Whether you’re looking for your first home, or to upsize or downsize, there are always some “must-haves” you’re looking for in order for it to become your dream home. It’s the little details that can make or break your purchase, whether it be indoor specifications or the right amount of outdoor space. Although you may feel that you’ve covered every detail, there will always be more to consider when making this big investment of buying or upgrading your house.
Take some time to read through this list of top 4 MUST HAVE new home features. This list not only addresses aesthetically appealing items, but it also covers energy-efficient products.
In this blog, we hope to provide inspiration in different ways you can make your home energy efficient without sacrificing the aesthetics.
1. Walk-in closets
According to a recent survey on Canadian homebuyers, walk-in closets are at the top of the list of home essentials. With the standard of 5 feet in width and 12 feet in depth, these closets allow the ability to store and have easy access to household items.
With a walk-in closet, your frustration of finding that item that always seems to disappear when you need it quick such as shoes, socks, ties, belts, jewelry, and coats, tends to fade away. When we have the proper layout and space, we tend to stay better organized, making our morning routine quicker and more efficient.
Another benefit of a walk-in closet in your home is you are awarded a dressing room. Especially if you’re the one that loves to dress up and/or take selfies, you can add additions such as a mirror and bench to add glamour to the closet.
Having a regular closest may do the trick for some, but we can see why a homeowner would want to have a walk-in closet in their home, as it adds a different layer of luxury to the residence.
2. High-efficiency windows
We’re sure that at some point in your life, you’ve walked by a closed window and felt a cool draft, causing you to do some sort of DIY temporary fix. Did you know that the gain and loss of heat in a household can make up for up to 30% of your household cooling and heating energy use? With that in mind, it’s important to select the most energy-efficient windows available within your budget.
While deciding whether or not you want to upgrade to these windows, here are 3 things to look for when considering high-efficiency windows.
- If you live in a predominantly cold area like Ottawa, consider gas-filled windows with low-E coating to reduce the loss of heat. If you live in a warmer climate, consider window coatings that reduce heat gain.
- Look for labels such as ENERGY STAR
- Look for whole-unit U-factors and SHGCs, opposed to center-of-glass U-factors and SHGCs.
3. Open Concept Kitchen
Your kitchen is where you spend the majority of your time, whether cooking or hosting family and friends, it’s a room in your house that is often occupied. Although it’s where we spend a lot of our time, the attention for development wasn’t always at the top of mind in the past when it came to the kitchen. As more homes are being modernized, open concept kitchens are steadily increasing in popularity.
There are many reasons why someone would want an open concept kitchen within their homes. Some wish to keep an eye on the kids while cooking, while some seek to create more of a social atmosphere within a household, with fewer walls and obstructions that create distance from one another.
4. Kitchen Island
In addition to your open concept kitchen, why not consider a kitchen island?
Most of us know the feeling of working in a kitchen with little counter space to cook in. You know how frustrating and unmotivating it is to cook in such circumstances. You spend the entire process wishing for more counter space, right? With a kitchen island, you benefit from additional cooking space, as well as extra storage for other kitchen items.
Another reason people choose to include an island in their kitchen is to add a few extra seats. Whether you like to eat breakfast or quick meals on the island, cook dinner while hosting friends, or adding a few extra seats to your dinner party, those extra seats are sure to come in handy!
Regardless of if you’re moving into a new home or looking to upgrade your current living situation, considering these 4 MUST-HAVES home features can turn a home into your dream home.
From saving money on your utility bills to creating a more social environment for family and friends, what’s not to like?
Although these are only a few tips for upgrading your home, there are many more options to consider.
If you’re looking to upgrade the inside or outside of your house, contact us to find out more about the benefits of the list above as well as other features that will make your home dreams come true!