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January 7, 2008
What's Hot and What's Not
One of the things I like the most about the start of a new year is the flurry of predictions about what we can expect in the next 12 months. For the second year now, HGTVPro.com has published Realtor Mark Nash's take on trends that will continue, as well as those that have just about run their course.
A lot of Nash's trends are familiar: outdoor spaces that live like indoor rooms; energy efficiency; and destination bathrooms that go far beyond the old "necessary rooms." But a couple of items really caught my eye.
One was the increasingly popular pet shower. Now, I have friends who had one built in their new home, but their dogs are Newfoundlands, which can weigh more than 150 lb. -- definitely too big for the laundry-room sink! I had no idea, though, that so many people want doggie showers in their homes.
Another surprise appearance on the list was floating homes. We're not talking houseboats here; these are full-sized houses that sit on stationary barges. While researching this kind of house, I came across one that has 2,500 square feet on two stories -- and a big hot tub on one of its decks. Floating houses seem to be particularly popular in the Pacific Northwest. (Remember Tom Hanks' digs in Sleepless in Seattle?) And no lawn to mow!
What about you? What trends do you see coming along? Are your customers looking for particular features? Have you lost any sales because you didn't have some unusual feature in your house? With the new-construction market still gasping, what special touches are you using to help convince buyers that your house is the house for them? And have you seen or heard anything about other trends that seem to be on the horizon?
Let me know. As I said, I love this stuff!
Posted by Marjie O'Connor, HGTVPro.com Staff at January 7, 2008 5:11 PM
Comments
As the lavishly spending, over the top, want it all generation ages (me), many of us upper middle class just starting to retire are looking for retirement homes. In much of the Midwest, we are looking at a home that will fit our needs for many years - all on one floor, lots of storage that is easy to use, things that help you live well: automatic start generators, handicap access but without looking medical or crippled, not so many extra bedrooms but plenty of offices, libraries, built in entertaining areas (whatever that means to each person), easy care surfaces, things that make cleaning and upkeep easy without looking standard or doudy, things that won't need replacements so often or ever and open floor plans with great views. I don't want a retirement village, I want a home but not some cheezy box thrown together for old people. I'm not old but I need a home that will allow some older body parts to function well and safely. We are a huge market that is being ignored because of traditional thinking. I don't want white plastic grab bars, I want style and beauty. I don't want a ramp built someday, I want no steps today. I don't want communial dining, I want good appliances that clean themselves after I cook. I don't want a pantry with ten foot high shelves, I want a huge pantry where I don't have to get on a step ladder. OK, I'll stop - you get the picture. Thanks.
Posted by: Diane at January 8, 2008 11:08 PM
The more green I can incorporate in my home the better. We have started but know there are plenty of things we could be doing but have no good information on.
Posted by: jeanette at January 9, 2008 12:07 AM
I think all new or remodeled "green" homes should also incorporate universal design. Universal design becomes green design by letting the dweller remain in his home when the unexpected occurs: a leg broken in a skiing accident, a dinner guest in a wheelchair, a sister's post-operation recovery. Hastily moving, remodeling, or making do wastes a lot of energy and materials. It is better to be prepared for the unexpected because it is a normal part of life. It also makes homes available to more buyers. Combining green and universal design at the outset is the most efficient, practical approach.
Posted by: Lynn Duvall at January 9, 2008 3:10 PM
