Designing Single-Family Residences: A Study of the Positive Impact of Interior Design in Creating New Home Value

Authors

Shawn M. Falcone, University of Nebraska-LincolnFollow

Date of this Version

8-2019

Citation

Falcone, Shawn. (2019). Designing Single-Family Residences: A Study of the Positive Impact of Interior Design in Creating New Home Value. University of Nebraska, p. 1-164.

Comments

A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Science, Major: Architecture, Under the Supervision of Professor Lindsey Bahe. Lincoln, Nebraska: August 2019

Copyright 2019 Shawn Falcone

Abstract

This study seeks to demonstrate that interior designers should be included as primary stakeholders in the home construction market. The market demand for new single-family homes in America is a relative constant. The primary stake and role that land developers, architects, draftsman, home builders, bankers, appraisers, real estate agents, and buyers have in the home construction market is clear. What is less clear is the role in value an interior designer has in the home construction market. This thesis examines the impact designers have on home value when their expertise is utilized in space planning (i.e.: layout, function, room utilization, furniture space plan) and finish selection (i.e.: appliances, cabinetry, flooring, and light fixtures, etc.). The data contained herein measures twelve homes in two sites (over a six-year period) in Nebraska using a comparative market analysis (CMA), a method used by real estate agents to estimate home value based on recorded sales price figures of similar homes in the same area, and site observation. This midwestern location is in a central position in the U.S., where home values are steadier. Three of the six homes in each site involved a designer, while three did not. The data found that designer homes exhibited an average total price per finished square foot of $54.67 above the non-designer homes. The descriptive statistics in this study suggest that a link between interior design and home value exists, hence the need for this research.

Advisor: Lindsey Bahe