Why should you care what milenials want in their home?
With 37% of all homes sales in 2018 to millennials it is worth your while to understand what they are looking for. As of 2019, at 73 million they are the largest group out numbering baby boomers. Though many struggled to get a footing after college the older members of the group are now having children and looking to buy homes. Their numbers as home owners is only going to grow over the coming years so it is worth your effort to become well versed in what they are looking for.
Most millennials are looking for move in ready homes they can work with to make their own. If the home is clean and not outdated that fits the bill. Here are some of the priortities to keep in mind when considering the millennial buyer.
Easy to maintain outdoor space
Earlier generations took pride in having a well manicured lawn with wide expanses for grass and neatly trimmed shrubs. Today’s busy millennial buyers prefer to cultivate indoor plants and the convenience of an outdoor space that's easy to maintain. They prefer to have landscaping beds for growing vegetables, potted gardens for a deck or patio and other green filled areas that loo
nice, are easy to maintain, and can be set up for quality time with pets.
Table space kitchens and area for bar stools
Formal meals in the dining room with fancy china and silver are things of the past. Younger buyers tend to consider that dedicated room a waste of space.
Young buyers enjoy cooking and eating in or near the kitchen. Table space kitchens are much more appealing than separate formal dining areas.
When it comes to gathering for a meal, millennials appreciate the laid-back simplicity of space with a breakfast nook or counters with bar stools.
Open spaces
Many older homes have closed off rooms dedicated to specific uses like dining rooms, formal living rooms etc. The younger buyers seek multifunctional rooms, with wide-open spaces, combining the kitchens with islands that open to the living space. They also want a room or area set aside to be used as an office or quiet space but mainly they want the house to flow.
Minimalists
Along the lines of open spaces millennials don’t want to clutter their space with things. Millennials aren’t defined by their possessions—and they definitely don’t want to showcase them in a room
Millennials are different than previous generations in wanting to keep, collect, and show off their stuff. This is one reason they don’t want many of the things their parents want to pass on to them. They are more interested in experiences then possessions and they live a digital existence. Built ins and huge storage spaces aren’t necessary. It is better to have those spaces functional living space.
Bare floors
If you are considering replacing carpet consider replacing it with bare floors. The exception to this may be the bedrooms. Milennials prefer a bare floor, whether is wood, engineered hardwood, laminate or ceramic where they can use statement rugs to carpet. If you're considering sprucing up your home before you sell, think twice before spending money on installing new carpets. Millennials are moving away from carpeting in favor of bare floors with statement rugs.
Another reason to stick with noncarpeted flooring is that it's more pet-friendly—and millennials love their pets. Carpeting can absorb and retain odors, stains, and hair, and pet cleanup is easier on a hardwood floor.