Trending Home Amenities

      

Energy efficiency and smart homes are just two trends that should grow in the housing market over the next couple of years.
See below article from the Daily Real Estate News.

Home Amenities Likely to Grow in Demand

DAILY REAL ESTATE NEWS | THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2015

Certain amenities that home buyers now consider “nice-to-have” may soon move into the “must-have” category in the coming years. Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate on its Clean Slate blog post recently featured a three amenities that are likely to grow in demand among home shoppers, including:

• Energy efficiency: Home owners are spending more of their income on utility bills and that likely will motivate them to want to find homes with more energy efficient, cost-effective appliances. Energy Star-qualified appliances are on the rise. The appliances use 10 to 50 percent less energy than their older counterparts. Also gaining popularity are smarter appliances, including dishwashers with sensors that can determine the appropriate cycle length and water temperature as well as washers that can extract more water from laundry during the spin cycle so the dryer has less drying to do. (Read: More Builders Say Energy Efficiency Is Priority)
• Stainless steel alternatives: Stainless steel appliances have long dominated but home owners have long had a love-hate relationship with them. They are known as being difficult to keep clean. White ice and slate are increasingly growing as options to stainless steel. Slate is being touted as an easy choice to blend in with other black, white, or stainless steel finishes. It can resist fingerprints and washes easily too. (Read: More Attempts to Dethrone Stainless Steel’s Popularity)
• Smart homes: More homes are expected to be controlled via a smart phone or tablet in the coming years. Appliances and home systems can be turned on, off, or programmed via mobile devices. Smart refrigerators are emerging that have built-in apps that can even create grocery shopping lists and smart ovens can be remotely controlled to start dinner or check on the status of what’s cooking. Surveys are showing that more home owners are desiring the ability to control and monitor their appliances from anywhere. (Read more: 10 Products Making Homes Smarter)

Source: “Consumer Trends Shaping the Future of Home Amenities,” Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Clean Slate blog (Oct. 15, 2015)