The @properties Development Group Advantage: Livability
Buyers have long considered the livability of their future home, balancing commute distance and lawn maintenance with access to transportation and landing in the best school district. At @properties Development Group (@DG), we recontextualized this concept for the physical structure of a home by viewing livability as a key concern during the pre-planning process. David Tufts, @properties Development Group Partner, breaks it down for us.
“Livability considers how someone lives at the address,” explains Tufts. “How can the floor plan support their daily routine? It demonstrates that the home has been thoughtfully designed with the buyer in mind. This practice is crucial, because no one else is advocating for the consumer.” The concept of livability can be applied to all aspects of a new development, from deciding where to place the elevator core to selecting the most appropriate retail tenant.
Livability is informed by multiple factors such as location and target demographics. For example, in areas where driving is the primary mode of transportation, creating accessible drop off and pick up areas should be a priority. Similarly, heated pavers are a thoughtful touch in places that experience cold winters. Lifestyles can’t be ignored, either. With green living on the rise, it’s important to consider how residents store recycling and compost before it’s collected, as well as what type of building materials these customers prefer.
The pandemic also illuminated new areas of concern regarding livability as people spend more time at home working, cooking and simply, living. Utility is key in the kitchen, says Tufts. “Often, a kitchen looks good on paper, but the design doesn’t translate to functionality. Can people reach the top shelf in the cabinets? Is the dishwasher placed to the left or the right of the sink?” Direct venting is also recommended to mitigate cooking smells throughout the building. And with more consumers opting to have their essentials delivered, developers must now provide an effective solution for handling and storing packages. Tufts imagines a potential cold storage room for food deliveries or designing a dedicated service core.
This thoughtful attention to detail can make or break a sale, asserts Tufts. “We carefully assess each floor plan for livability. For instance, when you enter a home, how long does it take to reach the wow factor?” It all depends on who the building appeals to — and @DG’s wealth of experience ensures that no buyer is forgotten. For condos, allocating space and budget to a well-designed dog park is a must, explains Tufts. “Dogs are the children of condominium owners. To not look out for these children is a big mistake.”
Prioritizing livability can help avoid costly mistakes down the road and drive success, says Tufts. “An essential part of selling real estate is falling in love — how do you get a buyer to fall in love with a home? By considering the livability of a building, you’re laying the foundation for a developer to succeed.”