Top 2018 Trends to Focus on for New Construction Homes

Trends come and go, especially with homes. New construction is no different and many will fall for the trap of trends, which make their homes harder to sell five or ten years down the road.

The ability to see trends coming sooner, rather than later, can help buyers of new construction avoid disaster. You want to keep up with the trends, but not every single trend matters. Here’s a look at some of the top new construction trends to pay attention to for 2018.

Energy Efficient Everything

Green homes are hugely in and don’t expect them to go out anytime soon. Millennials prefer these types of homes and the next generation of home buyers will likely follow suit. Adding green features to your new construction home can go a long way to getting it sold faster, when that time comes.

Some of the easiest things you can do to make your home more energy efficient include adding touchless faucets, low flow toilets and using the right building materials. Of course, Energy STAR appliances are also a preference of many home buyers these days.

Smaller Rather than Bigger

The days of the McMansion are long gone as Gen X becomes older and isn’t the main home buying generation anymore. Gen X looked to move up into larger homes, but baby boomers are downsizing and millennials prefer smaller over larger homes.

Builders are following this trend and adding smaller homes to their land instead of larger homes. It’s becoming easier to find small homes with open floor plans fitting the budget and the needs of the home buyers today. In addition, many buyers are seeking smaller homes with larger windows and skylights to takes advantage of natural light. This helps to make rooms appear larger.

Smarter Homes Matter, Too

In the world of technology today, if your home isn’t smart, it’s not fitting the trends of the buyers. Many home builders are adding in home automation and other smart features to make new construction homes sell better. Millennials seek these types of homes and the next generation of buyers will, too.

Smart thermostats have been in for a long time and other smart features are taking over the market, as well. Don’t expect the demand for smart home features to go out anytime soon.

Plenty of Kitchen Trends

The kitchen is the main area home buyers focus on in the home. Some refer to it as the heart of the home and it’s often remodeled to fit the trends before listing a home. Right now, the open kitchen is a huge trend and will remain one as smaller homes are also a trend. Open kitchen designs make the home feel larger than it is and also allow for the kitchen to be in the back of the home, which hasn’t been a trend in over 20 years.

In addition, home buyers want the appliances to blend into the kitchen instead of sticking out. The trend of stainless steel is out, while matching the refrigerator and oven to the cabinets is in. It’s also a huge trend to find creative storage solutions for corner cabinets, shelving to display nicer pieces and other storage solutions.

Bling has also been showing up in more kitchens with rose gold, copper and brass fixtures and hardware becoming big. You may still find granite countertops to be trending a bit in 2018, but quartz and concrete are becoming more popular.

More Outdoor Space

While homes are getting smaller, the outdoor space is actually growing. Outdoor living space has become a huge trend and is expected to keep growing in 2018. Some of the experts have seen more than half the homebuyers state they prefer large outdoor space over large interior square footage.

In addition, homes with larger outdoor living space are providing a larger return on investment for sellers. Many custom builders will create quite the outdoor oasis for home byers, as well. It could include adding connections for electric, plumbing or even gas to install an outdoor kitchen. IN fact, the outdoor kitchen is the most popular outdoor features with the spa and pool following right behind. Fireplaces and firepits are also very popular for outdoor living space.

If you’re considering a new construction home in 2018 or you plan to buy and renovate, keep these trends in mind. Not only could they help you design the perfect home, but they could also make it easier to sell your home when the time comes. Most of these trends are expected to remain popular for many years to come.