Location, number of bedrooms, and square footage are all important features of a home that go to the top of any homebuyer’s must have list.  These things will determine if a home will work or not work for a buyer.  However, after living in several homes over my life, I’ve also got a list of features that I point out to buyers that may not be strictly necessary, but are awesome to have in a home.  The next time you are out searching for a house in Locust Grove or the surrounding area, take note if the homes you look at have these things.

Pantry 

Pantries are fantastic spaces to have in a kitchen.  Taking all of the food out of cupboards and centrally locating them in one area, provides you with more storage space for dishes, cups, appliances in cupboards. I’ve been in larger square foot homes where the pantry seemed like an afterthought in the builder’s design. Especially if you live in a house in Locust Grove that already has a pantry and have gotten accustomed to this kitchen feature, make sure to check if the homes you are viewing have them too.

Linen and Hall Closets 

When viewing a house in Locust Grove, it can be easy to overlook the number of linen or hall closets that the home has.  Once you move in, you will quickly notice the lack of closet space especially if you are coming from a home that had several closets.  It’s ideal to have a closet near the entrance of the home so coats and shoes have a place to live. One upstairs to store towels and the vacuum cleaner is convenient too.

Covered Front Porch

Most people enter their homes through the garage and not the front porch, so the lack of a cover may not be something of concern.  However, having a covered front porch means that any packages delivered to the home are protected from the weather.  Covered front porches also shield the front door from strong sunshine, rain, and snow.

Mature Landscape

Established plants are typically lower maintenance compared to adding young ones to the yard.  Take a good look at the trees on the property too.  Do they appear healthy and are they set away from the home?  Trees are expensive to remove.

Whole House Fan

These don’t appear in many new construction homes, but having a whole house fan is an awesome feature!  Designed to pull cool air from outside into a house, whole house fans create a breeze in the house in Locust Grove as open windows bring fresh air into the home. It is a great way to keep your home cool during the spring and fall when temperatures fluctuate over the day.

Number of Electrical Outlets

Older homes may not have as many outlets as new construction ones.  While it may seem silly, having more than one outlet in a living room is nice because you aren’t running cords and extension cords along the wall.  Likewise, if you plan to set up a home office, it’s nice to have enough outlets to support your equipment. While this may not be a deal breaker in deciding whether to make an offer on one home over the another, it may help one home to stand out more.

Noise Level

If you are searching for a home on Main Street, then you expect that noise from people and traffic is a given.  However, you may be surprised at the noise level at a house in a neighborhood or rural setting.  If the noise level is important, consider visiting the property during different times of the day to get a better sense of how loud the neighborhood is.

Ceiling Fans and Recessed Lighting

Ceiling fans are great for white noise, cooling a room on a day not quite warm enough for air conditioning, and providing light into a room.  Fans along with recessed lights can always be installed, but it is even better if it is already there.

Ready to start your search for a house in Locust Grove or the surrounding area? I’m here to help!