When you invest in the construction of a multi-family property, you are thinking in the long term. This building or complex will become people’s homes, some for a single year, some for decades of shared family memories. You are seeking to create a profitable space that attracts competitive and profitable tenants while keeping reasonable control over the cost of construction and operation.
Most of all, you are calculating your return on investments, both capital, and financing. Once your multi-family property ROIs, following income and savings go entirely toward profit. When calculating a structure’s lifetime ROI, your architectural choices matter.
Let’s take a closer look at the architectural options for multi-family construction that will result in long-term cost-efficiency and higher overall returns.
Reduce Maintenance and Utility Costs
By reducing the cost of maintenance, you increase the profitability of any building. A multi-family property that requires less maintenance to provide high-quality homes will result in a community that is low-demand and low-cost to maintain.
1. Energy-Efficient Architectural Design
The energy efficiency of your construction methods determines the utility cost for both your individual units and the public spaces where the property pays the costs. This encourages architectural methods that create well-insulated walls, well-sealed seams and apertures, and high-quality doors and windows.
Energy-efficient architecture starts with the structure, but also includes properly installed vents, well-built HVAC ductwork, and climate-conscious materials that are designed to enhance or resist the local weather patterns. This will lead to lower heating and cooling costs throughout the lifetime of the building.
2. Efficient Electrical and Plumbing Installations
Every circuit, plumbing system, and utility appliance installed contributes to the efficiency of your multi-family property. An HVAC system that is exactly the right size for each unit is always the most efficient. Water and energy-efficient dishwashers and laundry machines reduce utility demand from every family. Installing water softeners and the right number of circuits per home will reduce future breakdowns, clogs, and resulting repairs for decades after construction.
3. High-Durability and Low-Maintenance Design
Let’s not forget the simple value of highly durable materials. Choosing materials that wear out slowly, don’t show scuffs, buff out easily, and are adapted to the local conditions can lead to buildings that live to become majestic historical locations instead of those apartments that must be renovated every five years. The right choice of materials can save you thousands in fixing cracks, flaws, or surface wear and tear.
Inspire Higher Rents and Faster Returns
Planning for your multi-family property and the elements that may affect it.
Beautiful architecture can also increase your ROI by increasing the aesthetic market value of your apartments. When local tenants are willing to pay more to live in your building to enjoy both private and shared spaces, you will see faster returns and happier residents.
4. Vaulted Ceilings and Lofts
Open floor plans, entertainer kitchens, and vaulted ceilings are the definition of a luxury space. These simple architectural choices can transform classic apartments into alluring escapes that tenants are proud to decorate and call home. Indoor loft balconies, creative storage, and space for the home office are also high on the list of architectural choices that elevate the value of your multi-family property.
5. Structurally Scenic Views
You don’t have to have a great location to give your guests scenic views when you have beautiful architecture. The right building design can give your guests an aesthetic view of architectural features or an arboreal courtyard. You can also use architecture and built-in blind systems to frame the view and make any location elegant.
6. Charming Compact Design
Lastly, the architecture allows you to design homes that feel spacious while using space in the most efficient way possible. Achieve well-insulated homes with good flow will make more compact designs more visually inspiring and enjoyable to live in.
Prevent Common Repair and Restoration Expenses
You can also reduce long-term maintenance costs by preventing disaster repairs. Repairs occur when the foundation floods and cracks, when too many shingles blow off, when the pipes build up with so much scale that they clog, or when mold begins to grow in moist crawl spaces. By preventing these common maintenance issues through architectural design, you can avoid the long-term future cost of repairs.
7. Moisture Resistant Materials and Moisture Barriers
Mold is a problem in every region, no matter how dry. Mold spores will take hold in any material that is flooded or allowed to remain moist. When you choose green board and other moisture and mold-resistant building materials, you can prevent a lifetime of mold issues throughout the entire structure. The right choice of materials can also prevent things like moisture cracks in your concrete slabs and promote quick drying should any element of your building become soaked.
8. Expert Architectural Roof Design
Roof design matters, and not just sturdy shingles. Smart design minimizes the risk of leaks through roof features with expert flashing, limited weak points, and a drainage-efficient design. Roofs design should align with the weather and climate regions of your area and the durability you will need against hazards like snow, hail, or wind storms.
9. Clog-Proof and Flood-Resistant Gutter System
Gutters combine with your roof system to keep water from damaging your foundation. Clogged gutters and downspouts can also lead to water damage along the side of your building. Therefore, architecturally advanced gutter systems that prevent debris and animal-related clogs are a smart choice and well worth the investment.
10. Low-Maintenance and Flood-Controlled Landscaping
Even your landscaping makes a difference. The grade and materials used in your landscaping help to direct rainwater away from the building, which protects the foundation and can prevent some of the most costly long-term types of damage. Thoughtful landscaping can create grounds that are beautiful to walk through, create an elegant view, and also prevent soggy spots with subtly clever water direction through the property.
Avoid Liability
Lastly, every commercial property owner must also consider liability alongside ROI. Avoiding costs relating to handicap accessibility or on-site accidents can contribute significantly to the overall profitability of a multi-family property.
11. Elegant Handicap Accessibility
The more elegantly your property handles handicap accessibility, the more advanced it will seem. Sloping paths that even able-bodied people desire to walk are the ideal result, but cleverly aesthetic ramps and strategically placed elevators can also make a world of difference. Include first-floor apartments that can accommodate both wheelchairs and service animals to ensure that your multi-family property is in full compliance with your local accessible housing codes.
12. High-Traction and Slip-Resistant Walkways and Stairs
Neatly take care of slip-and-fall liability by taking all reasonable measures to prevent accidents of instability. Through architectural design, you can ensure that every step has good traction and that every handrail is optimally secure. You can add grit and texture to your walking paths and provide additional points of stability for every step and stair.
13. Protected and Accessible Parking
Lastly, you can even ensure that your parking structure contributes to the long-term profitability of multi-family property development. Covered parking protects the vehicles of your residents and increases desirability at a reasonable cost, but the true upgrade is a parking lot designed by experts for flow, safety, and accessibility. A beautifully designed parking lot can subtly make your property a joy to live in, where spots are easy to enter and exit, walking is subtly protected from traffic, and even the pavement is so well-designed that it wears out more slowly than is typical.
Architecture has the unique advantage of oversight. By designing every aspect of your multi-family property for lifetime ROI, you can create a truly efficient community and structure. Give your tenants an efficient and beautiful place to live while minimizing operational costs at the same time. To further explore efficient and profitable architectural choices for apartment design, contact us today.
