Builder Secrets

With a housing slowdown now upon us, builders need more than ever to differentiate their homes from the competition. And according to production builders from three markets across the country, the most effective places to do this are the kitchen and bath.

"It's all about the finish and attention to detail," says Pegi Miller, director of design for the Plaskoff Design Group, a builder in Tarzana, Calif. "Simple things like scribing the molding to the ceiling, or finishing off the ends of cabinets with an end panel, offer a neater presentation to prospective buyers."

Miller says that while craftsmanship overall is lacking in many new homes, buyers still look for it, and not just at the high end. "Even an [inexpensive] Ikea cabinet, finished well, looks good," Miller says, adding that unique hardware on stock cabinets goes a long way toward saying "quality."

To keep their small details fresh, Taylor Morley's design team hits the road. "The team travels across the country looking for new design treatments for our homes," Haegele says. St. Louis is a relatively conservative market, but avante garde or contemporary ideas still prove useful, although Haegele and her team have to adapt them to work with the company's more conventional home styles.

Commonwealth Homes in Vienna, Va., made this kitchen memorable with the use of simple trim pieces and bright colors

Sharon Smith, kitchen and bath designer for Vienna, Va.-based Commonwealth Homes, also sees kitchen cabinets as an opportunity to create powerful memory points. "We combine stock cabinets with custom cabinets to get the look we want and to save money," she says. For bolder statements, Smith has used blue-green stained doors on kitchen cabinets. The buyer has the option of switching the doors if they don't like the color.

One inexpensive way to add a splash of color is to use standard tile and cut in pieces of iridescent tile or mosaics. "Medallions behind the range, with a tile backsplash and patterns and mosaic designs, are a focal point for people," says Miller. She also notes that builders can easily add memory points like recessed shelves built into the tile behind the range for spice storage.

Bathrooms, too, are full of opportunities for builders to show quality and thoughtfulness. Glass tile, for instance. "In one bath, we used a basic 65—cent tile and used clear glass tile to accent it," Haegle says. She also suggests using more contemporary faucet styles in both the kitchen and bath.
 
In fact, these three experts agree there are many places where builders can make big statements for relatively small change.  Anything unique — whether it is painted cabinets, recycled glass tile, or a sleekly contemporary shower faucet — will resonate with potential buyers and move them closer to a sale.