When searching for a new house, most homebuyers have a mental image of their ideal abode.

Since few homes will already have every ideal amenity or luxury a buyer wants, most people break down their wish list into two categories.

a) A ‘nice to have’ list for luxury items or conveniences that may or may not be available but won’t be a deal-breaker on a suitable home.

b) A ‘must have’ list that includes those features that a buyer is actively seeking when purchasing a house.

A recent survey of new homebuyers across the United States gives an insight of what people are looking for when purchasing a house.

The top five ‘must have’ features are:

●Walk-in closets: This feature topped the list of what homebuyers want in their new place. It is a convenience many people appreciate over the older style sliding door type closets.

● Energy efficiency: It is a broad category but the cost of running a home is getting more expensive every year. New buyers say an energy efficient home is one of their top priorities. This includes everything from appliances and heating and cooling systems, to ceiling fans and double glazed windows.

● A large kitchen: The kitchen is the hub of activity in many homes. It’s not surprising that many buyers want a house with a large kitchen area that will be suitable for cooking up a big dinner and hosting a social gathering.

●A home office or study: With more and more people working from home on either a full-time or part-time basis, room for a home office makes it in the top five of ‘must have’ list items.

● Two-car garage: It’s always nice to have a home for your car, but these days the demand for a two-car garage is common place. Many homebuyers have only one car but still prefer a two-car set up and use the extra space for storage.

Although some of these ‘must have’ conveniences may be hard to find in older homes, most new homebuilders have taken notice of the trends and are designing new developments to accommodate these features.

As for the ‘nice to have’ list – there’s nothing stopping you from adding on to your new home over the next few years.