When we ask someone who is about to build a new home, "How long do you plan on living here?" A common response is "This is the last home that I will ever build. They'll be burying me in the back yard." My response is to be realistic. Statistics show that most people live in their home an average of five to seven years. So although you may be different and this REALLY is going to be your last home, please consider the reality of averages.
Why is this important? There are two key reasons. First, you should design for your near term needs, not the needs you'll have in ten or twenty years. Second, don't forget that that sooner or later, this home needs to fit the needs of another family when you look to sell it.
On the near term needs, consider a family that has 2 young children in elementary school. The family designs a home with a 3 car garage, circular driveway and first floor master bedroom. The future thinking parents plan for additional garage and parking space for the cars their children will have in 8-10 years. As the parents age, they thoughtfully believe they won't want to climb stairs. Yet soon after moving into the home, the parents find that they prefer being upstairs with the young children and convert a guest room into a second floor master bedroom. After 4 - 5 years, there is a job transfer and they never get to take advantage of the additional parking space and 1st floor master suite.
When it comes to the needs of a future buyer, I rarely get concerned about paint, flooring and fixtures. More importantly, it comes down to design and the layout. You may not like tubs and prefer only showers; or want only jack and jill baths, but a little flexibility may go a long way in appealing to a buyer years from now.
In the end, be realistic when you design your home. Prioritize the near term higher and be mindful of how the home will attract future buyers.
Jon Solomon
President, Javic Homes
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