Presale renovation companies work with real estate professionals to improve a home’s looks in pursuit of turnkey properties that garner top-dollar at resale.

First impressions matter in any housing market—but all the more so now that home sales are cooling. So, presale renovations may become more commonplace as home buyers, who are already stretching their budgets, seek move-in-ready properties. More renovation companies are partnering with real estate professionals to offer this kind of help. The companies work with pros to decide what home updates are needed based on the return on investment, handle the design and renovation work, and offer financing options so homeowners don’t have to pay up front. Owners can use the proceeds from the sale of their property to pay for the remodeling work later on.

Presale renovations can make hard-to-sell properties more attractive to buyers and boost the final sales price. One case in point: A townhouse in Charlotte, N.C., had not a single cosmetic improvement since it was built in 1999. The home’s cabinets and flooring were outdated, the countertops and bathrooms had old-fashioned tile, most of the appliances and lighting fixtures no longer worked properly and the paint colors did not reflect current trends, says Will Allen, owner of Renovation Sells Charlotte, a home improvement company specializing in presale renovations.

“In the current real estate market, it is more important than ever to understand what buyers are looking for,” says Kathryn Heynen, a sales associate at Cottingham Chalk who was the listing agent for the townhome. “As a seller’s agent, I encourage my clients to get their home as market-ready as possible.”

Prior to the renovation, the three-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath townhouse was valued at $340,000. Renovation Sells recommended $64,000 in renovations. After the four-week project, the home was listed at $495,000—and in just two days, it sold for $570,000. That’s a 350% ROI on the renovations. “We’ve been in a killer market,” Allen admits. “But still, our design team’s vision is what truly made this listing take off. The design brought this listing even more attention.”

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A Hands-Off Renovation Process

Renovation Sells met with Heynen and her client during the planning phase to collect input to ensure that they made the most impactful design decisions for ROI while staying on budget. An in-house design team familiar with local trends presented proposed materials, colors and finishes. Once approved by the agent and seller, the firm completed the work.

The key cosmetic changes prioritized for the townhome centered in the kitchen and bathrooms, which, in general, tend to offer the highest ROI. These also were the most outdated features inside the home, Allen says. “Countertops, cabinet refinishing and backsplash truly made the biggest difference,” he adds. In the owner’s suite, the bathroom also got a refresh with new flooring, paint, lighting and fixtures.

Allen says his company most commonly recommends upgrades in paint, flooring, the kitchen, bathrooms, landscaping and exterior curb appeal because they tend to generate the biggest ROI.

Presale renovations could become even more important as the market cools, Allen says. “Coming out of a hot market like we’ve been having, agents and sellers are having to shift their expectations. What worked over the past few years—list a home as-is and having it sell the same day above asking price—just won’t cut it with higher interest rates and lower demand. Agents are now educating their sellers that in order to maximize their sales price, they need to make smart updates to get homes Instagram-worthy and move-in-ready.”

Allen, who has a construction management background and a real estate license, says cosmetic adjustments—big or small—can help generate higher final sales prices. “There’s nothing I love more than creating a vision for a property and transforming it into something truly beautiful,” Allen says. “Almost all of our business is working with REALTORS® and their clients, whether it’s to prepare a listing or make cosmetic changes before the client moves into their new home.”

Image by bidvine from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Green is in when it comes to design, especially amongst the younger buying pool, and staircase gardens provide a unique, aesthetically pleasing look for those who want a touch of nature.

Staircases serve an important function both in and out of homes, but their ability to add aesthetic value to a space often goes unrealized. As the desire to bring nature into the home has increased in recent years, homeowners have found a new purpose for these transitional features: staircase gardens. Evoking whimsy, staircases adorned with potted plants or trailing vines add a pop of vibrancy and life to an otherwise overlooked space.

According to Pinterest’s trending searches, interest in staircase gardens is on the rise. Gardening and interest in houseplants, especially by millennials, have both experienced a boom(link is external) during the pandemic as people have spent more time at home. All that time at home has also allowed people to look at spaces that don’t get used beyond their function, including staircases, but people are bringing them back into the fold using plants. “I think that they may be looking again at their spaces because they’ve been spending more time in their home environments,” says Mary Barensfeld, a Pittsburgh-based architect(link is external). “I think there’s something that draws people toward nature, whether that’s going for spending time outdoors or bringing nature into the home and working amongst nature.”

Adorning staircases with greenery does more than create a cool vibe. It also encourages passersby to momentarily pause and acknowledge the space around them. “Anytime you have a plant somewhere as you walk by, you’re checking on it, right? To see if it needs any water, there’s a new leaf there that you didn’t notice last week,” says Maryah Greene, a plant stylist and founder of Greene Piece(link is external). “I love to put plants in any space where mindfulness can be entered into the equation, and stairs are a great place to do that as you move throughout your day,” she says. “It’s just a moment to check in on your space.”

A staircase garden might sound daunting, but can easily be created with just a couple of plants. Here’s what to know if your clients want to add a staircase garden to their homes.

Look Under the Stairs

Sometimes staircases have leftover space underneath that is open but not quite usable for anything else. “It’s a perfect spot to fill with something that doesn’t have the knickknack-y vibe, but it’s a good place to put plants,” says Barensfeld. These spaces receive less natural light, so consider shade-loving plants, like snake plants or maidenhair ferns, and make sure the plants can be easily watered.

The type and number of plants used under stairs will depend on the size of the space. A single, tall plant might work well for a space that’s small but possesses a decent height. Likewise, in larger spaces, adding more than one plant—or even a mini-atrium of plants—adds a bold statement while still embodying a minimalist look. If the staircase is a focal point in the home, plants help dress it up.

Use a Trailing Plant

Greene advises homeowners to keep stairs as clear as possible—no one wants to trip on a plant. Using a trailing plant to wrap around the railing of the stairs leaves the staircase open while also creating a beautiful space. Picking just a couple of plants that are “super long and vine-y” creates the illusion of “having this lush jungle on your staircase, but it’s only a couple of plants that are just really long,” says Greene.

Plants that typically work best for this include philodendrons, golden pothos and mini monstera (rhaphidophora). To execute this, homeowners should place a plant at the top of the stairs and let it trail down, shaping the plant around the railing. They can also place one plant at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom and have them meet in the middle, which works if the plants are really long.

The best way to encourage length, Greene says, is to find the source of light. “If, on the bottom floor, you have a window, but on the top floor, it’s a bit darker up there, I recommend having that plant in the spot that’s the sunnier so that it can continue to grow, as opposed to having it at the top of the stairs, where there is no sunlight—that plant’s really going to struggle to grow downward,” she says.

Trailing plants work well for outdoor staircase gardens, too. For this locale, planting the vines in soil is key, advises Brandy Hall, founder of Shades of Green Permaculture(link is external). “They’re going to be less finicky because they have contact with the soil,” says Hall. “They’re going to get water, and they’re going to get nutrients. You don’t have to really think about them as much as you do with containers.” Plants like creeping figs are great to train against closed risers, while muscadines and evergreen clematis can work great with railings, depending on the conditions.

Keep Pot Size in Mind

As tempting as it may be for homeowners to arrange potted plants on their staircases, it’s important to remember to keep the steps as clear as possible. It can be done, though, if pot size is taken into consideration.

When plants come home from the plant shop, they should ideally be repotted into a container that’s an inch or two bigger than the nursery pot, says Greene. A pothos in a four-inch pot at the nursery, for example, should go into a six-inch pot at home. “You want to figure out the diameter of your steps and make sure that pot isn’t taking up way too much space on your stairs to prevent you from using those stairs,” says Greene. “Start smaller than you think, because plants grow, of course, and so as that plant continues to grow, you’re eventually going to pot it into something bigger every couple of years.”

Another cool way to use potted plants is to consider the WallyGrow(link is external) planter system, which allows users to create plant walls with various hanging planters. “Their main focus is allowing you to create a living wall, or a live plant hanging anywhere in your home. I’d definitely recommend those; they’re awesome, they make watering easy. If you have hardwood floors, you’re not ruining those,” says Greene. They can be arranged on the wall along a staircase, leaving the railings and stairs clear.

Get Colorful

While green houseplants work well for indoor staircases—and some do have flowers or colorful leaves—outside staircases are great spaces to introduce pops of color. Homeowners can carefully arrange potted annual flowers to create a lively space. “I really love using bunching grasses in outdoor containers, because they have a lot of seasonal interest and they overwinter really well, even though they don’t stay green year-round,” says Hall.

Bunching grasses like chasmanthium and river oats are especially great for this purpose. “They have really beautiful seed heads in the fall, and then they’ll stay golden during the winter and then come back to life in the spring,” says Hall.

With younger home buyers trending green and showing an uptick in interest in houseplants and gardening, staircase gardens are a great and relatively easy way to meet demand and bring the outdoors in or simply to dress up an underutilized space. They’re also a great tool for staging or helping your client set up their space once they’ve purchased a home.

Image by Suket Dedhia from Pixabay

©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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

More than 50 years after the federal ban on housing discrimination, upholding the law’s spirit remains a challenge. Here’s how to be a fair housing leader.

Sandra Butler refused to let it slide when a seller she represented made what felt like a discriminatory comment. The seller thought the buyers, who had foreign-sounding names, were trying to negotiate for too many repairs. “I know how these people are, and they always want something for nothing,” Butler recalls the seller saying.

Butler is African-American. So was her client. And she didn’t want the seller to “think this conversation could be had because we look alike,” she says. Instead of flatly admonishing her client, Butler turned the conversation to fair housing law. “I said, ‘I don’t know the buyers or what they look like. I just know they are ready, willing, and able to purchase, and it’s our duty under the law to make your property available to them,’” says Butler, a sales associate with Sibcy Cline, REALTORS®, in Cincinnati. The deal ultimately fell apart over negotiation terms, but Butler was satisfied that she’d made her client more aware of a seller’s responsibility to abide by the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits inequitable treatment in the sale, rental, and financing of homes based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and the presence of children.

Each April, REALTORS® celebrate Fair Housing Month to commemorate the law, which was passed in 1968 and amended in 1988. Yet more than 50 years after its passage, racial and religious tensions continue to dominate national conversations and stoke heated rhetoric in presidential politics. Is that tension having an effect on real estate sales? Apparently not. Housing discrimination is the exception today, according to a REALTOR® Magazine survey of National Association of REALTORS® members. Of the 2,300 respondents, more than 80% said they had not encountered housing discrimination in their market.

That’s great news. And yet, fair housing challenges remain. Violations—and government efforts to enforce the law—continue. Nearly 10% of respondents to the survey said they had encountered discrimination in their markets, 18% of those saying it happened within the past month or “earlier this year.”

Fair housing organizations receive about 25,000 to 30,000 complaints each year, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance, a coalition of privately run fair housing groups. Yet, testing suggests there are many more instances of discrimination—the NFHA estimates about 3.7 million annually. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has conducted thousands of tests in recent years, employing housing organizations to send testers out to view for-sale and rental properties as a means of determining whether landlords, lenders, agents, and others in the real estate community treat protected classes differently.

Cliff Long, CEO of the Birmingham Association of REALTORS® in Alabama, says discrimination in the rental process is the biggest issue in his market. When he was relocating to Birmingham three years ago, he experienced it firsthand. Long, who is African-American, says several landlords wanted him to produce financial records before they would show him rental units—a practice that fair housing groups say is often aimed at minorities only. Having just taken the top job at the association, Long decided not to file a complaint.

Nearly all respondents said if they encountered potential discriminatory language or actions, they’d likely address it the way Butler did—by engaging in some straight talk about the law with their client. Less than 3% of respondents to the survey said they’d file a complaint, and less than 1 percent said they’ve ever filed a fair housing complaint.

Putting Your Training to Work

As an NAR member, you’ve made a commitment to equal treatment—not just because it’s the law but as part of the REALTORS® Code of Ethics. NAR requires that members stay up to date on the Code, completing training at least every four years. In addition, states and localities often have their own fair housing laws, so state and local associations administer specific fair housing training for their members. Typically, licensees are required to take a two- or three-hour course every two to four years.

So there’s little doubt that when clients ask questions about quality of schools, local demographics, and neighborhood safety, you know to refer them to reliable information sources for answers rather than give your opinion. Resist the temptation to skirt the subject, says Mabel Guzman, CIPS, a sales associate at @properties in Chicago. You’re not teaching them anything by being coy. Be frank about why you can’t answer certain questions. Seize the opportunity to explain fair housing laws and why it would be illegal to offer your opinion.

Curiously, more than 30% of respondents to REALTOR® Magazine’s survey said they don’t talk about fair housing issues with buyers and sellers. Whether that’s because they don’t encounter discriminatory behavior or because they’re too uncomfortable to challenge that behavior is not clear. It can be tempting to overlook questions or statements from clients in order to avoid an awkward exchange that could affect your business relationship. Addressing such issues in a nonconfrontational way, with fair housing law as the framework, can help.

The Challenges Ahead

When you’re working with first-time buyers, particularly from new immigrant populations, you may need to actively educate your clients about fair housing law. Immigrants are an increasing target for discrimination in real estate, contends Lisa Rice, NFHA executive vice president, and many are unfamiliar with their rights under the law. “If no one is mean or disrespectful,” she says, “it’s not the first thing on your mind that maybe that house wasn’t made available to you because you were being discriminated against. Trained real estate practitioners can recognize discrimination and be part of how we bring awareness to the public.” The Alliance expects to see a rise in national origin–related cases in the coming years, Rice says.

As a Muslim woman living in the South, Firdaus Rahman, CRS, GRI, a sales associate at RE/MAX Partners in Mobile, Ala., admits she’s worried that Islamophobia—a hot-button issue in the 2016 presidential race—is becoming more acceptable and leads to unfair treatment. Rahman has been teaching fair housing and diversity courses through the Alabama Real Estate Commission since 2002, but the curriculum doesn’t go deeply into religion. She says the training needs an overhaul to reflect new issues surfacing in the field.

“You have to understand where people from different cultures are coming from,” Rahman says, adding that sensitivity to certain holidays and holy days is an important part of working with clients.

Also, because some cultures don’t participate in banking and savings in ways that are customary in the U.S., landlords, lenders, and real estate practitioners may have to educate their clients about U.S. customs or even adjust their expectations. “When immigration reform begins, we’re going to need a lot of education,” Long says. “You can bet fair housing is going to be front and center, and we’re going to be in a bad position if we’re not ready to tackle this issue. I’d like to play a proactive role rather than a reactive role.”

Brokers can take the lead on that front and establish relationships with local fair housing organizations to get a better look at the issues facing local markets. After the NFHA filed discrimination lawsuits against several brokerages nationwide in 2007, including one in the Detroit area, Michigan REALTORS® partnered with fair housing groups around the state to bring regulators and practitioners together. The association developed a program to allow brokers to be voluntarily tested by fair housing groups for informational purposes, hoping it would foster more collaboration on training in the industry. “Part of the testing was about demystifying our relationship with fair housing centers,” says Brian Westrin, the association’s director of legal affairs. “There was a lot of unknown there about whether brokers could reach out and bring fair housing centers into their office for education.”

Addressing the Affordability Barrier

One of the underlying goals of fair housing law has been ending segregated housing patterns in the United States, but census data show the law has fallen short. So last year, President Barack Obama announced a new rule requiring local governments that receive federal housing funds to report how they use those funds to foster more integrated communities.

Lack of affordable housing can perpetuate segregation when it prevents protected classes from moving up the housing ladder. It’s a problem facing cities across the country, but none more acutely than San Francisco, where the median price was $940,000 in the fourth quarter of 2015. That’s why REALTORS® there have banded together to come up with solutions to the growing affordability crisis.

The real estate industry in San Francisco relies heavily on all-cash buyers—many from Asia—which pushes up prices and leaves other groups at a disadvantage, says Eugene Pak, president of the San Francisco Association of REALTORS® and sales manager at Climb Real Estate. One of SFAR’s primary goals this year is to work with local officials on a program to fast-track the permitting process for residential developments that will deliver a certain percentage of affordable units. It currently takes eight to 15 years to build a large development because of the intense permitting process, Pak says. “We don’t only care about the needs of our millionaire clients,” he adds. “We believe in housing for all.”

The country has come a long way over the past half-century when racial steering and disparate lending practices were common. And REALTORS® are on the forefront. But in an increasingly diverse country—where taking the first step toward buying or even renting can be a daunting task—you have an opportunity to do more: Teach your neighbors about what fairness in the real estate transaction looks like and empower those who’ve faced prejudice to challenge unequal treatment. Are you making the most of your platform?

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Homeowners are spending a median of $9,000 on bathroom renovations, which is 13% higher than last year, a new study finds. These are their favorite trends.

Homeowners are spending more money to spruce up their bathrooms as the pandemic-fueled home renovation boom continues. The national median spend for bathroom renovations jumped nearly 13% year over year to $9,000, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study(link is external), a survey of more than 2,500 homeowners who are planning or recently completed a bathroom renovation.

“Bathrooms have always been a top room to renovate, and we’re seeing that homeowners—driven both by aesthetic desires and functional necessities—are doubling down on their investment in these private sanctuaries,” says Marine Sargsyan, a staff economist at Houzz, a home improvement website. “While the cost of products and materials has increased due to inflation and supply chain disruptions, renovation activity remains strong, propped up by high home equity and homeowners’ desire to stay put given limited housing supply.”

Homeowners who viewed their bathrooms as “outdated” were most likely to renovate them. The Houzz study uncovered some of the following trends in bathroom remodeling this year:

1. © Rachel Loewen – Houzz The statement vanity: More than three-quarters of homeowners surveyed upgraded their vanity cabinets during a bathroom renovation. “Homeowners are turning vanities into a focal point as one of the few areas of the bathroom to offer a splash of color,” the survey notes. Three in 10 homeowners chose wood or gray, followed by blue (14%), black (5%) and green (2%). Also, with vanity upgrades, engineered quartz was a top choice as a countertop material (40%), followed by natural stones like quartzite (19%), marble (18%) and granite (16%). As for door styles, shaker continues to dominate, followed by flat- and raised-panel doors. Bar pulls are the most popular vanity door handles.
2. Upgrading home systems: More homeowners are updating behind-the-scenes items in their bathroom remodel. For example, 59% of homeowners said they upgraded their ventilation system when renovating their bathroom; 14% upgraded to radiant heating; and 9% added a tankless water heater. “The increase in upgrades to home systems can add up to some of the highest costs but remains one of the most frequent enhancements to the bathroom this year,” the report notes.
3. All about the transitional: Nearly nine in 10 homeowners surveyed chose to change their bathroom’s style during a renovation. Transitional style has taken a significant lead, followed by modern and contemporary. Transitional styles offer a combination of traditional and modern elements, combining modern fixtures with antiques, for example.
4. White still dominates: White continues to be the most popular color for bathrooms across vanities, countertops and walls. Gray walls are popular both outside and inside the shower, but blue is also gaining traction. One in 10 homeowners selected blue walls outside the shower, the report notes. “Upgraded bathroom elements are gravitating towards solid colors, as multicolored countertops and shower walls have decreased in popularity among homeowners,” according to the Houzz report.
5. Showers remain a priority: When tackling bathroom renovations, homeowners continue to prioritize the shower as a focal point. Increasing the shower size is the second-most popular bathroom upgrade. For homeowners who remove the bathtub, nearly four in five opt to enlarge the shower, making it at least 25% bigger. More homeowners are relocating their showers after having a bathtub removed.
6. Greenery everywhere: More homeowners are adding greenery when renovating their bathrooms. “The overwhelming majority say it adds to the aesthetics of the room, while a smaller majority believe it creates a calming environment,” the report notes. “Practical benefits are also noted among renovating homeowners, including air purification, odor-fighting ability and antibacterial attributes.”
7. The high-tech commode: Nearly two in five homeowners also added high-tech features to their toilets. The report notes significant increases in bidets, self-cleaning elements, heated seats and built-in night lights.
    

Pricing a Bathroom Renovation

A recent study from House Method, a resource on housing providers, found that 71% of homeowners have built equity in their home through a home renovation over the last year. Bathrooms are one spot owners are targeting for some of the highest returns on investment, according to House Method’s report, Cost of a Bathroom Remodel in 2022(link is external). The study found that midrange bathroom remodeling projects have an average ROI rate of 70%, while upscale renovations fetch 60%.

Bathroom remodels can be costly, however. What should homeowners expect to pay? The following charts from House Method show the average costs of popular bathroom renovation projects.

Image by 5460160 from Pixabay

©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(link is external). 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.

Image by Ryan Doka from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

When moving in or remodeling, homeowners are wise to focus on the power of light to illuminate rooms, add decorative panache and color, pare energy consumption and improve safety.

Key Takeaways:

• Make lighting a priority rather than an afterthought in your renovation and redecorating plans.
• LED innovation has expanded considerably over the years, offering an affordable and energy efficient option for lighting.
• Add lighting in multiple layers for greatest functionality, aesthetics and mood making.

October is all about getting back to a routine and welcoming the crispness of fall. It sometimes serves as a reminder to dig into a home improvement project before winter sets in.

So much of the time, plans to decorate or fix up a home focus on big fun projects such as kitchens, bathrooms, paint palettes and furnishings. Other projects, like lighting, are often an afterthought.

“Lighting is often overlooked, yet it’s so important,” says Marina Case, principal designer at The Red Shutters in Hudson Valley, N.Y., and Martha’s Vineyard, Mass.

Choosing where to cut holes for recessed ceiling cans or install light switches in walls may seem ho-hum and boring, “but these decisions and others should be part of any plan because there’s so much new lighting technology to take advantage of,” Case says.

Technology isn’t the only reason to keep lighting at the forefront of design plans. Thoughtful light decisions made early on can both help save money and time and limit mistakes. For example, adding recessing cans to a ceiling after it’s been painted might require rewiring and repainting.

Getting Started

“Start thinking about your lighting design as early as you consider your overall vision for your home,” designer Avraham Mor, CEO of Chicago-area Morlights, advises. “Lighting has one of the most significant impacts on how your spaces come to life.”

Getting started might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not accustomed to thinking about lighting, but a little preparation and help from the experts will make a big difference.

Do Your Homework and Make a Plan

Like many industries, the lighting space has changed to accommodate new technology, energy needs, and styles. Do a bit of research on what’s available. Consider your design preferences and how far you want to move into the technology space when it comes to lighting. Remember to also consider how much natural light a space gets, Mor says.

For research, a simple Google search will produce a long list of resources. You can also opt for one of the American Lighting Association’s(link is external) publications. The association offers a downloadable “Lighting Planning Guide” and its Lighting magazine, says executive vice president Larry Lauck. All manner of topics are covered, from lighting for aging eyes to remote controls for fixtures. You’ll also learn a host of key terms like “lumens,” “baffles” and “watts.”

Learn About LEDs

Even though they’re not new, the buzzword in the industry is still LEDs. The light emitting diodes are responsible for many improvements, including energy efficiency. In today’s market, they come in a range of colors and can be programmable. In many cases, they can be controlled from an app on a phone or by voice command.

“LEDs have been around for years but became more popular in late 2009 to 2010, when they replaced compact fluorescents,” Lauck says, adding, “Each year, they’re more sophisticated and better quality.”

Among their pros:

• They consume less energy. In fact, they’re so energy-efficient that the Department of Energy(link is external) announced plans this past April to phase incandescent and halogen bulbs out of production and sale in the U.S. before a ban takes effect next year.
• They cost less. After initially emerging as a pricey option, many LEDs cost about $1.50, down from $80 apiece in 2008, says Nathan Kipnis, a Chicago and Boulder, Colo.–based architect and expert on sustainability.
• They last longer. Lauck says he used to replace a porch light monthly and now expects its LED replacement to last 10 years. Joseph A. Rey-Barreau, lighting designer and associate professor at the University of Kentucky, says LEDs typically last from 10,000 to 50,000 hours of light. For maximum longevity, he says, “don’t skimp on quality.”
• They’re smaller. Let’s face it: Sometimes lightbulbs are a bit of an eyesore. A ceiling with recessed cans can have apertures of one inch in diameter—versus the standard five or six inches from years back—so it minimizes the look of holes in a ceiling, Rey-Barreau says. They also come in narrow, less visible “ropes” for all sorts of architectural applications, Lauck says.

Visit a Retail Showroom

Nothing compares to viewing lighting options in person. If you’re uninterested in a big-box store, showrooms can be found on the ALA website(link is external) by ZIP code; some have a lighting lab, which demonstrates products in vignettes that simulate rooms.

Even if a homeowner can’t visit a lab, experts at most showrooms are trained to demonstrate options. They can help most if homeowners bring specifics, such as a floor plan or rough sketch of the room in question. It’s even better if the measurements and placement of doors, windows (since natural light affects how artificial light looks) and furniture are sketched in, says Shawn Carstensen of Wolberg Lighting Design & Electrical Supply in Kingston, N.Y.

“I’ll ask what the function of the room is, how they want it to look, and what type of light they may want to see—a wide beam or crisp focus,” he says.

Develop a Lighting Plan

With a pro on board, a homeowner can have a lighting plan drawn up. “It’s less expensive to work from a plan rather than piecemeal and have someone come back multiple times or have to correct mistakes,” Lauck says.

When preparing a plan, architect Nicole Semple, principal with Chicago-based Kuklinski + Rappe, says she and colleagues focus on using LEDs, automation, dimming, and mixing light layers for maximum effect.

Case includes lighting suggestions in her plans and elevation drawings and then has her contractor or electrician fine-tune them based on the fixtures and bulbs that will work best in each room.

A homeowner’s age and physical challenges may also come into play. “If they are getting older and have poorer eyesight, they may want different lighting to illuminate a path to a bathroom at night or into a kitchen to grab a glass of water,” Lauck says. Wheelchair users may want switches at 48 inches above a floor rather than at 52 inches.

And then there are other decisions such as the choice of fixtures, baffles, lenses, and housings (the protective covers for cans) and the number of switches.

Considerations for The Project

Once the learning and planning is complete, it’s time to get the project started. There are still a few considerations to make in order to ensure you create the look and ambiance you want.

Hire a Pro

Even if a homeowner opts not to work with a retail store’s lighting professional, hiring an expert is a good idea. Some specialists work independently and are members of the ALA or International Association of Lighting Designers.(link is external)

“Who a homeowner goes with often depends on the members of their home improvement or decorating team, their budget, and the lighting they want,” Case says.

An electrician is necessary as well, as most electricians will check if they need to upgrade an electrical panel for more light. They’re also knowledgeable about the National Electrical Code and local building codes.

A homeowner should ask upfront about charges. Some showrooms may provide a consultation for free or for a fee that’s refunded with merchandise bought, says Rey-Barreau. An independent designer may charge by the hour or by the project. Some interior designers and architects include lighting ideas in their services.

The Rule of Three

The best plans feature a mix of three layers of light that work together to make rooms function and look great, says Rey-Barreau. “Some rooms may have more layers to offer the chance for a more custom look,” he says.

• Overall or general lighting illuminates a room and helps it come alive. If the room lacks natural light, artificial light becomes more important.
• Task lighting illuminates where work is performed—a computer screen in a home office, a mirror in a bathroom, or at a kitchen countertop, Lauck says.
• Ambient creates a specific mood—bright and perky, soft and romantic, or fun and colorful.

Color and Intensity

Homeowners may think of wattage equivalents first when choosing lighting, but that term refers to the energy a bulb puts forth. The Kelvin scale measures the temperature of the light and is important since light colors aren’t all white, off-white, or yellow. They should be matched to function and mood.

“A standard incandescent might be 2850 K and have a warm yellow glow. If you want white light for a bathroom and applying make-up, you might go with 3500 K,” Lauck says. You also might want a crisp white to enhance a kitchen when selling, says Chicago salesperson Jennifer Ames of Engel & Volkers.

For other moods, you might desire a bluer light, from 4000 K to 6000 K, Lauck says. The good news is that you can find a LED for any color of the rainbow.

Play Up the Source

While LED bulbs have gotten smaller, the fixtures are playing a more decorative role. There are a plethora of sconces, pendants, chandeliers, ceiling-mounted fixtures, table and floor lamps, and ceiling fans with lighting built in. Most come in multiple styles, shapes, materials, colors, textures, sizes and prices.

Los Angeles designer Christopher Grubb of Arch-Interiors calls decorative lighting the jewelry of a room. In one kitchen, he designed the crystals of the two chandeliers to sparkle like diamonds.

When It’s All Said and Done

Even if you haven’t made lighting a priority, it’s not too late to add or change it. “It’s just harder and more costly to make changes as a project gets to later phases,” Grubb says—or after it’s done.

Bear in mind the goal of achieving balance with lighting. If too many lights are on at once, the light can wash out important design elements and distort colors, Mor says.

But if you don’t have enough, you can’t turn on more light. That’s why Rey-Barreau likes to go with more fixtures and then use dimmers to give homeowners control when they want less light.

Image by Jesse Bridgewater from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission

Sustainability is trending, especially among young buyers, and an aesthetically pleasing rain barrel offers cost savings and curb appeal.

Outfitting a house with a rain barrel does more than collect and conserve rainwater: It saves money, too. Well-placed rain barrels help cut utility costs by collecting free water for gardening, lawn watering or even washing the car. And homeowners are taking note.

“There has absolutely been an increase in the popularity of rain barrels in the last decade,” says Francesca Corra, a Los Angeles–based landscape designer(link is external). She says that drought and mandatory water restrictions have highlighted the need for water conservation in California.

A rain barrel might sound like a breeding ground for mosquitoes or a potential eyesore, but it’s surprisingly easy to maintain and to camouflage these cost-cutting green home features. Here’s what to know if your clients want to add a rain barrel or spruce up an existing rain barrel before a home resale.

Benefits of Rain Barrels

Interest in rain barrels is rising, but as with many green concepts, the learning curve is still vast. Real estate professionals have a unique advantage in educating clients who don’t know much about this affordable water conservation solution.

After all, says Corra, homeowners were once concerned that solar panels could detract from a home’s appeal. Now? Fifty-two percent(link is external) of American homeowners have already installed, or given serious thought to installing, solar panels.

Rain Barrels Conserve Water

“One of the most important things everyone should be looking at right now is ways to retain any rainwater that falls on our properties and not send it out into the street. Is one rain barrel the solution to our drought problem? No, it is not. However, it does help,” Corra says.

“I have easily saved at least 500 gallons of water so far this spring and summer,” says Laura Peet, a homeowner and gardener with two 50-gallon rain barrels on either side of her Charlottesville, Virginia, home. Though Virginia is far less prone to droughts than are desert regions in California or Arizona, Peet says the clay soil tends to dry out quickly.

Rain Barrels Keep Landscaping Lush

“Whatever amount [the rain barrel] keeps from going out into the street is water saved for the plants in the garden,” says Corra. “Trees, especially, will always need more water, and they are in danger right now as more and more people are turning off their irrigation.”

Peet uses rain barrel water to keep her raised vegetable gardens lush. Tracey Zeeck, a communications director(link is external) and homeowner outside Oklahoma City, also enjoys using her rain barrel as an accessible, above-ground water source for gardening.

“I think it’s fun to capture it and use it when you want to—free water!” Zeeck says, adding that her husband thinks the plants thrive more when watered with harvested rain versus chlorinated city water.

Rain Barrels Attract Eco-Conscious Buyers

There’s no denying that more and more clients care about going green.

Fifty-one percent of real estate professionals say their buyer clients are interested in sustainability, according to National Association of REALTORS® data. Twelve percent of homeowners cite green home features as a reason for purchasing their current home, and 10% consider “landscaping for energy conservation” to be “very important.”

Rain barrels can play a small but important role in sustainability and water conservation. Saving rainwater “creates an awareness that we are doing something to help our environment,” says Corra.

How to Prevent Problems With Rain Barrels

Conserving water is excellent, but homeowners also need to keep their rain barrels from becoming problematic. Breeding insects can quickly destroy the tranquility of a yard.

Here’s what experienced rain barrel owners suggest for maintenance.

• Drain water regularly. A rain barrel isn’t meant to hold water indefinitely, says Corra. “Identify areas with the most need—i.e., trees, vegetable gardens, potted plants—and let the water out within a few days of the rain,” she adds.
• Install a mesh screen on top. If a rain barrel does not arrive fitted with a fine mesh at the entry point, installing a screen or fine netting is vital to keep debris and mosquitoes out of the water.
• Carefully consider position and elevation. “During a strong storm, the barrels will overflow, and you don’t want a steady stream of water to run against the house,” Peet says. “I have them nestled in gravel to keep any water flow away from the house.”

Conservation Chic: Can Rain Barrels Boost Curb Appeal?

There’s no reason to be concerned about rain barrels ruining the look of a home, according to Peet and Zeeck. And when they’re carefully selected to match the architectural style or disappear into the landscaping, these reservoirs of free water might actually boost curb appeal.

“Water barrels come in many shapes and sizes,” says Peet. “The ones I’ve purchased look like bourbon barrels, and I think they add a nice charm to my Craftsman-style home.”

With an increase in demand comes an increase in options, so homeowners are likely to find a rain barrel that fits the aesthetic of their home. It might also act as a conversation starter among like-minded potential buyers. After all, anyone who buys that home can now clearly signal a commitment to green living—and a lower water bill to prove it.

Image by Heiner from Pixabay

©National Association of REALTORS®
Reprinted with permission