17 Things Every Home Must Have, According to HGTV's 'House Hunters'

A solid foundation, sturdy walls, reliable utilities: All crucial, but the list hardly ends there. 'House Hunters' buyers have a different mantra: We want it all, and we want it under budget.

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December 16, 2015

By: Lauren Oster

Show: House Hunters

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Photo By: Principle Design & Construction

Photo By: Alexey Stiop

Photo By: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Photo By: PK architects

Photo By: House of Jade Interiors

Photo By: Frank Paul Perez

Photo By: Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Photo By: Jeff Troyer Associates

Photo By: Jim Tschetter

Photo By: Michael Saunders & Company, a member of Luxury Portfolio International

Hardwood Floors

Veneer or laminate flooring might be acceptable, but a home with wall-to-wall carpet? That’d be like wearing someone else’s socks.

From: Principle Design and Construction

A Huge Yard (for the Dog)

It’s a simple veterinary fact that even tiny terriers need vast tracts of outdoor space if they’re really going to stretch their legs. An acre of land per pound of pooch sounds about right.

The Perfect Paint Colors

Changing the color on the walls is one of the easiest ways to change a home...for other homeowners, that is. Your take: Unless you love raspberry walls, this one is off the list.

A Chef's Kitchen

Working chefs’ stoves tend to be massive, less than aesthetically pleasing, and pretty beaten up, but that doesn’t stop the rest of us from insisting on "pro" kitchens. Look, fifty people could show up for dinner one of these days.

From: Jackson Design and Remodeling

Room for Entertaining

So what if you haven't had a party since your last college rager. The room makes the party, right?

A Space that "Flows"

Modern living is complicated; who wants a room dedicated to just one thing? (Except the home office, of course.) Whether or not you believe in feng shui, you need an open floor plan. All that life energy needs to be free.

From: Andrew Flesher

A Home Office

Even if you don’t actually work from home, it’s important to accomplish office-ish tasks in a dedicated space. No one should have to e-file their taxes from the kitchen counter — even a chef’s kitchen counter.

From: House of Jade Interiors

Walk-In Closets

Trendy as it is to de-clutter and get rid of extraneous stuff, even ultra-minimalist organizing gurus can’t deny the beauty of storage. Cavernous closets are downright sexy.

From: Mary Jo Fiorella

A "Man Cave"

What home would be complete without space for framed athletic jerseys, taxidermy, overstuffed leather furniture, and table games? A home of sadness.

From: Robert Brown

An Eat-In Kitchen

Dining rooms are lovely for formal occasions, but for day-to-day munching, the eat-in kitchen — ideally, with a windowed nook that receives eastern light in the morning — is a must. Speaking of windowed nooks, it’s important to have...

...A View (Preferably From the Tub)

The most luxurious bath on earth is the one you take in your own king-size tub...with a slight chance of being seen by neighbors, birdwatchers, or wildlife.

From: Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers

Baths, Baths, and More (Full) Baths

It goes without saying that master bathrooms need double vanities and all the trimmings. Other WCs should be equally attractive — and there should be one of them for every member of the household.

From: Jeff Troyer Associates

Historic (But Not Too Historic) Details

A lovingly restored stained-glass window or an architectural flourish is ideal. Pre-war plumbing, on the other hand, is taking things a little too far.

From: Linc Thelen Design

Urban Perks at Suburban Sound Levels

Being within striking distance of nightlife and public transportation is important; the key word, of course, is distance. The city should be far enough away for a good night’s sleep.

Beach Access

If your home search is happening on a coast, any coast, you’d better be within a stone’s throw of the shore. What’s the point of living near the water if you can’t get your feet wet?

From: Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®

A Guest Bedroom

A truly gracious home is one you can share with visitors...without sharing your actual bed.

A Grill...No, Make That an Outdoor Kitchen

Even vegetarian house hunters hear and respond to the siren call of the grill. What primitive remainder of our ancestors’ DNA drives us to seek indoor homes that allow us to prepare food outside? Property is a mystery, friends.