Redefining ROI in Homebuilding: How Wellness Features Deliver Long-Term Benefits
With almost 40 years in Real Estate sales and 25 years in Building, I have seen many different opinions on what people see value in. It can range from counter tops, flooring, appliances, lighting & plumbing fixtures, fireplaces, smart home technologies, HVAC equipment, windows, solar, etc. Some items contribute to sustainable design by reducing costs and improving comfort, but most barely move the needle in the home’s value. However, the value was there for them regardless. . Yet some items like water filtration, intelligent air management, insulation, and smart home features like smart lighting are not valued as consistently as many finishes and fixtures. Even though these contribute to energy-efficient homes by lowering energy costs while improving health and comfort for the occupant Is there an unappreciated value of a healthy environment? Recognizing that this is very personal for most, it fascinates me that with the growth in awareness of organics, grassfed meats, supplements, healthy lifestyles and the increasing interest in Bio hacking for longevity that this is slow to translate in the perceived value of these features in homes. Is it that many are unaware of their availability or assume these features are out of reach financially? Or simply find value in what connects with them personally like finishes and fixtures? I will ponder a few different concepts.
With this venture I will explore another measure that I recognize as ROW (Return on Wellness)
Let’s explore this in three categories; Improved Health outcomes, Stress Reduction and Better Sleep & Productivity.
1. Improved Health Outcomes
Improved Health Outcomes, would encompass cleaner air, filtered water and homegrown produce can lead to fewer illness and overall better health, reducing health care needs.
We spend approximately 30% of our time indoors, and ensuring healthy living spaces is crucial as indoor air quality is often worse than outdoor air There are many options now for various air filtration methods and equipment as well as intelligent air management systems. We utilize the ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) from Broan and their Virtuo intelligent air monitoring system to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. A system like Broan, doesn’t require technical knowledge or programming, once set up, it runs and monitors the indoor environment on its own. Plus it only requires regular maintenance much like a standard unit. Shouldn’t the air you breathe in your home be better than the air outside?
Filtered water: If most people visited EWG’s website and entered their zip code into the public water database that EWG maintains, I think this would be a requirement for every consumer. What is allowed in our public water systems is shocking. Not to mention, the over the counter filters like Britta, don’t address the really bad stuff. Requesting that a builder, at a minimum, rough in for a filtration system—either whole-house or reverse osmosis—makes integrating eco-friendly systems and water purification solutions much easier. The market for these units is consistently growing and now there are many brands and models to choose from. We now plumb for both reverse osmosis at the kitchen sink and a loop for a whole house system which makes it very easy if a homeowner doesn’t want to add now, they can add at any time in the future without any invasive installation needed.
Homegrown Produce: the ability to know where and how your produce was grown in today’s world is not only a healthy way to live, but provides peace of mind in every bite. Unless you know the farmer, it is impossible to know how it was raised, was it sprayed with anything, was it grown as nature intended it, etc. These are very simple to prepare for in a new home. All that is needed is a small water supply, like a refrigerator valve, and a power plug. These grow stations can fit in a large pantry, large closet or even a storage space like under stairs. They don’t need light since they produce their own.
2. Stress Reduction
Stress Reductions, would encompass: smart home automation and personalized comfort features (lighting, temperature, etc) that enhance mental well-being and relaxation. Ultimately having systems programmed to run on their own and allow the homeowner to focus on living comfortably.
Smart Lighting. This technology has come a long way since the systems that needed expensive hardware and wiring to need no hardware and the technology is in the bulb itself. What used to cost 10’s of thousands of dollars to set up a home can now be done for a few thousand dollars. Not to mention this isn’t just turning on and off lights or dimming them to set programs. Now these smart home features adjust lighting temperature to align with your circadian rhythm, promoting better sleep and overall well-being. Matching your body’s own circadian rhythm has many health benefits including preparing your body for a restful night’s sleep. We have recently introduced Jasco’s SmartCycle system which we feel will make smart lighting more approachable and practical for homeowners.
Smart thermostats are very common nowadays and are well recognized and appreciated by most homeowners. Programming these with a full home automation system allows a homeowner to manage every system in the home whether independently or as a whole home system.
3. Better Sleep and Productivity
Better sleep and productivity. Really encompasses both smart lighting and smart air management. Both of these systems are proven to improve the quality of a homeowners sleep and productivity. Which is why we make accommodations for these systems in our homes as part of our Health and Wellness measures. Their value to the homeowner far outweighs the cost of the product or labor.
Whether or not any of these features would increase the monetary value of a home, I feel that these do create value in the sense that if we recognize that a healthy indoor environment could reduce our health care visits which translate to costs and an improved living standard, though difficult to monetize, there is value realized.
This is important to my family and the homeowners living in our homes. I hope for the well-being of all people greater value will be appreciated on the ROW.
If you’re interested in learning more about how a wellness-centric home can enhance your health, comfort, and overall well-being, visit our website for more information or contact us for a complimentary consultation on how we can help you create a home that prioritizes wellness.
