New Home Must-Haves: How To Decide What Makes The List

Buying a house is a major milestone, one that’s incredibly important to your present and future. While it can be stressful, it’s also an exciting time to figure out what you truly want in a home. In order to help alleviate some of the stress, you’ll need to plan and figure out how to tackle such a task. Something that can help you filter the copious amounts of listings out there is figuring out your new home must haves.

These will help you determine what houses, features and all, are worth putting your money into and which houses to leave for someone else.   

What Is A New Home Must-Have Vs. Nice-To-Have?

So, what is considered a new home must-have? Must-haves are features in a home that are nonnegotiable to you when considering buying a new house. Nice-to-haves are features that are cool or convenient, but not necessary or relevant in persuading you into buying a house.

It’s important to note that it could be hard to find must-haves that are move-in ready or included in a house you really like. Be open to the possibility of having to add in these features yourself and try to be flexible, as finding a single home with every want and need isn’t the easiest.

It’s a slightly tricky thing to define since every household is going to have different priorities. based on your values, principles, goals and lifestyle needs. But there are a few must-haves that are more common and needed by most homeowners, let’s figure out what your must-haves are depending on your lifestyle.

How To Create Your New Home Must-Haves Checklist

Some things to consider before creating your must-have checklist:

1. Consider your current lifestyle: To figure out what you need in a home, you first need to consider your current lifestyle. Do you work from home, do you have kids, what is your current salary? These are the types of things that you’ll want to take into consideration when deciding on must-haves.

2. Research what to look for in a house: Next, you’ll want to do some research. There are a few typical features home buyers look for in a new house, like size, signs of damage or the home’s systems. During your research, you’ll want to remember the essential features you like so that you can incorporate them into your list.

3. Split your list between must-haves and nice-to-haves: Now that you’ve compiled a list, go through and categorize into must-haves and nice-to-haves. For example, it might be nice to have a sunroom, but it is a must to have enough bedrooms for your household. Sorting these out will help you decide what you need to prioritize.

10 Popular Must-Haves in A New Home

While everyone’s must-haves can differ, there are a few nonnegotiables that are popular choices for households. Let’s get into what they are and if any seem important to you.

1. Price

The most important must-have is pricing. You’ll want to set a budget for buying a house before looking to help you filter out any homes that aren’t within your budget. This way you curb your curiosity for pricier homes before you fall in love with one.

Make sure to leave aside a budget for add-ins and renovations. It’s possible a house you like might not have a certain must-have, this way you have some extra money to go toward a project.

2. Location

Location is also a very important must-have for households, as you want to live in a place that isn’t too far away from where you work or is in a good school district. It also matters when choosing the right neighborhood. Some have HOA’s, where moving in requires you to pay a monthly fee for the neighborhood’s landscaping and other housekeeping things.

Research nearby schools and check out reviews from parents and teacher ratings online. If you can, drive around the neighborhood that the house is in to get a better idea of what kind of community it is. If you have kids, you might be looking for a place with lots of kids living nearby, or opposite, if you prefer a secluded and quiet lifestyle.

3. Number Of Bedrooms

You need to have enough space for people to comfortably sleep, so prioritizing the bedrooms is an important must-have. Don’t just think about the present number of rooms you need, but the future, especially if you intend to live there a long time. Ask questions like, do I plan on growing my family during the time I live in the home?

Also take into account if you’d need a home office, laundry room or multipurpose room. Depending on your lifestyle, some of these rooms might be a must-have for your family.

4. Storage

Storage is an often-overlooked factor of the home, until you have nowhere to put your Christmas decorations. Make yourself familiar with what you have and how it’s stored now, you’ll want to get a house that has equal or more to what you have now to ensure there is space for everything. Or you can take it as an opportunity to declutter if you’re looking to downsize in your space.

You might consider building a shed for outdoor maintenance equipment, that way bulky machines and other less utilized things can be stored away and give you space back in a garage. It’s important for everything you own to have its own place, not only to organize but to save you time and effort looking for things, especially in storage.

5. Security

Home security is a must to ensure you and your family stay safe. Depending on location and research, there are many different versions that each cater to specific needs. Look into each system, what they offer and reviews. Something to consider is a smart security system which offers a variety of security features – such as door locks, garage door openers, alarm systems and cameras – and can contribute to safety and security in a home.

You’ll know what is best for your piece of mind. If you can, ask the neighbors and get an idea of what to expect from the location.

6. Energy Efficiency

An energy-efficient house is a great way to achieve a certain lifestyle while also reaping some of the benefits. One of the many benefits is helping you stay comfortably warm or cold in your house without the cost of higher utility bills.

Consider houses with double paned windows as these prevent cool or heated air from escaping your house and reduce your home’s energy usage. You can also find certain energy-efficient products, like lawn mowers, that use up less energy than other kinds.

7. Layout

Houses come in all shapes and sizes so it’s important to consider what you need in your new home. Is your lifestyle better suited to an open floor plan or closed floor plans? Determine if you need a two-story home, in comparison to a one-story. Both have their benefits and drawbacks, but one will suit you better.

Also consider If you need any type of home accessibility modifications. These will typically need to be added in after buying but try your best to find a home that makes that process easier by prioritizing wider door frames for wheelchairs, or one-story homes.

8. Outdoor Living Space

For some people, an outdoor space is nonnegotiable, especially if your location and lifestyle involves spending a lot of time outdoors.

A great way to create this space is to have a deck or patio, so that spending time outside feels just as at home as inside. This is a great space to prioritize if you have kids, pets or a garden.

9. Proper Insulation

This simple yet crucial must-have will ensure you’re not spending extra on air or heat. Just like the double paned windows, insulation helps keep cooled or warm air from escaping outside and vice versa. The result is a comfortable temperature and lower utility bills.

10. Smart Home Technology

There are numerous reasons why someone might prioritize smart home technology. These systems are programmed to control electricity-powered systems like lighting and heating from a central hub, like a phone, tablet or computer. This type of technology is great because it’s easy to use and inclusive to everyone.

This can be a pricey must-have, but depending on your needs and lifestyle, smart home technology might just be worth it.

Products To Consider Adding To Your New House Must-Haves Checklist

Still need some inspiration on what you should consider a must-have in your new home? Here are some ideas:

• Carbon monoxide detectors: Carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous, and not something you want to be breathing in. Consider installing these if you have a gas stove, generators or fuel burning appliances like water heaters in confined spaces.
• Smoke detectors: Practical must-have to help keep your family and house safe. Very important in case a fire ever breaks out and you need to evacuate.
• Fire extinguisher: An essential and worthwhile investment. Store in a secure place and on wall brackets if applicable.
• Fence: Investing or looking for a house with a fence is an important must-have, especially if you have dogs, children or simply want more privacy and protection.
• Lawn mower: You’ll need to invest in some lawn maintenance tools, especially if you’ve moved from an apartment. Try finding an energy-efficient one to help reduce the amount of energy used.
• Tools: A great and essential must have that you’ll need to purchase. If you are ever in a pinch and need a hammer, you’ll have everything already on-site.

The Bottom Line

It can be daunting trying to prioritize what you need for a home. It’s easy to overlook certain must-haves in the excitement of it all. But with a solid plan and evaluation of what you and your lifestyle needs, figuring out your must-haves doesn’t have to be hard.

If you’re looking to buy a new home, connect with an agent and get ready to start prioritizing your must-haves.