Rethinking Houses – A Trend That Will Save You Money

Between the slow economy and the overdue trend of greener living, priorities buyers when looking for a home are changing.

This is important information for you whether you are buying or selling.  As a buyer, you need to consider both your needs, both current and future.  But you also need to keep in mind the resale value of them home.  If trends in home buying are changing, staying in line with those trends is important to maintaining your home’s desirability.

As a seller, being aware of what buyers want is key to getting the best price for your home.  When your home is perceived as current, livable and answering the needs of many different buyers, your home’s value rises.

A recent report called “The New Home in 2015” by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) indicates a trend towards more efficient home, which are smaller and greener.  This is due, it seems, to the economic downturn which has tightened budgets and make efficiency and utility high priorities.

Here are some chances you can expect in homes in the coming years:

-Expect homes to be smaller. “The New Home in 2015” report reveals that building professionals are moving towards smaller houses, and that new single-family homes would average 2,152 square feet, a 10% smaller home than built in 2010.

-Living rooms are out.  Since few people use their formal living rooms, and manage most of their lives in family rooms, builders see little value in maintaining it.  Why heat or cool and unused room?  Instead expect separate parlor or study areas, or bigger family rooms.

-Fewer rooms.  The fourth bedroom and third bathrooms are also often unused.  The three car garage has proven too big for people’s budgets and there is little interest in frivolity these days.

-Greener homes.  Look for whole home Energy Star ratings.  Better use of materials and lower energy costs are a goal in new homes.

What does this all mean for you?

If you are a buyer, you want to look for some of these features in a home.  Chances are it will compete better with the new houses and the trends in 2015 and beyond.

As a seller, you can make changes to your home that incorporate some of the values of the new home building trends.  First, ensure that your home is making the best use of energy.  This will be a big selling point.  Next, populate your rooms and make them livable.  Stage your house if necessary to show how rooms can be used.  This way, a buyer won’t think about the energy an empty room will consume but the enjoyment that it will provide.

Even if you are not moving in the near future, find a way to make your home a big greener.  This will save some money and make you even prouder of your home.

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