What You Can Expect in 2022 as a Builder/Remodeler
The State of the Area for Builders/Remodelers/Design Firms
The housing market is still incredibly unbalanced in Columbus, OH. There just aren’t enough homes for sale to meet the demand.
Columbus is in the Top 25 housing markets for investors. This leads to a competition with single family buyers, making the market even tighter. Builders have seen the demand for new homes and the push to get homes built, partly because of the lack of available existing homes. As reported in a recent Business Journal article, with information from Realtor.com, “2022 is shaping up to be nearly as competitive, but with perhaps slightly more inventory and slightly higher mortgage rates.”
Home prices are expected to remain higher than normal and with more people entering the home buying market, it’s a push for builders to get new homes built. And with supply chain issues continuing, being able to complete the build within the timeframe clients want is continuing to be a difficult challenge.
As a design firm, we have received increased requests for not only designing new homes, but remodeling homes as well. As a remodeler, this continues to be great news for you! And with some of the existing homes purchased needing renovations, we have had many inquiries for design work and qualified remodelers to execute those plans.
Supply Issues
Lumber prices seem to have leveled out and have begun to drop. Prospective home buyers are realizing this and are reaching out to builders now—are you seeing an uptick in inquiries? But as we know, other costs are still high, affecting our bottom line. Other materials are back ordered, sitting on a ship somewhere, or not able to keep up with demand. Despite these supply chain issues, people are still continuing to start projects here in Columbus and the surrounding communities. Not being able to find existing homes, needing homes with dual offices, bigger kitchens, entertainment space, and more are driving them to build new homes.
RDS Provides You & Your Clients Our Expertise
Seeing new clients soon after they call for their first consultation has made our designers incredibly busy. As we work with these clients, we discuss the fact that you, the builders and remodelers, are at least 6-8 weeks (or more) out before they ever have a first meeting with you. One of our roles, when designing and remodeling homes, is to be the liaison between you and the client, especially at the beginning stages. If we can be as effective as possible in creating the design, working within the budget, and prepping the clients for what is to come, we know that makes everyone’s job easier.
2022 Design Trends
As a builder or remodeler, you saw the changes created by the pandemic in home design. What’s trending now that we expect to see continue through 2022? We asked our designers to share what they have been asked for most.
Kitchens that are modern and can multitask—meals prepared and eaten, homework completed, family time, entertaining and more have always occurred in the kitchen, but the design of the kitchen has evolved to include the ability to multitask, and we don’t see that changing anytime soon!
A bathroom is more than a room with a bath—there’s nothing like spending a year at home to realize the bathroom can be a sanctuary. Our designers have seen an uptick in the creation of a bathroom that is more than just a shower or bath. It’s a place to relax, recharge, and spend time alone.
Open floor plans are making a change—while open floors plans are one of the most requested design styles, we are also seeing a return to spaces that have specific purposes, with partial walls or artfully arranged furniture. We are seeing a desire for many rooms in the home to have a specific purpose, whether it’s a living room used for entertaining, a bar room, or playrooms/homework areas.
Exterior spaces are forever changed—and for the better. Outdoor living areas, sunrooms, patios, and porches are everywhere. We have found we like being home and need outdoor space to prolong the ability to be outside and be protected from the elements.
We Are Your Partner
As your design partner, we are here to guide your clients or help you in the creation of a new home or a remodel. Our attention to detail will be evident in our designs. What we genuinely believe is that our ability to listen and visualize your dream sets us apart from the rest. Helping you and your clients dream big, but work within the budget, is the cornerstone of our beliefs. It’s important to have a reality check and know what to prioritize within the budget.
We know what we are doing, and we do it well. The Columbus home building/remodeling market is strong and busy, and we work with some of the best in the industry. This blog shares who we’ve worked with in 2021, and we’ve had a great relationship with a lot of these individuals/companies for many years.
Call us today and see what we can do for you in 2022. Don’t forget to check out our website and social media frequently to see what we’re up to and learn how we can collaborate and be your partner!