What Buyers Want in 2014

The International Builders’ Show took place last week in Las Vegas with more than 75,000 home builders and suppliers in attendance.  The IBS is the largest annual light construction show in the world with hundreds of exhibitors offering a huge range of products and services.  It also serves as a forum for experts and professionals to discuss new products as well as buyers’ preferences, and offers great insight into just what current home buyers are looking for.  Here are some take-aways to consider if you’re buying, selling or remodeling your home.

What’s In, What’s Out

The organizer of the show, the National Association of Home Builders, conducted a survey of what is most important to buyers – and some may surprise you.  Here’s what they said:

What’s In

Walk-in closets
“Low-e” heat-reflecting windows
Laundry rooms
Great rooms
Energy-star related appliances
Programmable thermostats

What’s Out

Laminate countertops
Outdoor kitchens
Outdoor fireplaces
Sunrooms
Two-story family rooms

Newer, Faster Appliances

The IBS had many exhibitors showing the latest in cutting-edge appliances.  The trend seems to be the faster the better, especially for meal preparation.  If you have money to spend, the Viking Professional TurboChef Double Oven is top-of-the-line and uses professional technology to cook food 15 times faster than conventional ovens.  The price tag for this convenience is about $10,000 and the model should be out in late 2014.

Don’t have that kind of cash to spend?  Steam ovens offer shorter cooking times with a much smaller price tag.  Steam ovens are promoted as being a healthy alternative to conventional ovens, preserving essential nutrients in food and keeping food moist.  Also on display were 30 minute quick cycle dishwashers from Electrolux to cut your cleaning time in half while not sacrificing cleaning power.

High Tech Homes

WiFi enabled products seemed to reign at the show, with many new products featuring wireless connectivity.  Some of these new gadgets include programmable thermostats, WiFi-enabled generators which can be monitored while you’re away from home, and high-tech home security systems that allow homeowners to remotely monitor cameras, thermostats, lights and water valves.

Smart fixtures were also abundant at the show.  The winner of the KBIS Best of Bath Gold Award was the Temp20 by Delta Faucet.  This “smart” faucet features a digital temperature display as well as LED color indicators to signal water temperature.  InSinkErator also unveiled their new 3N1 hot water faucet – the first of its kind in North America.  The faucet offers hot, cold and near boiling water in one tap, although must be paired with their Instant Hot Water Tank or another high performance steaming hot water tank in order to work.

Multiple Shades of Gray

If the IBS is any indication, gray will be the go-to color of 2014.  It is the fastest-growing color scheme in kitchens, replacing white and off-white.  Gray is also most popular in bathrooms, which ranked third in 2013.  Gray surfaces and finishes on countertops and cabinets were prevalent, in shades that work well in both contemporary and transitional kitchen schemes.

via:http://erawilderrealty.com/buyers-want-2014.html