What’s In – What’s Out with Homebuyers in 2006

In Gilroy and the surrounding area, here’s a sampling of what we think are In, No Longer In and Almost Out:

What’s In

• Granite. Slab is the best, tile is seen as a downgrade, but better than ceramic tile.
• Marble floors. Entries, bathrooms, formal living rooms and dining rooms.
• Stainless steel. Appliances and sinks.
• Built-in refrigerators. Hot brands include Sub Zero and Viking. “Appliance Suites” are all the same brand of appliances in the kitchen, including refrigerator, range, dishwasher, compactor, microwave.
• White/very light carpet.
• Requiring shoes to be taken off at the front door. (It's in, but we - personally - hate this requirement!)
• Bamboo wood floors. It could overtake maple as the favorite light-colored wood flooring in 2006.
• "Wired" homes. DSL. wi-fi, surround sound in every room.
• Big, bedroom-size master bathrooms. Large tubs with jets, separate large shower.
• Big, bedroom-size walk-in closets, with closet furniture/organizers, sometimes with an island drawer cabinet.
• High Ceilings. Cathedral or 10- or 12-feet replaces 7- or 8-feet high in all rooms.
• Wine “features” including wine refrigerators with zoned cooling, wine rooms/cellars with sealed doors and temperature & humidity controls, wine racks.
• Negative space pools.
• Ranch or one-level homes. Baby-boomers are discovering their utility in droves.
• Carbon Monoxide detectors. Home inspectors red flag homes that have only smoke detectors. Inexpensive and lifesaving, install one on every floor of a home before opening to homebuyers.

What’s No Longer In

• The real estate bubble. It’s a correction with a slowing of movement, but very little decline in prices.
• Single-rod closets. Buyers want the most storage in the least amount of space. Organizers accomplish this.
• Ceramic tile, whether in the kitchen or bathroom.
• Wet bars.
• Dark rooms with small windows. Natural light can overrule a lot of other problems in a home.
• Wallpaper. Take it down (carefully) and paint.
• Narrow staircases.
• Mirrored backsplashes in kitchens and everywhere else
• Gas grills that need their own tank. Buyers prefer the gas piped from the house so they don’t have to replace tanks.
• Dropped ceilings. It might have updated a bungalow in the 1950s, but today buyers want as much vertical space as possible.
• Draperies.
• Flipping. Inventory of unsold homes is increasing, signaling weakening demand by all buyers. If you are holding properties to flip, prepare to hold onto them until inventory is reduced. Consider renting them out until market heats up.
• Smoking. Especially not inside the house.

What’s Almost Out

• Laminate flooring that looks like hardwood. Not only can buyers tell it’s not wood, the noise it makes is often the deal killer during property showings.
• Kidney-shaped pools.
• Huge lots. Vast expanses of manicured lawn.
• Low and average height ceilings.
• Mini blinds.