Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the kitchen became a more important space than ever before. From cooking and connecting to working and commiserating, homeowners spent more time and had more people in the kitchen. This creates an opportunity for builders to begin implementing things buyers now expect in their homes. Check out these five popular kitchen trends for 2021 and beyond to speak to the needs your buyers have and expect you to fulfill.
1. Touchless faucets and accessories
Between more dishes and more hand washing, touchless faucets are exploding in popularity. In fact, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) predicts that touchless and tap-touch faucets are likely to begin outpacing traditional lever faucets in popularity.
It’s little surprise why—they reduce the spread of germs and make hand washing easier. High-end models can even measure out appropriate amounts of water for dishes like pasta and rice.
Buyers expect more modernity and ease of use, especially in a brand-new home like yours. It’s crucial to consider touchless, durable faucets and other kitchen amenities.
2. More kitchen storage, like cupboards and pantries
If even bread making turned out to be something of a fad, homeowners still have many more items and foodstuffs they want to store. It makes sense, given how much we all stocked up and how few chances we had to dine out over the last year. But even as things open up again, the expectation for more storage will play a role in how you market your homes.
You may need to consider how you’ll appease the need for more storage. More pantry space and open floor plans are great places to start. You might also consider installing tasteful cupboards or hideable kitchen organizers to give buyers more space to store.
Given how the kitchen often turned into a work space, making it as easy and smooth as possible to access storage is crucial.
3. Lots of natural colors and light
Lockdowns, extreme winter weather, and good old-fashioned cabin fever have made the outdoors more popular than ever. This is a unique opportunity for builders because you can help buyers see the light—literally—in your homes.
Perhaps the most obvious way to do this is by designing homes that allow as much natural light in as possible. From bay windows to sunrooms, buyers will likely look for ways to invite the outdoors in as they consider your homes. While space as always been popular, especially with younger buyers, your ability to create seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces will be even more important going into the future.
Another, more granular way to create a sense of nature is in how you decorate the interior. From light earth-tone paints like greens and soft browns to lighter linen window dressings, there are several fairly inexpensive ways to bring the outdoors inside. Fortunately, natural colors have been trending since 2020, which means you’re likely already doing this. But if not, consider starting right away!
4. Open spaces that serve as a sanctuary and a quick work space
For many homeowners, the kitchen became a central room in their lives, whether they wanted it to be or not. The most obvious way the kitchen changed was that it turned into a sudden work space for many people. And yet, because homeowners spent so much more time trying to relax in the kitchen, it still needs to serve as a sanctuary.
One way to make the kitchen both a potential work space and sanctuary is through the use of open layouts and large islands. When we say large islands, we’re talking 24 square feet or larger. This provides an area for multiple people to work, cook, or recharge.
Speaking of recharging, another great way to meld the need for work and relaxation is with outlets that allow buyers to charge their phones. USB-friendly outlets have been popular for a while, but the need to constantly be online makes them less of a luxury and more of a necessity.
5. Durable, multifunctional appliances
Durable, multifunctional appliances—like refrigerators, ovens, and dishwashers—are hugely important nowadays. Between cooking more in general and wanting to cook healthier meals, homeowners are turning to appliances that make both easier.
That implies that proven high-quality brands are likely to speak to the needs of your buyers. As you outline the kitchen space, consider how you’ll speak to these appliance needs. Whether you provide the appliances or not, you may want to think about how buyers can comfortably include durable, multifunctional appliances in their kitchens regardless.
Partnering with 2-10 HBW can address these kitchen trends
These 2021 kitchen trends reveal what homeowners want and expect—comfort and convenience that doesn’t break their budget. Partnering with 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty (2-10 HBW) can help you fulfill those expectations.
First, there’s a large expectation among buyers for a structural warranty. 94% of prospective home buyers are more likely to purchase a new home from a builder that offers a structural warranty. Partnering with 2-10 HBW fulfills that expectation. It can also protect you and your clients against unexpected structural defects, which can cost between $42,000 and $113,000 per claim.
Second, over the last year, homeowners have used their appliances more, which had led to more breakdowns. 2-10 HBW offers Home Warranty Service Agreements that help mitigate the likelihood that a breakdown will create an unpleasant surprise for your buyers’ budgets and lifestyles. Even new can break down, and a home warranty can be a helpful solution.
Finally, when you cover your homes with 2-10 HBW, you get the third-party validation of partnering with the industry leader. That goes a long way in proving your value. Additionally, you give your buyers access to special programs from 2-10 HBW, such as our Appliance Discount Program, which can help your buyers protect their budgets in the long term.
When you cover your homes with a structural warranty from 2-10 HBW, you make life more predictable, less expensive, and more fulfilling for your homeowners. Start standing out and showing your buyers that you’re there to provide peace of mind. Because nothing’s trendier to homeowners than keeping their homes humming.
Learn how you can protect your business and add valuable selling points to your new builds with a 2-10 HBW structural warranty.
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