Below is a guest post on the subject of remodel/restoration of your home. Undergoing a reno/remodel is not something one should begin without some good upfront planning.
Get your team of experts together including if needed an architect, general contractor/builder, and an interior designer. Remember- ‘measure twice, cut once’.
An infographic by the team at Chic Furniture and Gift
Below is a guest post that discusses what a new home buyer may be looking for in terms of features or upgrades. S Interior Design has added commentary (shown in italics ) throughout the posting.
What Every Home Buyer Wants
Every new home buyer, has some wishes that he/she looks for before making a step towards buying or owning a home. Different features and factors which include home location, the size of the home and also interior features are mostly common in any buyers wish lists. This determines how willing/interested a buyer will be when it comes to purchasing the home.
Many buyers are willing to spend more money above the price of the home to have certain interior and exterior features put in place. Some of the wishes that every home buyer will look for when buying a home (and something you might want to consider when remodeling or doing home improvements) will include the following:
Stainless steel appliances
Most home buyers prefer having stainless appliances fitted in their homes ranging from doors and other indoor appliances. This is because stainless steel is more attractive and makes the house have an elegant view.
While stainless steel appliances are still desirable, black, slate and even white appliances are becoming more popular.
Security
A well secured home with quality doors and locks will be mostly preferred by home buyers. Good quality and affordable doors can be found with barn door hardware. The hardware offers better quality doors in different designs. They also offer track systems and other door accessories to make sure that your home is well guarded against break-ins. In some homes, break-ins are inevitable and home buyers are looking for homes where a warranty is given in cases of break-ins or wear out. A home warranty is considered as a major component before buying a home.
Key pad entry pads and even wireless entry is now available .
More Bedrooms
Privacy is key in any bedroom and home buyers will prefer a home with more bedrooms which can accommodate more people in case there are visitors. Anyone should feel comfortable sleeping in a bedroom in which there is privacy. A walk-in closet in the bedroom is also a status symbol since most people want to have more clothes, be more organized and on top of that, look presentable.
You can add privacy door sets to any room in which you desire extra privacy. Every home buyer/home owner has distinct needs. More is not always better!
More Bathrooms
It’s no doubt that washrooms are a very sensitive area of the house. To maintain hygiene and a healthy lifestyle, washrooms should not be shared among every person who lives in a house. Therefore, most home buyers will prefer having more bathrooms in their house to maintain hygiene.
Keep in mind more bathrooms mean more bathrooms to clean!
Laundry Room
A place where people can wash, fold clothes and store other laundry materials will be a key factor to anyone who wants to own a home. Laundry rooms help people to keep the mess out of their living room keeping it tidy and homey.
Older homes may have a laundry area or space versus an acutual room. You need to think about where you will fold your laundry and iron in the house if there is not a dedicated room for that purpose.
More Exterior Lighting
A well designed exterior lighting captures customers’ attention on the first sight. Be it wall lanterns and landscape lights above the ground provides a scenic view which attracts potential buyers before they even get inside a house. The light illuminates paths at night.
Good Kitchen Design (Eat-In Kitchens)
For home buyers, especially those with families, an eat-in kitchen is a must have. This helps people interact during breakfast or dinner since they congregate in the kitchen for their meals. The kitchen should be spacious enough to accommodate a large number of people.
Your specific lifestyle and family make up will help to determine your needs in terms of how large of a space and eating table / area is needed.
A Fireplace
One or more fireplaces may become more popular as speculated. This is because many people spend less time watching TV. A fireplace will be an ideal place where home owners can relax or just share highlights from their day with family or friends.
We have not witnessed this trend. Our clients are fully committed to having televisions in multiple rooms of their homes. Fireplaces in dining rooms and bedrooms are are great option along with the more standard living room or great room spaces.
Spacious Garage and Storage Room
The increase in resources results in home buyers looking for spacious storage to accommodate equipment used in homes. For buyers with families, a spacious garage is most likely to have an upper hand since a family may have a number of cars to accommodate in a garage. A seller should ensure garage and other storage rooms are spacious.
Good storage spaces are definitely a plus especially in areas such as Arizona where basements and storage areas in basements are less commonly available.
Floors /Design
Though carpets are considered to conserve energy and offer a comfortable feeling, they may be hard to clean. Most home buyers who host guests often, prefer hardwood floors, which are durable and easy to clean.
Other hard floor surfaces to consider are laminate, luxury vinyl planks, cork and porcelain tile.
Home Office
Most people take office work home so that they can work on it either in the evening or during weekends. Buyers may prefer to have a place in the house where work-related documents are kept (e.g. books, laptops and more). Home offices make your work more manageable.
Overwhelming desire for the majority of home owners! Most newly built homes will offer 1 or more options for home office space.
Though the list is endless depending on people’s tastes and preferences, most home buyers are willing to cough up extra money to have their homes customized. In this digital era, a good home should therefore contain modern facilities which are not only attractive, but also act as a status symbol to many.
Below is a guest post on the subject on how to live comfortably in a small or smaller space. Many of you have seen the uptick in interest in micro houses. Some of you may be down sizing now that the kids have left the nest. Regardless, the article below provides good information on how to declutter and get creative with storage even if you are not in a small space or down sizing scenerio.
Living Large in a Small Space
One of the latest trends in home or apartment living these days is in downsizing space. In fact, some people are building their dream homes to be fewer than 300 square feet. You may not be dealing with these kinds of spatial constraints, but there are a few simple rules to follow if you need to make the most any small space. From storage options to decorating tips that give the illusion of openness, you can easily make a cramped room feel more spacious.
Clean up the clutter.
One of the easiest and quickest ways to open up a cramped living or work space is to declutter the area. This isn’t just a matter of cleaning up; it’s a careful editing of what’s taking up precious space. For example, if you are de-cluttering a general area such as a living room, go through items on bookshelves, coffee or end tables and start the elimination process. These are areas that tend to collect a lot of extraneous stuff. Take a good, hard look at your decorations and choose only a few statement pieces to make the most impact. If you have several picture frames or artwork on your walls, consider taking some down to open up wall space. When you’re ready for a change of scenery, you can swap out some of your decorations with things you have stored and get a whole new look.
Get creative with storage.
Anyone who has lived in a small space can tell you that efficient organization is key. Take advantage of items such as storage ottomans that do double-duty as a piece of functional furniture that can keep things like extra blankets or linens out of sight. In your kitchen, office or bedroom, use drawer separators to both organize and make the most of every bit of space. And don’t forget the backside of cabinet or closet doors. Various over-the-door organizers can store everything from shoes to extra bottles of shampoo or cleaners. You can even create a small storage area of your own by adding a sliding door in front of a small alcove or cubby. Visit your local home improvement store to pick up a pre-fab door and sliding door hardware to construct a simple DIY storage space of your own design.
Bring in the light.
Once you’ve done your de-cluttering and have your storage options in hand, you can use some simple decorating tips to give the illusion of more space. Use mirrors to take advantage of the light in a room and visually enhance your space. You can even choose an area of the wall to create a wall of mirrors, giving the appearance of an extra room. Also, consider opting out of curtains on windows. This may not be practical in a bedroom, but your living room will feel more spacious if you don’t create any visual breaks around your windows. Finally, choose paint or wallpaper colors that won’t make you feel boxed in. Lighter colors and patterns will make any space feel more open and airy than dark colors. If you’re painting your walls one color, continue that same color on the ceiling. It will make give the room a sense of higher ceilings.
Living in a small space doesn’t have to put a cramp in your lifestyle. In fact, smaller spaces often include smaller utility bills and general upkeep, leaving you with extra money for the things you love to do. With a combination of space-saving storage options and simple decorating tips, you can feel like you’re living large in even the smallest of spaces.
Take this fun quiz to test your interior design knowledge! (This post was originally provided by Chais Lund)