Closing the Homeowner Satisfaction Gap

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.

“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.