Kick off your custom build by adding home features that enable flexibility for different activities in the same space, sleek transitions to the outdoors, and luxurious cooking facilities inside and out. Making the home sustainable signals high value, so add an electrical hub center and garage EV charging, quality insulation, and use natural materials from metal to wood where possible.
The National Association of Home Builders reported that each full bathroom you add increases value by approximately 32%. Enhancing your bathrooms and kitchens is a no-brainer, but homes are increasingly multi-functional spaces, so easy conversions in other rooms are now expected.
What Custom Home Features Do I Start With?
Consider how your home can provide the flexibility most modern homeowners desire for better home resale value. That means building modern floor plans that easily transition for different activities. The backyard can double as a fitness space and spot for movie night without outdoor screens.
You'll never hear someone complain about a high ceiling. Signature Bay Homes can incorporate that into your custom build to provide a sense of openness and luxury.
Universal Design
Universal design principles include custom features that consider different life phases and mobility levels without losing style.
That includes:
- Wider pathways
- Using door levers instead of knobs
- Pull-out shelving to avoid bending and reaching.
Just because you have a multi-floor unit does not mean all the bedrooms have to be upstairs. Having at least one primary suite on your main floor has broad appeal for buyers. Not having to climb the stairs adds to aging-in-place capability.
Is Outdoor Living Still a Big Trend?
Absolutely, as one of the holdovers from the two-year pandemic is that Americans increased their love of the outdoors. A backyard isn't just about mowing grass, as it has now gained respect as additional living space.
Create seamless indoor-outdoor transitions to the patio with multi-slide glass walls.
An outdoor kitchen and/or functional bar is easy with utility lines like water and gas. Don't forget about fire pits, which can be a focal point for modern decks. Add additional comfort with motorized drop-down screens that conveniently enclose the deck with bug protection.
How About the Kitchen and Bathroom?
Luxury home features may include an extra pantry or mudroom near the kitchen to store your:
- Smaller appliances
- Dirty dishes
- Messy food prep during entertaining
Animal lovers may also have a designated pet mudroom near the kitchen or other entryways. That way, when you bring your pup in for a walk or play time, you can quickly wash off their paws and store their leashes and toys without messing up the rest of the house.
Incorporate minimalism and sleekness with custom cabinetry that hides larger appliances, from refrigerators to dishwashers. Double islands are trendy, functional focal points, as you can have one for food prep with a sink and storage and the other one just for guest seating and socializing.
More people are incorporating spa-like bathroom features, from multi-functional shower heads, jacuzzis, and even personal saunas. Instead of a tub/shower combo, have a designer standalone tub separate from the seamless shower.
Should I Consider Sustainability?
According to the United States Census Bureau, 56% of new home builds are fueled with electricity. Modern luxury interior design also uses more natural materials like stone and wood throughout.
Better insulation, like spray foam, and double-pane energy-efficient windows help reduce utility costs and provide climate control during increasingly unpredictable weather.
Instead of having messy wiring all over the place, a high-tech home increasingly has cables running to a central mesh hub. It has smart technology built in with thermostats and security features.
Luxury buyers are also increasingly wiring their garage to handle electric vehicle chargers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Devalues a House the Most?
An easy way to watch your property value decrease is by not paying attention to maintenance. Putting off maintenance, from letting weeds grow on your lawn to ignoring your smelly, loud HVAC system, can all take away from your equity and value.
While you may be tempted to do DIY work to save money or show off your skills, you can risk having sloppy work like crooked, broken tiles or bad transitions that can turn off modern buyers.
Add to your legal concerns by not having proper permits during renovations. These can cause code violations and insurance denials if something like a flood or fire were to happen.
Don't forget about pests, which can come in four-legged and vegetative form. Rodents and termites can cause major destruction to your home and be hard to get rid of.
There are invasive plant species like Japanese knotweed that are strong enough to bust through foundations and pavement. Once established, their roots are very hard to get rid of without a lot of work.
What Is the Hardest Month to Sell a House?
October through December is a hard drop from the intense summer home buying and moving activity. However, January gets top marks as the hardest home-selling month.
January's housing interest decline is likely due to the post-holiday financial reshuffling. Some people may still be paying off holiday parties and large gifts on their credit cards. Therefore, they may want to resolve those issues before making a major financial commitment like another mortgage.
As nighttime gets earlier and the weather can get colder and slicker in many parts of the country, people are less inclined to attend after-work open houses.
Create Custom Luxury in Your Home Oasis
From a main floor primary suite to high ceilings and mudrooms, many custom features make your home timeless and luxurious. Certain home features, from high ceilings to universal design elements such as seamless entryways, can make your space comfortable at different life phases and welcome extended family.
Use your custom build to create a greener space that helps the planet by going fully electric, adding weatherproofing like spray-foam insulation, and setting up electric vehicle charging. Get the build right the first time, and you may never want to move to another home.
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