Home Amenities Likely to Grow in Demand

August 16, 2016

Certain amenities that home buyers now consider “nice-to-have” may soon move into the “must-have” category in the coming years. The following are three amenities that are likely to grow in demand among home shoppers:

  • Energy efficiency: Home owners are spending more of their income on utility bills and that likely will motivate them to want to find homes with more energy efficient, cost-effective appliances. Energy Star-qualified appliances are on the rise. The appliances use 10 to 50 percent less energy than their older counterparts. Also gaining popularity are smarter appliances, including dishwashers with sensors that can determine the appropriate cycle length and water temperature as well as washers that can extract more water from laundry during the spin cycle so the dryer has less drying to do. (Read: More Builders Say Energy Efficiency Is Priority)

  • Stainless steel alternatives: Stainless steel appliances have long dominated but home owners have long had a love-hate relationship with them. They are known as being difficult to keep clean. White ice and slate are increasingly growing as options to stainless steel. Slate is being touted as an easy choice to blend in with other black, white, or stainless steel finishes. It can resist fingerprints and washes easily too. (Read: More Attempts to Dethrone Stainless Steel’s Popularity)

  • Smart homes: More homes are expected to be controlled via a smart phone or tablet in the coming years. Appliances and home systems can be turned on, off, or programmed via mobile devices. Smart refrigerators are emerging that have built-in apps that can even create grocery shopping lists and smart ovens can be remotely controlled to start dinner or check on the status of what’s cooking. Surveys are showing that more home owners are desiring the ability to control and monitor their appliances from anywhere. (Read more: 10 Products Making Homes Smarter)

 

Contact Agent, Abbie Walsh today for all your Bryan/College Station real estate needs!