New Home Building Trends for 2018

A construction worker with a contractor license is working on a wooden roof.

Taking advantage of the market for new construction requires a working knowledge of the latest trends in homes. From efficient construction practices to outdoor kitchens, there is a huge variety of styles that the modern builders and buyers are eager to employ. Be sure to brush up on these concepts now, because you just might be building them later.

Construction Resiliency

Fires, floods, and earthquakes are all things that California residents have to manage from time to time. How long it takes them to bounce back from serious damage to their homes and commercial buildings depends, in part, on the resiliency of those structures. Late in 2017, the United States Green Building Council said that it would adopt a resilient construction standard called “RELi.” This standard focuses on adaptive design, access to communication and emergency supplies, and overall sustainability.

Smart Home Automation

Smart devices and systems continue to permeate the market for new construction and existing homes alike. Common smart home automation features include:

The problem is that retrofitting these systems into a different setup (even in a brand-new home) may require at least a minor overhaul. This upgrade, made after the fact, could be invasive to the structure of the house. As a result, many buyers of new homes are requesting these features be built into new construction from the outset, so they can use it from the time they move in.

Energy Efficiency

The efficiency of the home can seriously affect its comfort and the cost of upkeep. Efficient home features are rising in popularity, particularly as buyers and builders become more cognizant of the effects construction plays on the country’s carbon footprint. Innovations in energy-efficient building emphasize resource efficiency, sustainable construction techniques, and decreased energy consumption. For example, builders are discovering ways to minimize their use of cement, which has a high carbon footprint in its manufacture and transport. In the home structure and appliances, efficient windows and Energy Star systems continue to rank high for buyer expectations.

Open Concepts

The small, boxy rooms of the past are still fading, as the preference for the open concept great room and living spaces take precedence. People want to have a seamless flow from one area to another, with ease of transition from kitchen to dining room and living room. The open floorplan is such a desirable feature in homes and has been for several years. Owners of older homes that lack this design are also showing greater interest in remodeling their homes out of the “each room for its own purpose” style. Current techniques in construction, such as the use of laminated veneer lumber, make it possible to avoid building a wall (or keeping one standing) where a beam will do the job.

Outdoor Living

Maximizing every inch of space in lot sizes that keep getting smaller means that outdoor living is becoming a very important part of the new home dynamic. People are realizing that the idea of an outdoor entertaining space or even an outdoor kitchen is no longer limited to the luxury home market. Interest in creating a viable outdoor space that homeowners can use as an extension of their living space continues to grow. This approach allows people to consider buying homes with a smaller square footage, without compromising on their ability to effectively use all of it. The trend also puts a special emphasis on landscaping contractors and contractors in related fields who can mix outdoor and indoor in an ideal way.

Some of the new home building trends for 2018 are new, while others simply reinforce ideals that have been accumulating in popularity for several years. Staying on top of all the trends in construction and buyer preferences helps you to know what your customers want, and how you can best deliver it to them. To start your rewarding career as a contractor, contact us at CSLS today!