What do you consider "minuses" that most people consider "pluses" -- and vice versa?

[Xelfer]

Originally Posted by katharsis

Just for grins (and not to start any arguments!) --

What are things that you think most people like in houses that you don't, and what things attract you that you think most people consider turn-offs?

For example, I personally won't even consider buying a home with an in-ground swimming pool, and I strongly dislike stainless steel appliances, even though I know they are fashionable. I also prefer a natural, wooded type of "landscaping", so manicured lawns turn me off, too.

And in the past when I was looking at a suburban lot, I definitely preferred smaller lots to larger ones.

I LIKE...
- wood floors that most people consider to need refinishing
- terra cotta tile in a sunroom
- bright colors
- yards that are small and low-maintenance, or left to grow wild
- back yards that aren't necessary perfect for kids to play soccer, etc
- a pool
- Corian, depending on the color
- parquet flooring
- carpet in bedrooms or a master
- gas cooking


I DON'T LIKE...
- Formica unless it's a decent fit with the house price
- bushes/trees all over the front of the house so that it's dark
- builder-grade carpet, especially on stairs
- stainless steel sinks, especially shallow ones, dual basin ones or the ones in corners
- cheap faucets
- cooktops
- cabinets that don't go to ceiling
- overdone window treatments, or small-slat blinds

I don't care either way about popcorn.

[AlaskaErik]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

I'm big on garages. First thing I look at in a home is the garage and whether it's big enough to put a lift, my tools and 3 or 4 project cars/restorations inside.

I was highly disappointed to find that most, if not all, realtors did not include an interior garage photo. Had to go see the house in person to see the garage, and on a few houses it was make or break.

I've had to reject two homes my wife liked due to insufficient garage size. It's the first place I look at and I use my 33' tape measure. Too small and I don't need to see the rest of the house.

[Tom Lennox 70]

Some people love homeowners associations but I consider them an EXTREME negative. HOAs go against freedom and individualism.

Yes I understand they're the people who would prevent my neighbor from having a couch in his front yard. But they're also the people who tell me I can't fly an American flag in front of my house unless its a federal holiday (this kind of stuff has been all over the news), that I can't have a large Trump sign in my yard, that I can't have a sign that says "Beware of owner" etc. HOAs also ensure that all houses look the same and there is no individual character to reflect the individual residents. Many would even dictate the color of your fence, the number of flower pots you have, the color of your mailbox, the kinds of trees you can plant in the yard, etc.

The unfortunate thing is that its harder and harder to avoid HOAs now since it appears every newly developed neighborhood has one.

[rrah]

A "walkable" neighborhood. Sure, I'd like to be able to walk to some places, but not living on top of neighbors is more important to me. That means a neighborhood outside of the main town and without sidewalks.

2 story family rooms. Lots of people hate them. Not me. We have some artwork, (not some crap from Hobby Lobby) that requires a big wall. One piece hangs vertically and is about 4' x 8'. The other hangs horizontally and is a similar size. Both pieces are meaningful to us and hang nicely on our 2 story walls. They would look stupid on smaller walls.