By MIKE BONTS
REAL ESTATE WIRE
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A recent national survey by the Demand Institute focuses on what new homeowner’s want in their “ideal” home.
REAL ESTATE WIRE
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A recent national survey by the Demand Institute focuses on what new homeowner’s want in their “ideal” home.
“There’s
the ideal home. Then there are the homes in which we actually live,” said Donna
Sadowski, vice president of sales and marketing for St. Augustine based
Generation Homes. “Our No. 1 priority as a personal, custom builder is to
bridge the housing satisfaction gap and create the ideal home for each owner.”
The
following are some of the major housing desires noted in the survey:
Energy Efficiency
Perhaps
because the desire to save money on rising energy costs is so universal, energy
efficiency has the highest satisfaction gap in the report with 71 percent of
respondents saying they thought a home’s energy efficiency was important.
Generation
Homes energy-efficient Shades of Green® program allows homebuyers to choose the
level of green built into their home.
The goal is to save homeowners money on monthly utility bills by
engineered construction such as the open cell spray foam insulation under the
roof.
One
feature of sustainable design is passive heating and cooling, which reduces
energy costs. To avoid destructive grading, homes are built with stem walls or
crawl spaces.
“The
increase in the cost of energy has become increasingly burdensome on
households,” and there’s accompanying awareness and concern about the
environment, said Cora Johnston, president of Generation Homes.
Average
household spending on home electricity has grown 56 percent since 2000,
according to the report.
Updated Kitchens and
Finishes
Sixty-two
percent said an updated kitchen with modern appliances and fixtures is
important.
“Some
homeowners just have a difficult time visualizing their finished kitchen, which
is why material selection can prove so challenging. We work with homeowners to create
their kitchen and finishes based on their ideas and needs,” said Generation
Homes’ custom team designer Kim Guerra.
Using
effective and proven construction techniques Generation Homes has earned a
well-deserved reputation for finish, style and sustainability.
This
feature may be more important than in past years, as people report cooking and
eating at home more now, compared with five years ago, according to the report.
More Space and Age in
Place Features
The
GrowHome® is designed and engineered by Generation Homes for easy expansion and
alteration, enabling it to change as the owners’ needs change.
“Renovations
and additions have always been a part of owning a home,” Johnston said. “The
plan for growth and change is engineered into the home’s design, making it
simple and cost effective to grow the home when the family needs it to grow.”
The
space is fully integrated with the original house, and the façade and roofline
will remain cohesive reducing the cost if the home needs to be expanded.
Generation
Homes understands that people have a lot of stuff, and they need ample space
for it. Nearly half of households have two or more refrigerators or freezers,
and 48 percent have three or more TVs.
Fifty-five
percent of survey respondents said they think a home with a lot of storage space
is important.
Between
now and 2020, the number of households headed by a person 65 and older is
expected to grow 10 times faster than other households, according to the
report. No surprise then that 76 percent of participants said that it’s
important to live in a home that they can stay in as they get older.
Affordability and Good
Investment
Eighty-one
percent of those surveyed said that it’s important that a home’s cost fits in
their budget, without requiring sacrifices.
“We
create homes that reflect needs, tastes, personality and lifestyle within a
budget. We take time to explore ideas and develop a unique design around the
homeowner’s budget,” noted Sadowski.
Generation
Homes is known for working closely with the homeowner throughout the budgeting,
buying, construction and move in experience.
Sixty-five
percent said that they think it’s important a home be a good long-term
investment.
Generation
Homes is an investment in fine, custom coastal living that is not only
personally rewarding, but financially. The aim is for every Generation Homes to
instantly appreciate in value from the day it is completed.
“Despite
the dramatic drop in home prices between 2007 and 2012, Americans still
overwhelmingly think that home ownership is an excellent investment,” Johnston
said.
More
than 10,000 households participated in a survey about their current homes and
their ideal ones. The Demand Institute is a non-profit organization run by the
Conference Board and Nielsen.
Generation
Homes is building in Ponte Vedra Beach, Vilano Beach, St. Augustine Beach, Sea
Grove, Anastasia Dunes, Sea Colony. Marsh Creek, Whispering Oaks and on various
lots in St. Johns and Flagler Beach, Beach Haven, Oceanside in Palm Coast, in
historic Beauclerc in Jacksonville as well as on private lots in Northeast
Florida
For
more information call Donna Sadowski at (904) 955-4769 or visit www.generationhomesusa.com to download a copy
of the new survey.