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<\/a><\/p>\nPhoto by\u00a0Rustic Vegan<\/a>\u00a0on\u00a0Unsplash<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n When shopping for a new home, it\u2019s important to separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves. You don\u2019t need a wood burning pizza oven to whip up a delicious pie, but a working dishwasher may be an absolute necessity for your busy family of four. The home services platform Porch recently polled more than 990 people about their expectations of homeownership versus reality. The <\/span>Homebuyer Hindsight<\/span><\/a> survey revealed the most sought-after amenities today\u2019s home shoppers are looking for, and the results were surprisingly sensible. Keep scrolling to find out which home features topped the list.<\/span><\/p>\n\n In the words of Twitter user <\/span>@candicepatton<\/span><\/a>: \u201cI\u2019m just trying to be successful enough to give my dog the backyard she deserves.\u201d Amen to that!<\/span><\/p>\n Central heating is decidedly unsexy, but totally necessary for those who live in cold climates. It should\u00a0probably\u00a0be number one, but the image of a single-family home with a sprawling backyard has become thoroughly entwined with the American dream.<\/p>\n A box fan just doesn\u2019t cut it during the dog days of summer. As global temperatures rise, AC has been deemed more necessary than ever before, despite the fact that it too contributes to CO<\/span>2\u00a0<\/span>emissions.<\/span><\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by Jo Alcorn<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n A well-designed walk-in closet makes getting dressed in the morning\u00a0a breeze and provides plenty of extra storage for shoes, handbags, belts and accessories. Want to zhuzh yours up? Here are\u00a019 ways to make your walk-in closet look ridiculously chic<\/a>.<\/p>\n Hardwood floors are healthier for homeowners who suffer from allergies, and they offer a significant return on investment \u2014 as much as 70 to 80 percent, according to <\/span>Realtor.com<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n Homeowners who don\u2019t want to deal with the high cost of a kitchen remodel will often seek out homes that have been recently updated. They want to enjoy their new home as it is, not stress out over subway tile samples.<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by\u00a0Karen Dunn<\/a> and Claire Jefford<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n The ambiance of a crackling fireplace can\u2019t be beat. Not only does it provide warmth,\u00a0it creates a natural focal point in the home.<\/p>\n Despite the fact that man-made materials like quartz and porcelain are more durable and require less maintenance, natural stone countertops remain popular with today\u2019s homebuyers.<\/p>\n Avocado green, pastel pink and basic black appliances have all had their moment, but stainless steel\u00a0has gone mainstream in the current market. Good luck trying to keep them free of fingerprints!<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales<\/em><\/p>\n Splurging on new storm windows isn’t necessarily fun, so it helps if they come pre-installed in your new home. In addition to protecting the glass from gale-force winds, they\u2019ll improve your home\u2019s energy efficiency and drown out street noise.<\/p>\n Okay, I get the convenience of a dual-sink vanity, but who in the world needs <\/span>three<\/span><\/i>? Even Kim and Kanye\u2019s perplexing, basin-less sink<\/a> only has two faucets!<\/span><\/p>\n Ranch homes rose to prominence during the 1950s, but their popularity has waned significantly over the past few decades. Multi-story homes provide families with ample square footage, but can be squeezed onto smaller lots.<\/p>\n Photo: James Bombales, design by\u00a0Karin Bennett<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n1. Backyard: Wanted by 97.6 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Central heating: Wanted by 95.9 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Central air: Wanted by 94 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n4. Walk-in closet: Wanted by 87.1 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Hardwood floors: Wanted by 79.1 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
6. Recently redone or updated kitchen: Wanted by 76.8 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n7. Fireplace: Wanted by 72.2 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
8. Granite or marble countertops: Wanted by 71.7 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
9. Stainless steel appliances: Wanted by 68.2 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n10. Storm windows: Wanted by 66 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
11. Dual or triple sinks in the bathroom: Wanted by 65.5 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
12. Multi-story home: Wanted by 58.9 percent of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n13. Formal dining room: Wanted by 58.5 of homebuyers<\/b><\/h3>\n