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A Return to Authenticity

By Rick Jarvis

Craftsman homes can be found throughout RVa in many of the early 20th century neighborhoods.

As a company, One South met with a successful home builder in Richmond Va. (Lloyd Poe of Lifestyle Builders and Developers) to discuss the new normal for housing and what 2012 and beyond should bring.  It was fascinating to hear the give and take between those who sold and those who built.

Lloyd raised an interesting point about the marketplace and the resulting movement. “As Americans, we feel under attack,” he said. “Collectively, all of us feel under attack and have for the last several years. Our bank account, our stock portfolios, our home values, our jobs, everything….is threatened at a level that we haven’t felt in 20+ years. It makes us uncomfortable and it makes us nervous.” He continued, “When people feel uneasy or uncertain, they tend to seek things that are solid and sure. We seek things that are authentic.”

What a great observation.

As a homebuilder, the period from 2000-2007 was based on building homes that were flashy and trendy with all of the bells and whistles that no one truly NEEDED, but everyone WANTED. Homes were sold with every imaginable upgrade on lots that were expensive and small. Quality was trumped by quantity and what was outside the walls mattered more than what was inside them.

Craftsman influences can be found in this new home in Chesterfield by Ray A Williams.

2008 fundamentally changed the buying public.

Things that feel ‘authentic’ to us are usually things that are in our past and remind of times that were simpler and somehow better. Home designs that are based on simplicity and quality are back in vogue. The ‘Craftsman-Styled’ homes of the 1930-1940’s are re-emerging in popularity. Bungalows and ‘Four-Squares’ of the same era are also becoming increasingly popular as they also represent a very authentic period in America’s history.  Hallsley, Oak Park and RounTrey subdivisions have specifically attempted to create homes that are more Craftsman than what was built prior to the crash.

These authentic plans with traditional elevations are also being built with a higher level of materials than what was deemed ‘acceptable’ during the bubble period ending in 2007. Vinyl is being pushed to the side and stronger exterior materials are being used. Larger windows, true wood flooring and better trim packages are also becoming the norm. The standard ‘builder-grade’ appliance package is another place where the public has demanded more. “Professional Series’ is the new standard.

Additionally, responsible building practices (EarthCraft/LEED) are quickly becoming both better understood and increasingly demanded by the buyers. For reasons that are economic (lower utility bills and increased builder education) or socially responsible (low VOC paints and responsibly harvested woods), the buyers (and sometimes even the appraisers) are recognizing that a small investment in GREEN practices pays off in a justifiable time frame. As GREEN building moves from ‘expense’ to ‘investment,’ it will become more and more prevalent.

Building sustainable homes with simple and timeless designs is a good thing and it is too bad we had to endure 2008-2010 to figure this out.


Other Articles on New Home Design

  • What Does the Lot Offer?
  • The Popular Plans
  • Green is no longer 'Elective'
  • Aging in Place
  • The Dreaded Change Order
  • Look at Models

Other Articles on New Home Materials

  • What is a Single Hung Window versus a Double Hung?
  • What Does 'Stick Built' Mean and Why Does it Matter?

Related Posts

Filed Under: Design, Insider Perspective, Materials Tagged With: Design, Materials

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I am Kendall C. Kendall, Client Care Coordinator for the team. I am a licensed Realtor and it is my job to answer questions and schedule showings for the properties shown on our sites. Here's our call policy.

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Sarah Jarvis, Founder One South Realty

Working With Buyers

I love new homes...always have. In my 20+ years in real estate, I feel lucky to have seen nearly every aspect of the building business close up. From design and permitting to development and finance, I have been involved in every facet of the new construction process. If you are considering building a new home, don’t go it alone. Spend a moment on our blogs to understand the depth of our knowledge about Richmond's new home market.
sarah@richmondvamls.net

Some of Our Thoughts

Lot Pricing in the Metro

By Rick Jarvis

For anyone who is an investor or Realtor, 2008 to 2010 has been hard. Property values have plummeted. The buying marketplace was somewhere between skittish and petrified. Lenders panicked. Every deal was difficult. But I have more than one time thanked my lucky stars that I was not a home builder. From the period of […]

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