Will Your Ceiling Height 'Raise the Roof' When Selling Your Luxury Home?

When it comes to selling luxury property in Boca Raton, one thing is certain, homes with taller ceilings tend to be highly sought after. The newest developments are offering ceilings up to 18-feet+ with their latest construction. Since the average ceiling is 96" from the floor, builders are asking for more money for this type of architecture. In this blog we explain why people with higher ceilings and windows are getting top dollar when selling their luxury properties.

Cathedral ceilings aren't necessarily a new concept by any stretch of the measuring tape. However, if your home is constructed with such a room or better yet, several rooms that offer raised ceiling, you may find the home is worth more. Cathedral ceilings are also described as vaulted ceilings. These structures tend to have sturdy supports that are often visible. They seem to give a property an Aspen or rustic appeal. The character of the home is wide open, spacious and airy. Visit a home that has an 8' ceiling, then walks into a vaulted ceiling and you get instant gratification, you're in a home with grandeur style. The space offers a wide open appeal, that you just don't get from property with standard ceilings.

Why are the developers asking for more money for these types of designs? The developers are looking at the cubic feet and not the square footage, causing an increase in their services. As price per square-feet usually declines as condo floor space increases the home's value can become quite a quandary. Nonetheless, the developers are getting the money because buyers tend to be willing to up their prices for units with 11-feet or more. According to many of the developers, they're charging between 5-10% more to build these taller ceilings.

Although homes with 10' ceilings are enough for most, properties that offer a foyer that opens to a living space seem more welcoming. Not every room needs to have a raised roof, but when it does the psychology behind a buyer's perception causes interest.

Dozens of the realtors are reporting their clients are requesting vaulted ceilings regardless of cost. Not only does it make a room appear larger, it opens the floor-plan, creating a desirability factor with our more elite communities.

Because vaulted ceilings are more of a custom feature for home construction, people have a tendency to pay more for a property. On the other hand, when the home is appraised, you really need to consider if the inspector is comparing "apples to apples". Just because the home might have a tall ceiling doesn't always make them worth more.

If a property's layout isn't practical or just downright terrible, the perceived value may not be there. This will result with a client not wanting to pay the premium, just to have lengthy walls over the standard of 8-9'. The appraiser will look at a realistic comparison when it comes to analyzing the home's value. Remember that buyers tend to look at the total package.

If you're considering on hiring a contractor to raise your roof before selling, ask your real estate professional. Their advice might take you in another direction before diving in with the wrecking crew. Structural issues could pose a problem and things like that need to be addressed first. You really need the help of a structural engineer to ensure safety. In most cases, the contractor will suggest gable roofs on smaller homes to be the best candidates for this type of renovation.

*In an article found online, Proremodeler included information from the American Institute of Architects, who conducted a survey in 2005. They made a point, 51% of the residential homes designed included a raised ceiling. A decade later the construction of raising ceilings continues to be requested.

**In another article found on www.FastCoDesign.com they claim the appeal of having vaulted ceilings is a personal preference of space. They stated, there's a psychological sense of freedom. Perhaps that's part of the reason our buyers in the luxury markets are more apt to looking for properties with 9-feet or taller construction. Based on what the many opinions are it all boils down to a matter of desire and not for any other reason.

A large portion of people migrating here from big cities such as New York and Chicago, seem to lean toward this type of space. Perhaps the mega-wealthy from these cities seek a difference, compared to the way they live in the urban areas. These residents may have found that large-scale lateral square footage is harder to find in the North or Midwest. Perhaps city buyers are moving to a place like Southern Florida, because they're seeking flagship developments offering what was too hard to find in the city? They tend to lean more toward trophy properties that can give them, the convenience they're looking for. Therefore, homes built with higher volume great rooms, dining rooms and foyers are more desirable. The best part is there's no need for renovation.

Just as people are seeking luxuriously tall ceilings, they're also considering windows with picturesque views. Properties constructed with these elegant supersized windows help to induce the feeling of outdoors. They help reveal surroundings such as city and landscapes. No matter if you're on the ocean or waterways of the Intracoastal, these taller windows overlooking land below are super- popular.

Everything appears to have more space when your home is boasting such views with extravagant luminosity. All in all, natural light is far more appealing than anything created by LED's or some other man made light source. These tend to be a big selling point for many of our buyers. Reason being, these window treatments tend to be more aesthetically pleasing. Who doesn't want an unobstructed panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean?

Regardless of the ceiling or windows, your home's value could be worth more by having these niceties. This is what can be expected in most of the luxury townhomes, condominiums or estates in the area. The illusion of space and a grand appearance will surely be appreciated. Making this one of the best bargaining points on today's Real Estate footprint.