When house shopping, we tend to file home features into two categories: must-haves and nice-to-haves. Some people might value a spacious backyard or an open floor plan more than, say, an extra-large closet, while others might deem perks like a farmhouse sink or wood-burning fireplace as necessities.
But, long after the house is bought and the must-haves are had, it appears some buyers experience a bit of remorse about the things they ultimately prioritized and, maybe even worse, things they didn’t. That’s according to a national survey recently conducted by Erie Insurance, which polled 500 American homeowners between the ages of 28 and 60 on their post-purchase reflections.
While the vast majority of respondents are generally happy in their homes, with 95 percent reporting they either like or love where they live. Still, nearly half of respondents would have done something differently when it came to their must-haves. And the biggest regret out of all of them has nothing to do with farmhouse sinks, subway tiles, or open floor plans, but rather an unsung kitchen feature that people apparently tend to undervalue—the walk-in pantry. According to the survey, nearly a third (30.2 percent) of all respondents claim the extra kitchen storage is the one thing they didn’t get but now wish they had in their homes, followed far behind by granite countertops (17.8 percent) and a kitchen island (16.8 percent).
When you compare it to other more cosmetic features, it makes sense that the practical walk-in pantry might tend to fall a little lower on the priority list. Couple that with the fact that kitchens are trending aesthetically toward more open spaces, with open shelving and less bulky cabinetry, and a lack of sufficient space to store all your BOGO grocery finds is understandable.
But, not all those surveyed have regrets over the things they didn’t get; remorse is also felt over things people have. Of the home features people regret choosing, hardwood floors—surprisingly—top the list, with 9.2 percent of respondents saying they wouldn’t buy a house with them again. (The most popular reason being they’re just “tired of it.”) Stainless steel appliances also made the cut, with several people complaining about the difficulty of keeping them smudge-free.
So, if you’re on the hunt for a new home, consider this data food for thought—and good reason to evaluate your own kitchen storage needs before buying.
If you, or someone you know is considering Buying or Selling a Home in Columbus, Ohio please give us a call and we’d be happy to assist you!
The Opland Group Specializes in Real Estate Sales, Luxury Home Sales, Short Sales in; Bexley 43209 Columbus 43201 43206 43214 43215 Delaware 43015 Downtown Dublin 43016 43017 Gahanna 43219 43230 Grandview Heights 43212 Galena 43021 Hilliard 43026 Lewis Center 43035 New Albany 43054 Pickerington 43147 Polaris Powell 43065 Upper Arlington 43220 43221 Westerville 43081 43082 Worthington 43235
Connect with us 
