Once you’ve owed a home, you haven’t just gained equity.

You’ve gained knowledge & experience. The things you didn’t know then?

You know now.

I famously tell my clients that they tend to want what every one of my clients wants.

Great location. Some character (aka not a cookie cutter…even the newer home seekers tend to want something interesting in the design or finishes!) Proximity to great schools. A workable & realistic budget.

People move for an endless number of reasons.

But overall, these are the things my experienced buyers tell me they want in their next home, that they either didn’t have previously OR….that they did have (& now can’t live without):

1 – A true owner’s suite. It doesn’t have to be huge, but this time? It needs to function. This is the place where peace is found and where the adults don’t need to fight for closet space or wait their turn for the bathroom.

Sized for a king sized bed (I have yet to meet a buyer who was willing to forego their king for a room that wouldn’t support it. The house would go before the king bed would).

A full ensuite bath with double sink vanity, and a closet that’s ample enough that clothes don’t need to be swapped out for seasons.

In the upsizer’s world, the owner’s bedroom is one of the hardest working rooms in the home.

2 – Function needs to meet efficiency. The layout needs to make sense and a home office trumps (almost) anything.

But just as importantly, today’s upsizer doesn’t want wasted space. Random landings or nooks that accumulate dust, there’s less desire for design features that were once popular. A huge corner tub used to feel luxurious but now?

Buyers can’t help but see it as wasted space for what could be a way better use.

Good storage, good use of space & efficient design that’s not wasteful? That’s the upsizer’s MO.

3 – The “love to haves” rank higher on the list. Many would call these a bonus, but for the forever seeker these are just as important as having a functional kitchen.

A covered front porch. A wood or gas burning fireplace. Laundry where the bedrooms are. A kitchen pantry and mudroom.

What would be on your “forever home” list?

Xo 💜