Many developers believe that turnkey homes—high-end, furnished, predecorated homes that allow buyers to easily move in—are what home shoppers want nowadays. The trend is taking root in places like Hawaii and California and in many second-home resort communities.

Rob Kildow, director of sales and principal broker for Hualalai Realty, told Mansion Global about the growing appeal of turnkey residences in his market in Hualalai, Hawaii. Fully furnished residences will sell within days at or above asking price, he says.

“When our residents sell their home, a buyer from a smaller property here buys it and moves into the bigger space,” Kildow says. “They leave the smaller home fully furnished while they create their new residence. I then have a three-page waiting list of buyers interested in that smaller property.”

Kildow told Mansion Global there’s a “clear trend toward single-family, ‘want it now’ homes. Psychology always provides different sales drivers, and the pandemic pushed buyers on the fence to buy—in some cases ‘sight unseen.’”

A home fully furnished and decorated may have fewer surprises for a buyer. Also, during the pandemic, furniture and construction materials have faced supply chain bottlenecks that have made getting materials tougher.

Silversands Villas on the island of Grenada, Calif., is selling fully furnished homes that also feature original artwork that stay with the homes. Kandace Douglas, a real estate sales and marketing director at Silversands Villas, told Mansion Global the development is embracing the luxury “move in now” mentality that more buyers appear to be exploring.

“Turnkey homes offer peace of mind and instant enjoyment—while avoiding construction costs and labor force issues presented by today’s economy,” Terri A. Haack, president of Rancho Palos Verdes, a resort along the Southern California coast, told Mansion Global. “Time is priceless.”

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

The business of home staging is under transformation. Though physical staging has long dominated the market, virtual staging is quickly becoming a go-to option, but whether it’s the better option depends on several factors.

Key takeaways:

• Staging helps highlight a home’s space and architecture and appeals to the broadest buyer market.
• Virtual staging is coming up quickly, offering a lower cost, more flexibility, and a shorter timetable than traditional staging.
• Help sellers decide which option is best for them by looking at factors like budgets and timetables.

When Barb Schwartz introduced the concept of home staging in 1972, inspired by her background in theater, the idea was novel.

Instead of having buyers view rooms as homeowners had lived in them, salespeople removed any contents—from art to furnishings—that cluttered, dated, or personalized spaces. This purging made it easier to see a home’s architecture and scale. New buyers, it was thought, would have an easier time envisioning themselves in the space.

The concept gained a following, as well as sophistication in process, and led to a profession of trained specialists. With their arsenal of furnishings, baubles, and art, these specialists made a job of staging homes to sell. Sellers usually paid for the service, since many staged listings sold faster and for higher dollars than those not staged.

Staged homes continue to sell well, and the service is in great demand as a result. In the National Association of REALTORS® 2019 Profile of Home Stagingpdf, one-quarter of buyers’ agents said that staging increased the dollar value offered by between 1% and 5%.

When Demand and Competition Increase

Nowadays, staging has become almost de rigueur, and professionals with the skills are experiencing an uptick in business. Professional organizer Amanda Wiss of Brooklyn-based Urban Clarity added staging to her repertoire and has seen her business grow by 80% over the prior year.

An increase in the demand for staging also translates into an increase in higher expectations from the clients. To stay relevant in a competitive market, stagers have come to spend more time and money to fashion staged rooms that outdo one another. What’s more, stagers must have a well-rounded and working understanding of what’s necessary to fit a property’s architecture, location, and trending decor. From clean contemporary to mid-century modern, and farmhouse, stagers need to know it all, says Beth Franken, broker-associate with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Chicago, who earned staging credentials from industry trainer ASP.

The increased competition has also spurred stagers to charge more, sometimes 8% to 10% of a listing price, though this varies based on the work involved.

Wiss recently staged a listing in the New York City area with multiple bedrooms and charged in the mid-$20,000 range, and just like when the staging trend originally picked up steam, sellers are still paying for the service.

The Rise of Virtual Staging

Of late, staging has evolved to include the digital realm. Now, rather than physically staging each room in a home, virtual staging allows a company to use a program to map out the home and choose proper furnishings for the space. The increase in the virtual option is due in part to a few factors, including:

• Advances in technology that produced more realistic results
• The influx into the marketplace of millennials, who are more comfortable shopping online than any previous generation
• The pandemic, which made looking at homes online more popular to keep everyone safe

More companies specialize in virtual staging nowadays, allowing salespeople or homeowners to pick from an expanding library of design choices. Want a mid-century modern room with Herman Miller furniture? Check. How about a modern Italian look? No problem.

In some cases, stagers digitally remove furnishings or decor like wallpaper. To make it clear to prospective buyers that the space might not look exactly as it does in the virtual staging, however, salespeople attach a “virtual design” disclaimer, so there’s no misunderstanding.

Cost-Friendly and Adaptable

Virtual staging offers flexibility new to the industry. The time saved over using a truckload of furnishings also makes it more sustainable, says Atlanta-based salesperson Christopher Matos-Rogers with Coldwell Banker. The price skews far lower than physical staging, spurring more practitioners to pick up the tab as part of a marketing budget, says Ilaria Barion, founder of Barion Design.

Since 2005, Barion has staged more than 50,000 properties and is focused on the luxury market. She switched from working as a physical to a virtual stager in part because of the specific needs required in the luxury space.

“Unless you’re going to spend a lot of money, the rental furnishings may cheapen a property’s look. The cost of luxury home staging has skyrocketed. It also takes time to assemble the furnishings,” says Barion. The sheer number of people searching for homes online—95% of home shoppers, according to a reportpdf from Properties Online—makes virtual staging a useful option.

Also, on the plus side, she’s found that virtual staging allows “you to do amazing things and fast—move in a baby grand piano, for example.” Her company charges per photo, taking into consideration the size of the room. Clients can expect prices from $49 to $399. If furnishings need to be digitally removed from the space, it charges between $20 and $90 per image. Additionally, and unlike in physical staging, Barion’s company typically delivers within a few days.

Thanks to virtual staging, Barion also offers a special custom staging service from scratch. With this service, she offers renderings, and she can offer an express service that’s less expensive for small dwellings.

BoxBrownie.com, an Australian digital staging firm that also performs photo edits and redraws floor plans, charges even less—$24 per virtual image with a turnaround of 48 hours for a new design. It will remove images within 24 hours. The firm, the pitch battle winner at NAR’s inaugural Investment, Opportunity & Innovation Summit in 2018, also has a large inventory of photos in different styles, says Tabitha Thomas, general manager.

Some companies work both ways, as does Atlanta-based No Vacancy Staging. The company charges $39 per virtual photo if the salesperson or homeowner opts for self-service. If they seek advice, the cost is $60. It also offers a two-business-day turnaround and can provide an online quote and contract within 15 seconds, says co-founder Krisztina Bell. As different spaces in a home take on greater importance, it stages them, too, such as more outdoor areas, Bell says.

Virtual staging also offers the advantage of presenting variations on the same space to show flexibility. Throughout the pandemic, buyers have wanted to see that a space might function as a home office, classroom, or gym.

Choosing the Right Staging Option

While its popularity trends upward, not everyone’s convinced that virtual staging is always the best choice. Some experts recommend studying a potential hire’s portfolio to see if they offer adequate digital choices and professional quality software and photos that accurately portray dimensions, perspective, and scale, Franken says. “Some images look fake,” Barion says.

Conversely, some digital versions are so persuasive that, after seeing photos online and later entering the home, buyers are disappointed by seeing empty rooms or the seller’s furnishings instead.

“It may initially raise buyers’ expectations and set them up for a let-down when they see rooms in person,” says Kristie Barnett, whose Nashville firm, The Decorologist, runs in-person and online staging seminars through her Expert Psychological Staging firm.

In contrast, she feels that traditional staging makes spaces appear larger and more valuable. “Done properly, it puts the emphasis on the selling points (the architecture) rather than the decor, and helps buyers know how their furnishings will fit by seeing how comparable items look,” she says.

Which route to go may also depend on the age of potential buyers and how they like to shop, says Chicago commercial interior designer Mary Cook of Mary Cook Associates. Cook has merchandised thousands of model homes and apartments for discerning builders and developers of residential properties.

“Many millennials are very comfortable shopping for a home or apartment using virtual reality, digital renderings, or virtual walk-through renditions online, and even buying without stepping foot inside. But that’s very different from how many boomers like to purchase. They want to see rooms and furnishings in-person to know what works,” she says.

For example, she cites the repurposing of the Tribune Tower in Chicago, which transformed from offices to condominium residences. “Initially, the developer opened for sales before the model units were complete. Potential buyers were interested, but once furnished models opened, sales quickly accelerated. It made a huge difference for the older age group buying to see how rooms might be used, including turning a massive foyer into a gallery,” she says.

Salesperson Franken had a similar experience taking over a condo listing in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. It was virtually staged and sat unsold. Franken decided to use contemporary furnishings she collected to physically stage the home. “I charged the seller $2,700 and dropped the listing price $6,000. It sold within four days,” she says.

But those like Bell of No Vacancy Home Staging say there’s room for both approaches. “Virtual isn’t meant to replace home staging but [to] offer another option. Both have evolved and will continue to do so,” she says.

BONUS: Starting the Conversation

One of the toughest parts of the staging process is starting the conversation with sellers. It’s not easy to ask that they remove all or some of their objects to make space for new furnishings, especially if they’re still living in the space. “Many are still reluctant, and you have to be careful never to say anything that’s insulting or seems a putdown of what they own,” says salesperson Beth Franken.

Instead, she suggests using stats and stories to share how staging can help before listing a house. “You can’t put something on the market twice,” Franken says. Staging expert Kristie Barnett agrees. “First impressions are felt, not thought, and take place almost instantaneously when someone enters a property.”

Both also suggest pointing out simple staging ideas that a salesperson or homeowner can do on their own:

• Get rid of what won’t be moved to the next home.
• Use hangers that match.
• Remove about 60% of the items from closets and bookshelves.
• Declutter glass-fronted cabinets and counters in full view.

“The eye needs to have an uninterrupted take on a room, and too many things, patterns, and colors distract,” Barnett says.

Showing photos of staged homes makes a significant difference, says salesperson Christopher Matos-Rogers. He uses his area MLS to pull up examples of other listings in their neighborhood that demonstrate how much better a well-staged, well-photographed home presents and performs. “Helping people see the difference is everything,” he says.

More ideas to share are in NAR’s 2019 Profile of Home Staging:

• The median dollar value spent on staging was $400.
• Twenty-eight percent of sellers’ agents said there were slight decreases in the time on market when a home is staged.
• All rooms don’t need to be staged, but the most common to stage are the living room, dining room, kitchen, and owner’s bedroom and bath.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Home inspectors say they can spot the work of an amateur versus a pro.

Homeowners may have gotten overconfident with their DIY skills. Armed with YouTube tutorials and extra time at home during the pandemic, more homeowners have been drawn to DIY house projects to save money and bypass waits for overbooked contractors. Home inspectors are seeing the results of that DIY surge. When homeowners go to sell, they say more DIY jobs are popping up as red flags.

“We want homeowners to be handy, but we want them to be careful about what they choose to do to their home,” says Adam Long, president of the HomeTeam Inspection Service, which has 200-plus offices nationwide. “It’s important to know when to call in a professional. Saving $200 to $300 for an electrician or plumber could end up costing you thousands in the end.”

Here are the areas where home inspectors are noticing an uptick, Long says.

#1 Electrical Work

Common DIY tasks: Installing a lighting fixture, ceiling fan, or dimmer switch

Risks: Electrocution and home electrical fires

Red flags: Inspectors are spotting overloaded circuit boxes, wires left exposed or the wrong wires being used, and improper junction boxes. “Any changes in the electrical box can be problematic, even when it seems minor like adding a dimmer or wall switch or even a Wi-Fi–enabled switch,” Long says. Personal dangers aside, faulty wiring can cause shorts that lead to house fires. Further, homeowners who do their own electrical work may have failed to get the necessary permits—approvals from municipalities that shows a job was done to code. Failing to get permits can result in fines and hold up a home sale.

#2 Plumbing

Common DIY tasks: Changing a faucet or appliance

Risks: Water leaks or flooding to the home and mold

Red flags: Plumbing that is wrongly installed or repaired can cause significant damage to a home, such as flooding and eventual wood rot and mold growth, which can affect air quality and human health. “Be careful any time you do anything with the home’s plumbing to make sure you are doing it safely and correctly,” Long says. Homeowners may be tempted to change a faucet or update an appliance like a dishwasher. But one wrong connection can lead to costly damage. A dishwasher requires lots of water pressure. If it’s not properly hooked up, homeowners could experience significant flooding in a kitchen.

#3 Roofing & Decks

Common DIY tasks: Installing or extending a new deck or repairing roof shingles

Risks: Injuries from falls and damage to the home

Red flags: Home inspectors say DIY deck installations often are improperly attached to the house or have loose, insecure handrails, both of which pose safety concerns. With roofs, homeowners may try to replace a shingle. “Professionals take extra precautions and know how to stay safe on the roof while making repairs,” Long says. Decks and roofs are some of the highest-priced home items to fix—and where the labor tends to be more expensive than materials, homeowners are too often tempted to do it themselves for the savings, Long says.

#4 Landscape Grading

Common DIY tasks: Adding landscaping or outdoor elements that change water flow around the home

Risks: Improper draining, flooding, and structural damage

Red flags: Inspectors may spot puddles of water around the home’s foundation. When the house was built, the yard was graded so that water would flow away from the home. But after a few years, grading may not have been properly maintained. This can cause water to rush around the foundation and lead to structural damage or water entering a basement or crawl space. “This one is an easy one to pay attention to, especially when it’s raining,” Long says. “That’s the best time to check that water is moving away from the foundation. The gutters should be directing water away from the foundation, too.”

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Today’s vacation homes require an updated set of features to maintain appeal in a post–COVID-19 world, including space to spread out and top-notch Wi-Fi connectivity.

Key takeaways:

• Post–pandemic vacation homes need a whole new set of amenities that complement current reality.
• More people are taking longer breaks from the city and working from home, so connectivity is important.
• With more communities toughening rental rules, buyers must stay abreast if earning extra income is a goal.

During the second half of 2020 and through 2021, vacation home sales skyrocketed, according to a report from the National Association of REALTORS®. Today, vacation houses provide important stress relief to the woes of post-pandemic life. As COVID-19 transmission continues to ebb and flow, these homes offer a mental and physical escape as well as a way for extended families and sometimes groups of friends to gather safely, particularly those whose primary homes are in dense urban areas.

Some buyers also view their vacation house as an investment opportunity for rental income. Since vacation homes are typically used for short spurts of time, short-term rental services like Airbnb and VRBO provide opportunities to generate income when the house isn’t in use by the owner.

What works and what doesn’t have changed since the pandemic began, and making a smart purchase requires attention to a different playbook than in years past. These days, a getaway may require more time than the occasional weekend, so different amenities may appeal. With work culture still trending toward the hybrid and work-from-home models, people might spend more time at a vacation home, since where they work is flexible. There may also be more people under a single roof, since extended family members gravitate to be together. And if extra income is desired via short-term rentals, there’s a need to pay attention to a municipality’s rules as more tighten up on the number of days and the number of guests permitted.

Because the pandemic has upended inventory, prices, layouts and more, help clients fine-tune their plans based on what’s available so that they can also fine-tune their wish list. Sometimes a vacation house may even transition to a primary residence, says broker Linda Novelli of The Novelli Team at Compass Real Estate in Margate, on the New Jersey shore.

Working With Available Inventory

As with listings for non-vacation houses, most housing stock remains in short supply, which will influence where and what clients buy. “Sales have been very strong, and the market hasn’t softened. We ran out of good inventory after fall and winter,” says broker Diane Saatchi of Saunders & Associates in East Hampton, N.Y. “When a new house is constructed, it gets purchased right away—and above the asking price,” she says. 

In Telluride, Colo., vacationers come for the two prime seasons of winter skiing and summer relief from hotter climates such as Florida, Arizona and Texas. “They may pay 25% more than they did a year ago,” says broker-owner Anne-Britt Ostlund of Mountain Rose Realty.

In contrast, the Michigan and Indiana vacation areas near Chicago have started to slow. “There are still sales, but it’s not as crazy as it was with 15 offers,” says Jason Milovich, whose Union Pier, Mich.–company, Bluefish Vacation Rentals and Property Management, handles rentals. “The rental market has also slowed a bit,” he says.

Thinking About Distance and Location Accessibility

Without a private plane or helicopter, getting to certain vacation locations may not be easy. For example, Telluride requires flying into its small regional airport or a larger one in Montrose, 40 miles away, and taking a shuttle, says Ostlund. “I—and others who come here—like it because it is so far away and quieter than Aspen or Vail,” she says. As a result, many stay for three to six months, or otherwise longer than they used to, she says. 

Even vacation havens in New York’s Hamptons or Massachusetts’ Cape Cod require longer drives due to increased traffic. Many spend extended weekends or longer stretches to avoid going back and forth. The communities reflect that change by offering more services and shops. In some towns in the Hamptons, New York City art galleries, luxury retailers and hospital satellites have opened locations to cater to the increased population and the longer stays, Saatchi says.

Another factor buyers care about is how far a house is to a downtown, beach, ski slope or entertainment. The main attraction for those buying in Orlando is Walt Disney World, says James Mitchell with Buy Orlando Properties. In Vail, being on a bus route helps renters do without a car, says Tyra Rudrud, broker-owner with Engel & Völkers’ office there and in Beaver Creek.

But because of less inventory and higher prices, some buyers are willing to compromise on proximity. “Years ago, summer residents didn’t want to be five or six blocks from a beach, but now they’re more flexible and willing to be in parts of town once considered less appealing,” Novelli says.

Rudrud also sees that kind of change. “Before, people were looking to be in the center of town or close to slopes, and now, they’re willing to look outside core areas and be in the valley.” she says.

Today’s In-Demand Features

The most critical feature to attract buyers is a house in move-in condition, since many don’t want to do work, even if they can line up a contractor. “I used to say ‘location, location, location’ was most important. Now I say ‘new, new and new,’” Saunders says. “That’s another reason why some will purchase in locations not as popular­–if the homes are in ready condition,” she says.

Ostlund agrees. “They don’t want to be bothered since they want to get in and enjoy their house. To get work done, they might have to wait one or two years because skilled carpenters remain hard to find,” she says.

Second on many wish lists is high-speed connectivity, as more people have the flexibility to work from home, says Milovich. In some remote locations, it requires planning to gain a strong connection.

Also high on the list is the still-popular open plan with a spacious, functional kitchen, which remains the family hub. In kitchens where there’s extra space, a new trend is two islands—one for socializing and the other for kitchen prep.

The increased number of people that occupy a vacation home at one time has led to renewed interest in dining rooms. Buyers don’t want formal spaces, but a room so everyone’s not eating only at a breakfast bar in the kitchen, Rudrud says.

Open, airy and functional space is key to a comfortable vacation home where many gather.

The greater number of people has also led to demand for more bedrooms and bathrooms. “No longer is a three-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom house sufficient,” Novelli says.

And if constructed with a basement, the lower level may be finished to include an exercise room since many homeowners still avoid going to a gym, Saunders says.

What’s Important on the Outside

Having some property available outside is a must, though how much depends on location, budget and how buyers plan to spend their outdoor leisure time. Strong connectivity outdoors, if possible, is also important, as more are moving their home office outdoors in good weather and seek strong connectivity there, too.

If internet is available inside, a strong Wi-Fi signal may be available outside, especially if the router is placed to facilitate it, according to Rebecca Lee Armstrong, with Salt Lake City–based HighSpeedInternet.com. The company is comprised a group of internet and tech experts who help consumers find the best options in their area. Residents can also use Wi-Fi extenders that can send the signal in specific directions, she says.

Another popular feature for vacation homes is a swimming pool. In Saunders’ area, “everyone wants a pool, and an in-ground gunite design,” she says.

Milovich sees that trend slightly slowing, though. “At the height of COVID, a private pool was the number one amenity, but that’s tapered off since there’s not as much trepidation now about going to a beach,” he says.

Other amenities that appeal include a deck with heaters for colder climates, roof overhangs for sun protection and outdoor gathering, and a hot tub, says Rudrud.

BONUS: Using a Property Management Company to Rent Out Your Vacation Home

Although many homeowners successfully rent their homes on vacation platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO, another option is to work with a property management company. Many brokerages are now offering property management services. Though the company usually takes a percentage of the rent—typically from 10% to 50%—many also place their listings on well-known vacation platforms for wider exposure. Milovich’s company does and receives 60% of its bookings from its property management work, versus 40% from the other sites.

They also offer the advantage of knowing an area’s rules and regulations, like:

• How many days the property can be rented annually
• Whether short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days are permitted
• The number of guests and cars allowed on the property, since there may be limits

In Ostlund’s Telluride area, the town has placed a moratorium on short-term rental licenses through 2023 so officials can study how they affect the community’s fabric, she says. Vail is studying restrictions because of the shortage of workforce housing, says Rudrud.

Another advantage of property management companies is that many have reps who handle all the nitty-gritty, such as checking renters in and out, setting out fresh linens and towels, stocking the kitchen pantry, and removing personal items. They may also spiff up the decor to make the listing appeal to the widest possible audience.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

The quest for organized storage and space for pandemic reprieve spurred interest in transforming garages, but nowadays the sky’s the limit on how the space is used and looks.

Key Takeaways:

• Two key factors—the pandemic and the search for more storage—have influenced current garage trends.
• Garage space isn’t just for cars anymore. It’s now a space for recreation, solitude, working out and a home office in many cases.
• Trends for the garage also include sustainability, which means EV stations for either the current owner or to improve resale value.

When it comes to a garage, most clients won’t require the space to house 12 cars like a recent client of Los Angeles architecture firm KAA Design Group. In fact, the client himself didn’t need that much space. He owned only two cars but was thinking about resale value on his home—knowing car collectors are in abundance in L.A.—when he opted for the extra-large garage.

He’s currently using the extra space as an art studio, says Grant C. Kirkpatrick, KAA architect and founding partner.

The need for flexible garage space, however, is on the rise. Before the pandemic, most homeowners wanted and needed less. They required space to park two cars and room for some seasonal items or tools. However, lifestyle changes and pandemic-fueled hobbies mean a garage needs a little more flexibility to meet demand.

Changes Influencing Garage Space

During the pandemic, many people took up outdoor hobbies, says Laurel Vernazza, home design expert at The Plan Collection. As a result, space to store outdoor gear such as kayaks, paddleboards, golf clubs and bicycles tops the list of garage needs.

The pandemic also fueled requests for more quiet spaces away from the main part of the home, and garages sometimes served as a retreat, a home office or a gym.

Though it may not rank as high as the desire for an updated kitchen or owner’s bathroom, having a finished garage with flexible space has moved up on many buyers’ wish lists.

Converting Garage Space

One advantage of converting a garage, especially when it’s attached to the home, is that it is typically an easy and affordable transformation. The space is often already outfitted with electrical outlets and weatherproofing, says New York City–based architect Victor Body-Lawson of Body Lawson Associates. “An attached garage is also easy to heat or cool,” he says.

After it’s transformation, the garage is now bright, airy and includes an abundance of organized storage space.

A detached garage, however, is a bit of a challenge to convert, Body-Lawson says. “Expenses increase with big-ticket items of new windows, insulation, new floors, interior finishes and plumbing,” he says.

How often buyers undertake these types of changes often depends on a variety of factors: climate, property size, budget, age of the house and what neighboring homes offer.

An Overview of Demand for Garage Space

In historic mining town–turned–ski village Telluride, Colo., adding a garage can raise the home’s sale price by 20% or more, says salesperson Anne Brit Ostlund, with Mountain Rose Realty.

In contrast, the new nearby town of Mountain Village features many homes with a minimum of a three-car garage to make space for off-road vehicles, golf carts and town or sports cars, Ostlund says. Larger garages might add a 10% payback for resale, she says.

Red Ferrari-themed garage

In still other communities such as Maplewood, N.J., having a garage is so important that removing one for whatever reason isn’t allowed unless it’s replaced. In the town, which has 25,000 residents, only 18 houses lack a garage, says Stephanie Mallios, a salesperson with Compass.

Besides functionality, Kirkpatrick says aesthetics are important for a garage. “Since our clients are most often coming home via their garage, it should be beautiful,” he says.

One trend is certain for new-home construction as well: Fewer new houses come without a garage of some kind. Developer Jeff Benach of Chicago-based Lexington Homes says he no longer brings to market a single-family house or townhouse without a garage that offers more than a single bay. He also won’t design one with a tandem layout, where cars line up behind one another.

Vernazza concurs that it’s rare for a new home to have room for just one car.

What Matters Most

Nowadays, want outweighs need when it comes to features that pique buyer interest. A finished, clean garage is likely to offer an uptick in value by presenting buyers with the plus of one less project to tackle, says Aaron Cash, founder of Toronto-based Garage Living, a franchise that transforms garages.

Clean and Uncluttered

The first step is to declutter the garage as you would any other part of the house rather than make it a dumping ground, says Cash. Though the garage was once a space to house dirtier objects like lawn maintenance equipment, homeowners would rather see a clean space as well. Montgomeryville, Pa.–based The Closet Works recommends using an antimicrobial or antibacterial finish on surfaces for cleanliness.

Door Styles

Nicer, more durable, and lower maintenance doors, sometimes constructed from galvanized metal that doesn’t rust or less costly vinyl, are preferred these days. Styles range from matching the rest of the house to setting a different vibe. For Mallios’ new two-car detached garage, she veered from her home’s Tudor style for mahogany carriage house doors and stucco facade, making it “more charming than my house,” she says.

A garage that has a clean design, matches the home’s overall aesthetic is in high demand.

The good news is that the garage door shortage, which hampered upgrades and new-home construction during pandemic supply chain delays, is lessening, according to Scott Balogh, owner of Aero Garage Door in Libertyville, Ill. “Backlogs have gone from one year to 14 weeks, though delays remain for certain popular colors, styles and materials. Among the more popular looks are wood tones that match a front door,” he says.

Garage door extras are also popular, including exterior lights, smart features used from a smartphone, and automatic controls since it’s more common for people to use their garage as an entry and exit from the house, Cash says. Cameras are also becoming more common, which helps with package delivery verification, Balogh says.

Windows

Windows have become popular, particularly in the upper third of the price range of garages, says Dan Timm, a salesperson with Baird & Warner in Libertyville, Ill. A cost-effective way to include them is to have them on the garage’s top panel or one just below, he says. “It breaks up what is otherwise a monolithic slab,” Timm says. But, in some houses and front-loading garages, they may be placed on a side.

Windows and EV charging stations are high on the list of wants.

EV Charging Stations

As interest in EV expands, garages need to accommodate home charging. More of Case’s clients ask to install one station or at least provide the rough-in for work to be finished later, and the vast majority of newly constructed houses are including one, he says. When Mallios built her new garage, she installed two.

Interior Floor and Walls

Those who want to spiff up their garages may start with a floor coating that’s similar to epoxy and makes the garage easier to clean, says Cash. A variety of colors and textures are available, he says. Designer Claire Ownby of Scottsdale, Ariz.–based Ownby Design often chooses from porcelain wood tiles, industrial carpet tiles or polished concrete. “It really depends on the aesthetics of the environment, but we are typically treating the floors with a more affordable and durable version of the interior of the house,” she says. Gray still ranks high in popularity since it’s neutral and hides dirt, according to Closet Works.

Finished garages, with finished walls and floors act as an extension of a home’s look.

Organized Storage

Storage and organization are top of mind for all spaces in the home, including the garage. Adding slats and other systems along walls or installing cabinets, drawers and bins, some with locks to keep out children, are popular options to add intentional storage space. Some also like to add overhead racks that they can reach with a pulley system or ladder. Having good visibility by adding more lighting than the typical single bulb makes finding stuff easier, Cash says.

Organized storage makes more ground space and prevents clutter.

Sal Graci of River Avenue Digital, which handles Closet Works’ marketing, makes other recommendations: leave empty space for future expansion, install only adjustable systems so changes can be made and store stuff off the ground to leave room for cars and avoid damage if flooding occurs.

Car Lifts

Commonplace in commercial garages, these have become more popular in residential and allow an owner or potential future owner to have a large car collection without adding square footage, Ownby says.

Lifts add space and versatility.

BONUS: Garage or an Extension of the Indoor Space?

The garage is frequently becoming an entertainment destination with the clever moniker of the “gar-bar” or “new speakeasy,” Mallios says. One house Mallios recently sold at 18% above the asking price had a four-car garage with such a space. It helped its owners survive the pandemic, she says.

For some KAA Design clients, the garage becomes a man cave or equivalent. “The pride in their vehicle or vehicles and the car culture results in a desire for a garage that brings it all together—car display, workshop, lounge and bar, entertainment, etc. for solo reflection or friends and parties,” Kirkpatrick says.

A client of Timm’s installed a TV, sound system, color-changing LED lights, epoxy floor and collection of vintage car grills with lights inside the headlight spaces.

Also becoming more common is to convert part of the garage into an accessory dwelling unit so it can be occupied by family, grown children, college students or renters as home prices and rents rise, says architect Body-Lawson. Some ADUs also become offices for new businesses, he says.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

New trends in kitchen islands offer versatility in function and design, as well as an aesthetic boost.

You may remember when the kitchen’s status symbol was a hulking appliance like a six-burner range or a smaller but still chichi wine refrigerator. These statement pieces enhanced a kitchen and set it apart from others.

Nowadays, though, islands are taking the place as the kitchen must-have. Buyers might not consider it a deal killer if a kitchen has no island, but the house may not get the same attention, says salesperson Barb St. Amant with Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International.

“It’s the number one design feature our clients ask for in a kitchen,” says John Potter, architect and partner at Morgante Wilson Architects in Chicago.

They might be trending now, but islands are hardly new. The difference today is that islands have evolved into an aesthetic touch and a space for gathering, rather than an area dedicated solely to kitchen tasks like chopping and prepping. “Kitchen islands can be gathering spots for the family for breakfast or the cocktail hangout spot when entertaining,” says Rozit Arditi, principal of New York City–based Arditi Design. “It’s also the main conversation area where everyone gathers while cooking,” she says.

Add to that a homework center, a space for gift wrapping, and a dinner spot as families become more casual, Potter says.

Such versatility means islands are now larger, which is in step with kitchens themselves getting bigger. Many kitchens today function as part of an open-plan layout and a bridge between the workspace and entertainment areas, says designer John Hall of JH Design International in Chagrin Falls, Ohio.

Sleek is in, which means many kitchens now lack upper cabinets. Still, a longer and wider kitchen island makes up the storage difference, says designer Jodi Swartz of KitchenVisions in Boston.

Bigger islands can also fit more seating. Although the pandemic didn’t initiate any changes in the island, it’s thought to have increased how often people congregate around it, says kitchen designer Mick De Giulio of de Giulio Kitchen Design in Chicago.

More than just the workhorse of the past, the kitchen island offers homeowners all kinds of new options, styles and uses, so long as it is designed functionally. Here are some considerations.

Size

The size should be based partly on the room’s dimensions so that the island is proportional to the space. How it’s used should also influence its size. Visually, there should be enough open space in the room, too. “Open space and flow are more important than having one more cabinet for storage,” says designer JT Norman of Kitchen Magic in Nazareth, Penn.

Suppose the kitchen space isn’t large enough. In that case, an alternative may be a peninsula, once popular and still a viable option, says designer Fabrice Garson of Bilotta Kitchen & Home in Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Placement

Where an island can fit in the room will also affect its size, says De Giulio. It shouldn’t be in the way of traffic to other rooms or other parts of the kitchen.

“If you have to walk around an island to get from a sink to a refrigerator each time, that doesn’t make sense,” De Giulio says. “I still believe in the principles of the work triangle,” he says, a concept formulated by the National Kitchen and Bath Association.

The amount of aisle space between the island and perimeter countertops and cabinetry is important, too. De Giulio advises 48 inches—enough space so that, with a dishwasher’s door open all the way, two people can pass easily.

Main Functions

When designers at Bilotta Kitchen & Home first meet with a client, they ask about the homeowner’s lifestyle and preferences and design around the answers, Garson says. Some islands may include more than one level to separate functions such as mixing drinks at a bar sink on an upper level or comfortably rolling out a pastry on a lower level. Appliances like a dishwasher or beverage cooler are also popular island options, says Michael Cox, principal with Foley & Cox in New York City.

Double Islands

Superlarge kitchens are increasingly designed with two smaller islands, rather than one enormous unit that is unwieldy to get around. Another selling point for two islands is that functions can be divided between them.

For example, De Giulio has designed one island for working and congregating and the other for setting out a buffet and serving, he says. Garson has designed one island for sitting and gathering, homework, and eating and a second with a sink and appliances—“a real workstation,” he says.

Seating

For comfortable seating, De Giulio prefers a standard 36-inch counter height rather than higher 42-inch bar height. “Many children find it hard to sit on a stool at that height,” he says. Norman advises leaving 24 inches between stools for elbow room.

One option that Hall is incorporating in some islands is to have a second seating area. A table can extend from the island at a lower 30-inch height for a comfortable option.

Cabinet Construction

For storage, De Giulio favors drawers. Heights within should vary to fit what’s stored. Deep drawers work for a large pot or blender, while shallow ones work for towels and silverware. Arditi suggests adding shelves to cabinets for cookbooks and staggered storage.

Countertop Materials

Swartz’s first rule of thumb is that homeowners understand that no material is 100% indestructible. That means they should not take anything hot off a range or from an oven and place it directly on any surface, including the island.

What’s popular now are manmade surfaces that look good and can be used with less worry, Garson says. Cox favors stress-free surfaces like absolute black granite and pure white Caesarstone. Some homeowners like to integrate a butcher block or live-edge, Garson says, while others may favor a marble space.

Multiple types of edges can complete the countertop. De Giulio thinks square edges look crisp and clean in a modern kitchen while an ogee or furniture edge appears more traditional. Other popular styles include eased, pencil, and bullnose.

Permanent or Removable

Some designers and homeowners prefer a table or other piece of furniture for a less utilitarian look. A movable trolley, for instance, can be wheeled about the room. “It makes the space flexible and accommodating,” Swartz says.

The downside of a table is that the island aspect becomes less practical, since it usually won’t have storage or be at the best height for multiple tasks. The problem with a mobile design is that islands tend to get heavy with stuff piled atop them, and then aren’t easy to move, De Giulio says.

Lighting

The familiar style of three pendant lights above an island has become almost a cliché. De Giulio now favors more linear, longer fixtures in metal or metal and wood that match the scale of the island. “They appear to float above the space,” he says. Cox likes to balance quality task lighting with a “killer decorative fixture for a central focal point,” he says.

BONUS: Mix and Match?

White kitchens still rank number one in popularity, according to surveys from online design and remodeling source Houzz. However, introducing another color or material differentiates an island and adds punch.

Garson finds that more than half of his clients now want a different material or color for the island than what they use around the perimeter.

Sandya Dandamudi, president of Chicago-based GI Stone, a supplier, fabricator and installer of custom stone, sees the mix-and-match look exploding. “Several of our clients select quartz counters for the perimeter, which includes around the sink and cooktop, and opt for an exotic natural stone for the island and backsplashes. This is a great way to combine practical needs and aesthetic tastes,” she says.

Will this multicolor look remain in vogue? “Short of white or cream, what isn’t trendy?” Swartz asks. “Cabinets are fashion. Some elements go out of style every 10 to 15 years. People should choose wisely and best match the feel of their home’s architecture,” she says.

De Giulio advises that homeowners base color choices on what looks best to their eye. “It depends on a room’s whole artistry,” he says.

National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission