Is not having a fireplace really a deal breaker? (Howe: sale, new house)

[some1livesinamerica]

We are about to go under contract for a new construction house in the DFW area, the final purchase price will be around $1.1mi. Personally, I am really not a fan of fireplace, for the most part, it is a pretty useless thing to have in the house. I think most people use it for decoration purpose, not to heat the house. However, my wife was saying for resale purpose, especially at this price point, you need to have it. I MUCH rather use the space for a nice big screen tv.
What do people on the forum think? Is my wife really right about this? If a lot of people say no, I will probably show the replies to her, hopefully, she will change her mind.

[escanlan]

Originally Posted by some1livesinamerica

We are about to go under contract for a new construction house in the DFW area, the final purchase price will be around $1.1mi. Personally, I am really not a fan of fireplace, for the most part, it is a pretty useless thing to have in the house. I think most people use it for decoration purpose, not to heat the house. However, my wife was saying for resale purpose, especially at this price point, you need to have it. I MUCH rather use the space for a nice big screen tv.
What do people on the forum think? Is my wife really right about this? If a lot of people say no, I will probably show the replies to her, hopefully, she will change her mind.

Loved mine in the cold North but here feel they are mostly useless. We designed and built our home without one.

[Leonard123]

Given the choice, I would prefer a generator that could heat the home during a power outage. Fireplaces actually suck all the warm air out of the house. They likely do nothing for a house that massive.

However, I cannot speak for people who are wealthy enough to afford a million dollars. At that price, you are likely dealing with people who have a whole different set of expectations.

I'm going to guess your wife loves the massive kitchen continent in the middle of the living room. With some things, it just depends on whether you ask a man or a woman.

[ilovepizza1975]

Speaking personally, no fireplace in a $1.1 million house would be a problem.

[tmtex]

For a million dollar house I would hope it had at least 1. I personally like them but not the fake one you will see in most TX houses

[stephwin]

We've lived in our house for 13 years and have never used our gas fireplace. Our house is at a slightly cheaper price point than OP's (but obviously not new construction). That being said, I would definitely want a mantle or something to hang Christmas stockings from. I would miss that way more than the actual fireplace.

[roxyrn]

You might not use them- we hardly use the three we have, but I wouldn't buy a house at half your price point without one.

[EDS_]

Originally Posted by some1livesinamerica

We are about to go under contract for a new construction house in the DFW area, the final purchase price will be around $1.1mi. Personally, I am really not a fan of fireplace, for the most part, it is a pretty useless thing to have in the house. I think most people use it for decoration purpose, not to heat the house. However, my wife was saying for resale purpose, especially at this price point, you need to have it. I MUCH rather use the space for a nice big screen tv.
What do people on the forum think? Is my wife really right about this? If a lot of people say no, I will probably show the replies to her, hopefully, she will change her mind.

1. At $1.1MM come sale time some fair number of lookers will walk w/o a fireplace. Nearly no one will pass because there is a fireplace.

2. Disregard the comment about fireplaces sucking all the warm air out of a house. Outside bad flu management it's simply not true.

3. If you can make it work maybe build the mantel a little low and mount a TV on or just above? Or better yet cave out a man-cave somewhere.

Good luck.

[MurphyPl1]

We bought our $1.5M home without a requirement for a fireplace. However I used the one in our $600K house nearly everyday in the winter. But it was super easy to turn on. The main fireplace at the new house can be wood or gas but it's harder to get going.

We also have two gas fireplaces - on in the office and one in the master suite. I use the one in the master suite when I'm in the bath or if I'm spending a lazy day in bed when the weather is cold.

[AlecZTexan]

I like to have a fireplace in a $1million house, even only for decoration.