What’s Hot: Trends in the Pipeline for 2018

Housing trends in 2018 center around integrating technology and creating healthy and connected living environments. Building materials, systems, and products that speak to these concerns are expected to generate greater buzz in the coming year. And with more generations living under the same roof, home-related features that provide an extra pair of hands or calming—even spiritual—influence are also being embraced.

Here’s a sampling of coming trends that are important to understand and share with clients.

The Rise of the Tech Guru

Why now: Smart homes are getting smarter, with homeowners increasingly purchasing devices and apps that perform tasks such as opening blinds, operating sprinkler systems, and telling Alexa what food to order. But not all these helpers speak the same language, nor do they always work together harmoniously. “Even plugs and chargers aren’t necessarily universal for different appliances and phones,” says Lisa Cini, senior living designer and author of The Future is Here: Senior Living Reimagined. Also, with more devices competing for airtime, Wi-Fi systems may not be strong enough to operate throughout a home.

What you should do: Add a home technology source to your list of trusted experts. You might even be able to offer a free first visit as a closing gift.

Smart Glass Adds Privacy, Energy Savings

Why now: As more homes feature bigger and more numerous windows, homeowners will look for ways to pare down the energy costs, lack of privacy, and harmful ultraviolet rays that can accompany them. Next year, glass company Kinestral Technologies will begin offering a residential option to their line of windows and skylights. Called Halio, the technology allows users to tint glazing electronically up to 99.9 percent opacity. The company claims this can eliminate the need for blinds, shades, and curtains. “You’ll be able to tell Alexa to tint your windows, which will also provide privacy,” says Craig Henricksen, vice president of product and marketing for Halio. Homeowners can control the tint by voice command through an app, manual operation with switch, or with preset controls. Henricksen says Halio can save homeowners on their energy bill, and that while the initial cost is around five to six times greater than similar low-E glass, it also means it will be unnecessary to purchase traditional window treatments. 

What you should do: If buyers are unsure about big, long runs of windows in a listing, this could offer an option. It may make sense to price out options for your particular listing to help home shoppers understand how much it might cost to retrofit the space with such technology.

Spiritual Gardens That Lift the Soul

Why now: Homeowners have long seen their gardens as a place for quiet reflection, so choosing plants and designs that have a physical tie to spirituality is a natural next move. The trend may have started with Bible gardens, which use any number of the more than 100 plants mentioned in the Christian text to populate a restful repose. “Many are good choices because they are hardy, scented, edible, and can withstand harsh climates and environments,” says F. Nigel Hepper, author of Illustrative Encyclopedia of Biblical Plants. But people of all faiths, or even those simply drawn to botanical history, can appreciate such spaces. “Around for generations, they feed the body and the soul,” says landscape designer Michael Glassman, who designed such a garden in the shape of a Jewish star as a meditative spot at one of Touro University’s campuses. He filled it with mint, pomegranate trees, sage, and other plants that are mentioned in ancient religious texts. Hepper says labeling and providing detailed context to plantings can transform a miscellaneous, obscure collection into an instructive experience.

What you should do: Find out if there’s a peace garden in your that could provide examples. Hospitals and assistance care facilities often create healing gardens for patients and family members.

Kitchens That Do More Than Just Look Pretty

Why now: An emphasis on eating fresh, healthy foods may change the architecture of our kitchens. Portland–based designer Robin Rigby Fisher says many of her higher-end clients want a refrigerator-only column to store their fresh foods, installing a freezer or freezer drawer in a separate pantry or auxiliary kitchen. The container-gardening industry is vying for counter space with compact growing kits that often feature self-watering capabilities and grow lights. Requests are increasing for steam ovens that cook and reheat foods without stripping them of key nutrients (with a $4,000 price tag, and a steeper learning curve than conventional ones). Homeowners also want to be able to use their kitchen comfortably, which means having different or variable counter heights that work for each member of the family, ample light for safe prepping, easy-to-clean countertops, and flooring that’s softer underfoot, such as cork.

What you should do: Be able to point out the beneficial elements of appliances and features in your listing, such as the antimicrobial nature of surfaces like quartzite and copper.

Home Robots to the Rescue

Why now: Robots that can perform multiple services are gaining in popularity. IRobot’s Braava robots mop and vacuum floors, while Heykuri’s Kuri robot captures short videos of key life moments, including pets’ antics when owners are away. Some robots offer health benefits that mimic real pets, which the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says can lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Hasbro’s Joy for All line of furry robot dogs and cats can provide companionship for the elderly with dementia.

What you should do: Ask buyers about pain points in their current homes that might be mitigated by these new interactive technologies.

Black Is the New Gray

Why now: Black is coming on strong in every category—appliances, plumbing fixtures, lighting, metal finishes, hardware, and soft goods. One designer calls it “a welcome accent for any palette.” For homeowners who prefer to step lightly into the trend, Chicago designer Jessica Lagrange suggests painting a door black.

What you should do: Suggest black accents as an option for sellers looking to update their homes to appear more modern.

Air Locks Preserve Energy, Increase Security

Why now: Incorporating two airtight doors has become a popular way for homeowners to cut energy costs. The double barrier helps keep outside air from entering the main portion of the house and provides a better envelope seal. It also supports the trend of more people shopping online, giving delivery services a place to leave packages. Homeowners will need a minimum area of five feet squared to make this work, and costs vary but it could run homeowners as much as $10,000 to add a small space beyond a front or back door in existing homes.

What you should do: If homeowners are thinking about making changes to their main entryway, be sure to alert them to this trend so they can decide if it makes sense to incorporate it. It may be expensive, but it’s not likely to go out of fashion anytime soon.

Maximized Side Yards

Why now: As a national trend toward smaller lot sizes combines with surging interest in maximizing outdoor space, one area that’s often neglected is the side yard. But designers are beginning to pay attention, for instance creating a pleasant pass-through to a backyard, with meandering walkways flanked by ornamental grasses or plants, a small recirculating water feature or a tiny sitting area.

What you should do: Pay special attention to side yards when evaluating a home. Sellers don’t need to spend much to make this space stand out.

Battery Backup Systems Offer Resilience

Why now: Any home owner who’s experienced a weather-related disaster understands the peace of mind that comes from having systems in place to help withstand Mother Nature’s worst punches.  The backup batteries can store either electricity from the grid or renewable energy generated onsite by solar panels or other means. A key advantage is that the system doesn’t create the noise and pollution you get with an old-school generator. While generally more expensive than traditional fossil fuel systems, prices continue to drop.

What you should do: Understand the difference between a battery backup system and a typical generator. 

Missing Middle Housing

Why now: Berkeley architect Daniel Parolek says that because 30 percent of home buyers are single, but “90 percent of available housing is designed for families and located in single-family home neighborhoods,” builders must fill in this demand with smaller housing of 600 to 1,200 square feet, usually constructed in styles such as duplexes and cottages communities, and preferably in walkable areas. He cites Holmes Homes’ small townhouses at Daybreak in South Jordan, Utah, as an affordable transit-oriented development that follows missing middle principles.

What you should do: Know where existing “missing middle” housing may be hiding in your area, so you can help buyers of all ages seeking smaller homes. Also, look for opportunities to invest, either for yourself or your clients, in a type of housing that will likely see more demand than supply in the coming years.

Source: Realtormag