Let's Talk About a Purpose-Driven Design for Your Next Project

[Jennie Berger]

Hey BP Investors, Flippers, Rehabbers, & Builders! (and really anyone else who wants to contribute ;)

We’ve all been there: standing under the harsh lights of a big box store, trying to decide between the trendy tile and the safe paint color, just hoping it doesn't make too many waves and ultimately contributes to the bottom line. But is hope really the best strategy?

There’s a canyon-sized difference between a reno or new build that looks nice, and one that is strategically engineered to be a magnet for A+ tenants or top-dollar buyers. 

A great design doesn't just sit there—it actively works to slash your market time and drive up your final sale price or rent.

The secret is laying out a cohesive battle plan before the first sledgehammer swings. It’s about ignoring what's merely popular and instead asking what creates tangible value for your specific market and your ideal end-user. It's choosing the durable materials that not only photograph like a dream but feel high-end to the touch and function flawlessly—all while respecting the reality of your budget.

I know I'm not the only one who has finished a project and kicked myself, wishing I'd tweaked the layout, rethought a finish, or chosen NOT to install some crazy specialty item in the first place. (feel free to ask me about this haha!)

What are the design hurdles that keep tripping you up? Let’s get real about how to approach design when every dollar has a job to do.

Love to hear your thoughts on this! <3 

-Jennie

[Jennie Berger]

Quote from @Scott Mac:

Those are some really good points, in fact I was just thinking about this issue last night.

((("crazy specialty item in the first place. (feel free to ask me about this haha!)")))

So would you like to tell us more about the crazy specialty item's???

OK, maybe crazy wasn't the right word (lol). Unnecessary might be a better way to describe them.

Couple examples:

(1) a potfiller. I thought it would be a 'hit' in our luxury new construction building, and while it did impress some buyers / renters, overall it's just one more fixture to have to fix and maintain. Yes, one of them broke within the first year and it was a hassle to replace it because they didn't make the same ones any longer and the manufacturer warranty was over.

(2) recessed baseboard. This is just an example of going overboard with something custom, when it wasn't even a custom build. This project was a higher end spec build, and honestly a few Realtors noticed the trim work during walkthroughs, but I don't think a single buyer / tenant even cared. Not to mention, choosing this type of trim delayed our project by a couple months. Which ultimately was a contributing factor to us having to extend our construction loan term (which as you probably know can be very costly). I realize this length of delay (couple months for trim work) sounds ridiculous, and if I could go back in time, I would NEVER have approved it. My partner at the time was in charge of construction, however, and also a carpenter himself, so he wanted to take this on as kind of a passion project. Ugh.