Door Industry Journal - Summer 2018

We all appreciate that added value and differentiation are essential but what could a good quality door add to your build? Here is a list that I hope you all agree is worth considering: As a developer: • If you are investing in quality, you are investing in peace of mind for your buyer and yourself • Showing your buyers that you care with better door Security and therefore ‘the buyers safety’ is a real added bonus • A front door is the first thing they see and therefore sets the tone to the rest of the building • You are investing in how well the product performs over time in terms of maintenance and functionality on their behalf • You care about detail and quality • There will be less snagging and less call back Recently, Show Home Magazine wrote about ZPG property groups’ Insights into New Homes Buyers 2018 report. A nationally representative sample of 600 respondents, all of whom had either bought a home in the last year or intend to do so to showcase what buyers at different life stages are looking for from a new-build home. Chris Browne, the Sales Director of ZPG’s New Homes division said, “When it comes to building and selling new homes, a one-size-fits-all approach will not work for developers. Our research reveals that buyers at different stages of life have clear, and differing, preferences for new homes and therefore developers need to keep their target market at the forefront of their mind – both when building and marketing these properties.” The Study revealed the following results: Top new-build perceived advantages 36% Easy to maintain 30% Choose your own colours and finishes 28% Latest technology and modern features Top new-build perceived disadvantages 37% Too uniform and samey 35% Expensive for what you get 27% Not built to a high-quality spec It’s clear that a more savvy buyer is emerging and Teresa Ralph of TG Designer Homes based in Kent is sure that “People are realising the need for quality and are more understanding that it comes at an increased price”. When questioned about the importance of differentiation in today’s market in comparison to the past few years she comments: “in the past we have offered a higher quality but had to absorb the price differential ourselves in order to compete in the housing market. However, in recent years we have found that our overall product is more niche and people are prepared to pay more in order to buy something that is different to the ‘norm’ and that they can be proud to own”. So, if a door is the first thing a buyer sees and experiences on their visit to a new home, surely creating a beautiful entrance can be the difference between a house being just that or someone’s dream home. www.urbanfront.co.uk Also online at: www.dijonline.co.uk 101 THE door industry journal summer 2018 Entrance & Bi-folding Doors Image: © Acorn Homes Image: © TG Designer Homes Image: © TG Designer Homes