Really Want’
The recently released publication by the National Association of
Home Builders publishing arm, BuilderBooks, is known as What Home
Buyers Really Want. In a time when the economic and housing
downturn left many agents perplexed as to how they would
reinvigorate the market and spur buyer interest, this book provides
many of the most simple answers. Although we currently are in a
state of rampant recovery, it nonetheless is true that recent slow
years (prior to 2012) showed there to be fewer new homes being
built. In addition, there was a subsequent average decrease in
their size of new construction with less than optimal
characteristics and features now being used.
What this publication provides readers is an insight into what
buyers truly could not give up in todays marketplace, and
alternatively what features they are willing to leave behind due to
their financial circumstances. Factors such as room layouts, room
designs, home types and sizes, kitchen and bathroom finishes,
windows and doors, accessibility to surrounding areas, outdoor
amenities, energy efficiency, neighborhood reputation, electronics
and technology within the home and more were all studied. The
demographics of the study included individuals from all throughout
the country varying in age, race, income, and Census division.
Rose Quint is one of the authors of this piece, as well as being
the NAHBs Assistant Vice President for Survey Research. He
reflected on this literary work noting that, This survey is a great
resource for building professionals, as it provides an inside look
at the things home buyers really want or dont want in their homes.
With the housing market beginning to recover, and more consumers in
the position to purchase a home, it is more important than ever for
builders to be armed with this information.
So what is most important to buyers today? It becomes apparent
that energy efficiency ranked as the number one item. Saving energy
from the utilization of energy-star rated appliances and windows
were critical in the surveyed respondents minds as well as the
overall hope for the home as a whole officially being considered
energy-star rated. These sorts of alterations to the appliances and
fixtures of a home can save individuals at least 3% on energy
costs.
Next, home buyers were keen on their home having ample storage
for organizational purposes. Separate, sectioned-off laundry rooms
were a plus, as were a walk-in pantry, linen closets in the
bathrooms, and storage areas in the garage.
Now what is not as vital to have within the home that todays
buyers can do without? An elevator (70% are content without one)
Living within a gated neighborhood such as a golf course community
A bath tub. Many buyers today are okay with standing shower
stalls
Care to learn more about the aforementioned findings? The
NAHB will be hosting a
webinar on the 6th of March at 2:00PM EST to discuss these
results and get deeper into the details of the other studied
variables. Furthermore, the book What Home Buyers Really Want can
be purchased only as an e-Book at ebooks.builderbooks.com
for $149.99 or for $49.99 for NAHB Members.
More Information: NAHB