For most people, one of the most exciting things about building a new home is getting to make so many choices – exterior materials, kitchen cabinets, rugs, paint… the list is seemingly endless! Before your clients start making choices, encourage them to spend a little time planning. Ask them: HOW you are going to live in each room? WHO is going to live in each room?
For example, the master bathroom. Have you always dreamed of having a soaking tub? Or maybe one of those amazing multiple jet showers? Will you use them everyday? Also, don’t go too trendy with the materials you choose. (Tile, accents, vanity tops.) Remember that what’s ”in” now will in all likelihood look dated in a couple of years.
A similar caveat applies to the kitchen. Dramatic colors and finishes are distinctive, but they also get tiresome more quickly. (For example, that gorgeous jade granite countertop might be your favorite today, but how are you going to feel after looking at it day after day for 10 years?) Also, think about how busy your kitchen is… if it’s the family hub or highway, durability and cleanability will be paramount. Do you want a large pantry? Do you want a breakfast bar? Or maybe a pocket office off in a corner? Are you a master chef? Maybe you want to upgrade your range.
Will the kids have their own bathrooms? Keep the finishes, materials, and accessories simple and durable. Cute wallpaper and bright colors might be fine when they’re little, but at some point they’ll have to go. And vanities with tons of drawers just encourage messiness. Try vanities with wire baskets instead of drawers.
Will parents/grandparents be living with you? Consider incorporating some universal design features – wider, zero entry doorways and hallways, lever handles on doors, drawers and sinks, counters at multiple heights, cabinets on casters, and bathrooms with grab bars.
What about the basement? Will you be using it for storage? A rec room? A home theatre? A home gym? Each of these requires a different set of parameters for carpeting, walls, and layout.
These are just a few of the items new home buyers have to consider when they are planning their new homes. With just a little forethought, you can help them plan a dream home that they’ll love for years to come.
Myers Barnes is America’s favorite new home sales trainer, author, speaker and consultant. For more information, please visit www.myersbarnes.com.
