Current Trends in Home Features - What's Hot!

Shag carpet. Pink bathroom tile. Avocado appliances. Hallmarks of a style and color palette from many, many years ago. Homes go through fashion spurts and popularity trends like anything else. Be sure you know what's happening so that when you buy, remodel, update or upgrade, you're getting the most out of your time and money spent.

What's How Now?

The National Association of Home Builders has identified 10 current trends in homes:
1) Master Bedroom Walk-In Closet
2) Laundry Room
3) Insulated Front Door
4) Great Room
5) Low e-Window
6) Linen Closet
7) Programmable Thermostat
8) Energy Efficient Appliance and Lighting
9) Separate Show and Tub in the Master Bedroom
10) First-floor ceiling 9 feet or higher

What it Means for Sellers

When ever you spend money on your home, you're doing it for yourself aren't you? To upgrade, update, improve in some way, accommodate a change in family size, perhaps. But it's often the HOW and not the WHAT that trips up owners and creates a problem when it comes time to sell. If you want a $50K master bath upgrade on a small, modest, 2-bedroom ranch because it's your dream, you should make it happen. Just know that not every project is appropriate for the size or neighborhood, may not meet current trends in design or approach, and not every improvement directly increases your ability to get 100% of the money you invest.

If you want your home to meet the standards that buyers are looking for, you need to keep up. That doesn't mean giving up on what you want, just making sure that you take into account overall direction and trends. Consult a local designer or Realtor when you start the process so you can incorporate current values and expectations where it makes sense. Buyers are seeking out homes that tend to embody certain styles and features, and if your home has some of those items and others don't you'll have a better chance of standing out among the many homes buyers see.

What it Means for Buyers

As a Buyer, finding a home that is either new construction or includes some of the current updates and trends (especially those around energy efficiency), means less work and a home that is more livable and perhaps cheaper to own, from day one. Homes that are outdated but still meet buyer-needs are out there, and ignoring the updates and upgrades is fine...if you never sell. Plan a budget that includes slow, incremental improvements over time, taking into account not just the fun, sexy upgrades like a flashy new kitchen, but hidden things that make a lot of difference: extra insulation, upgrading heating and cooling systems, and things like new garage doors which can make a world of difference to the next potential buyer.

Remember that homes are, for most people, reflections of taste, style, financial means, socio-economic status and personal values. Those views of the world and home rarely translate to new, potential owners. But that doesn't mean that you can make good, sound choices that will pay off not only in quality of life, but in resale, too.