Architecturally Speaking by Chris Yeo
CREATING VALUE IN HOMES
Materials Matter When we think about our Home Value, we always refer to its location and floor area. But what we don’t think about is its Psychic Value, the value of how much we cherish our homes and the value we place on a property when we resell it. But how do we gauge this ‘premium’ for a home, as no two people will ever cherish the same space the same? It is helpful then to set some ground rules on how to determine this psychic value. Remember, there are plenty of properties in the same location with similar floor areas, but with different price tags. Our aim is to create an environment that enhances both psychic and monetary value of the space.
Materials to Create Value First, we have to determine what sets your home apart from the rest. When we talk about materials, the choice, size and design of each material would affect the perception of how much we pay for the space. For example, a living room with 1ft and 2ft size ceramic tiles would give a different perception of the space. Larger-sized tiles tend to be associated with a higher perceived value, while 1ft-sized tiles are typically a lower-grade option. While the price difference between the two selections is minimal, the change of tile size creates a higher psychic value for the home. The next item to consider is the pattern on the ceramic tiles. With today’s technology, ceramic can feature an array of patterns and finish, ranging from terracotta to timber to marble effect tiles. For
main living spaces, the use of a marble effect tile creates a sense of a higher quality finish compared to a monotone ceramic tile finish. Similarly, the tiling pattern also affects our perception of the space, e.g. in bathrooms, a staggered tiling layout breaks up the monotony of the space.
Bathrooms Count Believe it or not, bathrooms tend to form a major decision in the valuation of the home. For most willing buyers,
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the less work required on the bathroom, the quicker the time it would take to move in. So a minimal investment to enhance the bathrooms could lead to further returns at the end of the day. Second, the choice of the material texture will also
affect the comfort level of the space. For example, when comparing a natural timber floor to a laminate flooring system, visually we may not notice the difference, but the tactile nature of both elements reminds us of the difference of a higher or lower grade material choice. Similarly with carpets, the difference between wool and nylon and the difference in weight and padding thickness all affects our perception of the comfort level. It is this vital comfort level that affects how we
appreciate a space, which then translates to how much people are willing to pay for such spaces. So when we think about how materials can affect the value of a house, consider how simple material selections can have a huge impact in the overall perception and value of the home.
Your choice of floor treatments can impact the perception of space in a room.
Clumsy Transitions In this example above, the contrast of the two material choices is overwhelming as there is no seamless transition between the two areas, which then creates a conflict between the two spaces. So while both materials may be of high quality, the use is counterproductive in this case. In such a scenario, the use of a softer tone element such as carpets or neutral white oak timber flooring would have worked better in creating a flow between the two
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