In the world of luxury real estate, great curb appeal is just one of many buyer requirements. Builders of today’s luxury homes are tasked with making works of art that also cater to future homeowners’ lifestyles.
3620 Ranchero
Here are some qualities I urge high-end property buyers to focus on.:
Unobstructed views and light. An interior that is open to the outdoors and lets in lots of natural light improves your mood—and resale value. That openness is usually more important than outdoor space. Do you look at a park, a river, a bridge or a skyline? Are these views protected? Understanding the surrounding air rights and zoning allowances of neighboring buildings will give you a pretty good handle on your risks.
703 Kessler Woods Trail
Ceiling height. The higher the better, up to about 14 feet (after that you’ll be getting diminishing marginal returns). Instead of looking at square footage, consider cubic footage.
Architectural uniqueness. I’m not entirely convinced diamonds are forever. But good architecture retains value. Do some research on the who’s who of architects and go for one with a good track record and beautiful, yet practical design. While it’s obvious how the building is perceived today, consider how it will be looked upon in a few decades. If you’re no visionary, at least look for “good bones”—a solid foundation, unusual details, high-grade materials and an artistic component.
9629 Preston Road
Practical layout. Give yourself some room to live. If you own a luxurious apartment, you probably have a lot of friends. So maintaining clear separation between your social and private areas can be most rewarding. After all, you don’t want guests traipsing through your bedroom to use the bath. Eat-in kitchens are nice.
Windows. They’re a primary source of heat and cooling loss. They should be double-paned and heavily insulated to protect against weather and noise. And unless your building is responsible for replacement, your condo or co-op board will probably not allow you to install your own.
Storage. Can we live without lots of closets and a copious additional storage room in the basement? Fortunately you are not limited by your potential home’s existing closet square footage. A custom closet company like California Closets can usually create whatever you desire in a storage space. But make sure your new home has some functional area available for that conversion.
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