It’s a new year (and a fresh start) for many looking to list their homes. Tell us about some of the top home amenities requested by your clients. How do you deliver on their needs and even stay one step ahead by predicting them?
Our younger buyers are trending toward newer homes...they like the more open floor plans. We do have many buyers that like first floor en-suites for live-in's and guests, and also finished basements with gyms, wine sellers and theater rooms are becoming more and more popular. For new homes...buyers are trending toward lighter cabinetry and darker stains for flooring. Whole home generators are also becomming more and more popular requests as well. For location...the convenience of walking to town, schools and NYC transportation is still very important.
If a listing is close to what your buyer wants (but perhaps might need some upgrades or changes depending on the buyer’s taste), how do you help them visualize what the home could look like with a few adjustments?
If possible, I take them into something that may be slightly above their price range that offers the finishes they desire so they can see what they will be able to do down the road. Working with a good designer/architect is also very helpful depending upon their budget.
What exotic building materials are trending/are your buyers searching for in 2014?
For the exterior, we are still seeing a lot of Hardi-Plank siding...mixed with stone and brick. On the interior, we still see granite countes but more buyers are playing with Ceaserstone type materials. Wood-look tile has become popular in bathrooms and finished basements, and we are starting to get requests for bamboo flooring in new homes.
