Designing for Livability not Resale
Designing and building a new home is a huge investment of your time and money. With this in mind, clients often make their design decisions based on the likelihood and viability of selling the house with questions like: ‘Would other people like this?’, ‘Would this suit another family?’.
While considering these questions during the design process is valuable, you don’t necessarily want them to lead your decision making. Basing your decisions on what someone else might like versus what you know will suit you and the way you live will only undermine the design outcome.
To get the best out of a design, it is important to remain committed to your intentions - be clear about your brief, your objectives, and your budget – and it will show in the end result.
Designing a home that you will love and designing a home that you can sell are not mutually exclusive tasks. A house that responds to the site, takes advantage of natural amenities, is functional and adaptable with quality finishes and a cohesive aesthetic will be more enjoyable to live in and ultimately, easier to sell. We’ve outlined four key considerations to make in the design process to maximise liveability, and in turn, enhance its resale potential.
DESIGN FUNDAMENTALS
A design that responds to your site is the first and most important investment you can make. Orienting the house to take advantage of sunlight and breezes will mean less energy is used over time – it’s where energy efficiency starts. Thermal massing and considering the placement of openings will contribute significantly to the comfort of your home. Catching light in the mornings, maintaining heat during winter and capturing breezes during the summer will minimise the need for artificial light, heating and cooling. If or when the event of selling arises, and prospective buyers know they could save financially in the long run, it could significantly increase the appeal of your house over another.
ADAPTABILITY + UNIVERSAL PLANNING PRINCIPLES
Not everyone shares the same priorities when designing a home. Various elements will hold different weights between different owners. Over time, even your own priorities might shift. Acknowledging that not everyone can be pleased at once, it is important to embrace the core principles of good residential design:
Logical planning with rooms zoned to collect the private and shared spaces together
Multiple living areas to benefit from different times of day or to provide separate spaces for gathering
A good connection to an outdoor space that is positioned to take advantage of the natural elements mentioned above. A seamless connection between inside and outside is a highly coveted feature in homes, particularly in Queensland
Clear and sensical circulation or ‘flow’ through the house
It’s likely the needs of your home will change over a lifetime. To gain longevity in your design, ask yourself in the early stages of the design process: ‘Is it likely that the house will be extended in the future?’, ‘How might our use of the space change over time, as we grow up and grow older?’ Things to consider:
Plan a clear route for extension, where feasible
Embrace flexibility - sliding doors in place of walls, for example
Avoid ‘single-use’ rooms like theatres and embrace the idea of flexible, multi-purpose spaces with the ability to transform and serve a multitude of uses
You will reap the benefits of an adaptable house, but this adaptability will also appeal to a prospective new owner.
INVEST IN QUALITY CRAFTSMANSHIP + MATERIALS
Fashion can be fickle. It is in your best interest to select materials that are timeless and avoid following trends. Being ‘on trend’ runs the risk of your style being everywhere, and over time, out-dated.
Investing in quality craftsmanship and good quality materials upfront will mean less money is spent on maintenance or on ‘refreshing’ your home in the event of selling. The house will be a more enjoyable place for you to live in and will hold its value over time.