What's your "must have"?

Clients are always asking what's in right now; should they keep or eliminate a bathtub?; can they safely turn their formal living room into a billiard room?; what about opening a wall to allow more access to the back yard?...

Although it's fairly easy to answer what we've seen happening in the industry, the more important thing is what is YOUR "must have"? Homeowners are increasingly personalizing their spaces, figuring to stay in their current home much longer than we have been in the recent past.

I recently ran across an article in Professional Builder magazine about buyer trends titled "50 Must Haves For Today's Buyers" by Katy Tomasulo http://www.probuilder.com/50-features-homebuyers-want-most. It's a good barometer from builders all over the country. A few of the highlights include:

Open Floor Plans

Transitional Styled Design

Large Kitchen Islands

Quartz Countertops

Custom showers