After a year of intense change and quick adaptation, Housing Design Matters suggests altering business models and sales strategies in 2022 to accommodate a new normal in the home building industry. To assist the entry-level market as prices continue to rise, builders can develop an affordable line of houses or offer single-family homes for sale and for rent.
A rise in land cost could make infill lots more attractive to builders in the coming year, and higher lumber prices could also serve as a catalyst for innovation in the construction industry. Some companies have implemented 3-D printing for home construction, and others are testing out new materials and designs. More than ever before, homeowners are prioritizing technology, whether powering electric cars in the garage or preparing for long-term power outages during extreme weather emergencies.
Those in Texas and other Hurricane-prone areas know what it is like to be days or weeks without power and fear that relying exclusively on one energy source is putting all your eggs in one basket. It’s bad enough to be without power for your home, but if you can’t charge your car, does that make you trapped? I like the idea of installing back-up generators for houses in the event of a long-term power outage.
These are the things that keep me up at night – and I’m sure there are many other changes coming that I can’t even imagine. But I am trying my best to be ready and not be frozen by fear or indecision. While some stability would be welcome, we can only play with the cards we are dealt. The home building industry has shown that it is nimbler than we would have thought five years ago.
