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A walk-in closet in the master bedroom is the most likely features builders will include in new single family homes this year, according to an annual survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Low-e windows and laundry rooms were tied as the second-most likely feature.
At the other end of the spectrum, builders listed cork flooring for living areas on the main level as the least likely feature to be included in the typical new home they will build this year.
NAHB said experience, region, trends, target audience, and other factors play a role in a decision that directly affects builders’ bottom line. Builders were asked to rate the most likely and least likely features using a 5-point scale, with 5 meaning very likely.
The walk-in closet in the master bedroom garnered the top score at 4.9.
The survey showed several features were clustered together as likely to be included, with all earning scores of 4.6 or 4.7. The list included efficient lighting, a great room, central island in the kitchen, programmable thermostat, 9-foot+ ceiling on the first floor, and ENERGY STAR appliances.
Kitchens are likely to have a central island, a walk-in pantry, and granite countertops.
Builders who took part in the survey said they were not likely to include geothermal heat pumps, solar systems, and dual toilets in the master bath. Other unlikely features are laminate countertops in the kitchen, pet washing stations, outdoor kitchens and fireplaces, and specialty rooms like a sunroom or media room.
NAHB is a federation of more than 700 state and local associations. About one-third of its 140,000 members are home builders and remodelers. The other two-thirds are in closely related specialties such as sales and marketing, housing finance, and manufacturing and supplying building materials.