative candles in the fire area but this may backfire on you, leading the buyer’s agent to think that the fireplace is non-functional. If it’s there, it should work and should appear clean and fresh. Many times I will add logs to the grate and a small basket of neatly tied kindling to the hearth. If you do not have a fireplace, add a fire element to the outdoors, like a chiminola, fire circle of neatly stacked bricks or blocks or an inexpensive wood burning unit. They can be found in any outdoor section of Lowe’s, Walmart, Home Depot. Again, stage it so that the buyer can approach, sit down and imagine themselves in a fire circle of friends.
In my opinion, the best thing you can do to sell your home is get a Qualified Realtor to walk through it with you prior to putting it on the market. Staging companies are wonderful but can cost a lot of money. Realtors like me who love staging a home, can really help you see your home in a new light and suggest inexpensive ways to achieve your desired effect.
For a free consultation contact me anytime. 843 276-1618 or Just Click Here
Sources: ecomodpod.com
