Every builder knows the tug-of-war between design and cost.
You can’t build everything buyers want, not in this market. Square footage is expensive. Materials are up. Labor’s tight. And now that resales are flooding back in, buyers suddenly have options again.
The pressure to design smarter—not just cheaper—is real.
That’s why the best builders aren’t adding more; they’re editing better. They’re listening to what buyers actually value and trimming the rest.
Turns out, you don’t need an oversized loft or an extra half bath to close the deal. What buyers really want might surprise you—and it might just save you money.
From combining functional spaces to reallocating square footage where it counts most, consumer research is reshaping what “value” looks like in a home. Builders who get it right aren’t sacrificing livability—they’re redefining it.
The ones who don’t? They’ll be left competing on price alone.
So, where should you cut, and what should you keep to stay ahead of the resale curve?
