Michigan housing experts outline popular spring home improvements

Ah, spring.

Baseball, flower festivals, golfing and boating.

But, wait. For many, spring is peak season for buying a home or heavy-duty upgrades to where they already live.

Spring, for many, means taking action on that wish list of new properties or home improvements to prepare a house for better living or resale.

Either way, there are decisions to be made and steps to be taken. It pays to know the trends for what’s hot, what’s not and what might work best for you.

From outdoor living to energy efficiency and popular colors, prospective home buyers face a long list of decisions.

Here’s some advice from those in the know.

Many turn to Matt DeLapp, general manager of Singh Homes, based in West Bloomfield.

Founded in 1973, Singh is a nationally ranked developer and builder of subdivisions, apartment communities and commercial properties. The company’s portfolio of residential developments includes communities in Novi, Canton and South Lyon, as well as developments in North Carolina and across the Atlantic Coast.

DeLapp’s activities provide a first-hand view of buyer wants

and needs and the trends in building and home remodeling.

Among the most popular are:

Outdoor living

“Living in Michigan means enduring some harsh winters,” DeLapp said, noting that buyers increasingly value well-designed outdoor living space for those warmer months. Built-in grills, kitchen space and accessible space are keys.

DeLapp’s emphasis on outdoor living areas is backed by Nathan Boji, associate broker and vice-president of ReMax Classic real estate, based in Farmington Hills.

“We’re seeing some elaborate outdoor spaces,” said Boji, adding that home buyers value “three-season space” featuring covered patios and porches, a kitchen and retractable screening. An outdoor gas line is growing in popularity, eliminating the hassles that go with propane tanks.

For home sellers, DeLapp recommends outdoor lighting improvements that include landscape lighting for sidewalks and driveways.

“A lot of cool solutions are available without having to be hardwired,” he said. Among those options: solar-powered lights.

Energy efficiency

More buyers are looking for long-term ways to cut future energy costs, DeLapp said. The shopping list of cost-cutting features in new homes and upgrades is growing and includes window replacements to combat heat loss, improved thermostats to better regulate temperatures and bills, electric car chargers, solar panels and tankless water heaters.

“Many are finding that up-front costs pay off in the long run in lower monthly bills,” DeLapp said.

Boji also said smart-home features are growing in popularity, including improved thermostats and smart doorbells that add security and convenience.

Colors

While neutral and white colors remain, but other colors — strategically placed — are gaining popularity, DeLapp said.

Black doors. Greens and blues and grays for walls.

In a report last year, House Beautiful cited a Zillow Research study that determined “rich, memorable colors” are in increasing demand and, when well-presented, add value to home prices.

The company’s paint color analysis reported that buyers paid $2,512 more on average when kitchens are painted in a moody gray hue and $1,755 when the color is used in a living room.

Living space

With the aging of America, it’s a given that the market is strong for ranch homes and single-story homes.

Inside that space, trends are emerging, including some shaped by our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic and practices that kept many at home and increased the work-from-home experience.

DeLapp said open floor plans are on many wish lists, as well as “multifunctional space” such as rooms that can be used as a bar, an office or a second kitchen. So, too, are “pocket offices,” he said, where a computer can be set up for work or for students of all ages.

Boji added that buyers also are citing a need for multiple-use space that can be utilized as a play room, a game room or a place for a Murphy bed to accommodate visits by “mom and dad or the kids.”

Boji said multiple-use space for home workouts and mini-spas is high on many lists.

In addition, Boji said buyers and homeowners making upgrades are keen on drawers that pull out, built-in pantries and efficient cabinet space.

Other interior design features gaining popularity, DeLapp said, include wider door frames and more accessible showers and stylish, higher-end fixtures. “A lot of cool after-market parts can be added without ripping apart the walls,” he said.

Add to that, he said, are bathroom enhancements that include “frameless” European shower doors that provide a spa-like look.

Kitchen

Boji said luxury kitchens have become a must-have for increasing numbers of buyers. Features they seek include “a kitchen inside a kitchen” to provide less-elaborate space for simple preparations; a “super pantry” to make storage more accessible; luxury countertops with higher-end quartz and porcelain, large islands and stainless materials.