[Custom-Built Homes] Performance vs. Design: Why Approximately 75% Chose "Performance" and Their Image of "High-Performance Homes"

■ Survey on Important Factors in Choosing a Home A home is one of the biggest purchases in a person's life. There are many points to consider, from price, location, and floor plan to design, and even performance aspects like earthquake resistance and insulation. Especially in the case of custom-built homes, where you can choose each element yourself, many people may struggle with what to prioritize. Therefore, in collaboration with Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd., we conducted a survey on "Important Factors in Choosing a Home" targeting 150 men and women nationwide who had previously indicated they have purchased or considered purchasing a custom-built home. *When citing the contents of this press release, please adhere to the following: - State that the source is a "survey by NEXER Inc. and Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd." - Include a link to Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd. (https://taiyokomuten.co.jp/) "Survey on Important Factors in Choosing a Home" Overview Survey Method: Internet questionnaire Survey Period: March 6, 2026 – March 13, 2026 Survey Respondents: Men and women nationwide who answered in a preliminary survey that they "have purchased or have considered purchasing a custom-built home." Valid Responses: 150 samples Questionnaire Content: Question 1: What are the important points you consider when choosing a home? (Multiple selections allowed) Question 2: Among them, what do you prioritize the most, and why? Question 3: Between a home's "performance" (insulation, earthquake resistance, energy efficiency, etc.) and its "design/layout," which do you prioritize more? Question 4: Please tell us the reason why. Question 5: What image do you have of the term "high-performance home"? (Multiple selections allowed) Question 6: If you have any "information you want to know more about" or "concerns" regarding high-performance homes, please tell us. *As a general rule, figures are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total may not equal 100%. ■ 69.3% Responded They Prioritize "Price" When Choosing a Home First, we asked about the important points when choosing a home. The most common answer was "Price" at 69.3%. This was followed by "Floor Plan" at 57.3%, and "Location" and "Earthquake Resistance" tied at 44.0%. It seems that how to balance price and performance is a major challenge in choosing a home. We asked which of these is the most important, and here are some of the responses. What do you prioritize the most, and why? - "In Japan, where there are many earthquakes, I want to prioritize earthquake resistance." (50s, Female) - "Price, because it directly affects payments." (50s, Male) - "The track record and construction technology precision of the housing company. I don't want a defective house." (60s, Male) - "Floor plan. I don't want to make even the slightest wasted movement." (30s, Female) - "Earthquake resistance strength, because the Nankai Trough earthquake is coming." (40s, Male) - "Location is something you can't change later with your own effort, and it greatly affects the asset value of the land." (60s, Female) Responses were concentrated on "Price," "Earthquake Resistance," and "Location." Those who cited price conveyed a sense of urgency as it directly relates to payments. Those who prioritized earthquake resistance often cited past earthquake experiences or anxiety about the Nankai Trough earthquake. For location, the perspective that "it can't be changed later" was striking. ■ 74.7% Prioritize "Performance," while 25.3% Prioritize "Design/Layout" Next, we asked whether they prioritize a home's "performance (insulation, earthquake resistance, energy efficiency, etc.)" or its "design/layout" more. As a result, "Performance" was chosen by 74.7%, and "Design/Layout" by 25.3%. This shows that an overwhelming majority of people prioritize comfort and safety in their lives, such as earthquake preparedness and insulation/energy efficiency, over appearance and floor plan preferences. We asked for the reasons for each choice, and here are some of them. Those who answered "Performance (insulation, earthquake resistance, energy efficiency, etc.)" - "No matter how good the floor plan is, it's all for nothing if the house collapses in an earthquake." (40s, Male) - "Design changes with the times and can be altered. Basic construction like earthquake resistance cannot be easily changed." (60s, Male) - "Because I have experience being affected by an earthquake disaster." (50s, Male) - "If you're not prepared for the earthquakes and disasters that will happen in the future, it doesn't matter how good the design is." (40s, Male) - "You can get used to or slightly change the design and layout, but things like insulation and eco-friendliness affect your health and maintenance costs." (30s, Female) Those who answered "Design/Layout" - "Because I wanted to think about the flow of daily life." (40s, Female) - "Because I want to live in a floor plan that I'm particular about." (30s, Male) - "Since I have a family, the floor plan is important." (40s, Male) - "A layout that suits the individual is important for everyday living." (40s, Female) - "Because I want to live in and come home to a house with a design I love." (60s, Male) The most common reason among those who chose performance is "preparedness for earthquakes." Many opinions suggested that since structural elements like earthquake and insulation performance are determined during construction, they should be secured first. On the other hand, those who chose design and layout emphasized daily ease of living, such as "flow of daily life" and "a layout that suits the family." ■ 66.0% Have an Image of High-Performance Homes as "Comfortable, Cool in Summer and Warm in Winter" Next, we asked what kind of image they have of the term "high-performance home." The most common response was "Seems comfortable, cool in summer and warm in winter" at 66.0%. This was followed by "Seems like utility bills would be low" at 53.3%, and "Seems expensive" at 46.7%. While expectations for comfort and economic benefits are high, it is noteworthy that about half of the respondents feel that they are "expensive." "Seems resistant to disasters" also recorded a high figure of 43.3%, indicating high expectations for safety. ■ What "Information You Want to Know More About" or "Concerns" Are There About High-Performance Homes? Finally, we asked if they have any information they want to know more about or concerns regarding high-performance homes. What "information you want to know more about" or "concerns" are there about high-performance homes? - "How much the price increases compared to a regular house." (30s, Female) - "Things like running costs. Repair costs. Because sometimes things break and can't be repaired." (40s, Male) - "What makes it high-performance? What are the benefits?" (50s, Male) - "I don't know what constitutes 'high-performance'." (40s, Male) - "I don't really know the specific definition. I want to know the concrete differences from a general house." (60s, Female) The most common concern was about "price," with many voices expressing uncertainty about the cost difference compared to a standard house. There were also many fundamental questions like "what is a high-performance home in the first place," with calls for specific figures and standards. ■ Summary This survey revealed that about 70% of those with experience or considering buying a custom-built home prioritize "price," and when comparing performance and design, about 75% prioritize "performance." In Japan, where earthquakes are frequent, interest in earthquake and insulation performance is high, and many voices from those who have experienced disasters were heard. While there are expectations for comfort and reduced utility costs from high-performance homes, there are also not a few concerns about price and a lack of understanding of "what makes a home high-performance." To avoid regrets in choosing a home, it may be important to make a decision after gathering reliable information, such as specific performance figures and cost comparisons. - State that the source is a "survey by NEXER Inc. and Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd." - Include a link to Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd. (https://taiyokomuten.co.jp/) 【About Taiyo Komuten Co., Ltd.】 Location: 22-70 Minami Futsukamachi, Mishima City, Shizuoka Prefecture 411-0832 Representative Director: Akihiro Mochizuki Tel: 055-975-2585 URL: https://taiyokomuten.co.jp/ 【About NEXER Inc.】 Headquarters: 11F Rise Arena Building, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013 Representative Director: Yuya Miyata URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp Business Content: Internet research, SEO, WEB branding, review content, real shop support, website production