6 Must-Have Features to Add to Your Custom Home Wishlist

You’ve climbed the ladder of success, landed your dream job, and have built up modest savings thanks to your hard work. So what’s next? For many, the next level-up is purchasing your first home. Transitioning from renting to owning is undeniably a power move. After all, just envision being able to customize your future home’s kitchen backsplash, doorknobs, and cabinet hardware, without having to worry about a landlord’s approval, should you decide to update the paint or redo the kitchen.

Owning a home is a good investment, but take a moment to evaluate if you’re ready for this financial leap. Some signs that prove you’re ready for the twists and turns of homeownership include the following:

• You have enough in savings for a down payment.
• You have a good credit score.
• You’re sick of moving and want to put down roots.
• You feel ready for the responsibility of caring for a home.
• You’re sick of dumping rent money down the drain.

If you feel ready, strive towards this financial milestone and start shopping for house plans. That way, you can turn your dream home into a reality. Once you’ve put an end to the era of crossing your fingers and wishing on shooting stars, you’ll want to consider these few must-have features. Remember, there’s no time to wade in the shallow end. Dive headfirst into the custom home building process by adding these must-have features to your wishlist.

Mudroom

A well-designed mudroom offers a space to organize items you’d typically toss on a chair or floor post-workday. Shoes, jackets, and even pet leashes will now have their designated area that’s conveniently located right by the door, making those mornings you have to rush out the door a little bit easier. Mudrooms can also help your freshly-swept and mopped floor sparkle for longer. With storage units located near your front or back entryway, you can avoid tracking dirty shoes and clothes throughout the house.

Walk-in shower

There’s something incredibly relaxing about coming home from a long day of work and immediately jumping into a warm shower to wash the day away. A walk-in shower can elevate those post-workout cleansing rituals to the next level, seeing that it’s virtually a personal spa in your home.

Instead of showering in a cramped, poorly-lit space, a walk-in shower offers room to move around and even comes with state-of-the-art features such as multiple shower heads and steam features. That way, you won’t have to huddle up against piercing cold tile as you anxiously wait for the water temperature to heat up to your liking. Suffering through brutal winter mornings are a thing of the past with a walk-in shower.

Outdoor kitchen

If you’d like to fuse the comfort of indoor living with the revitalizing properties of time spent outside, an outdoor kitchen might be a necessity for your custom home wishlist. An outdoor kitchen offers a space to enjoy balmy summer evenings or rainy spring afternoons, host dinners for family and friends, and relax while watching a sporting event or show. Unlike a run-of-the-mill patio, outdoor kitchens can include a stovetop, refrigerator, bar space, large island, mounted TV, and even a fireplace to sit around on chilly fall evenings.

Wine cellar

A built-in wine cellar oozes with luxury and offers functionality. Having your favorite wines on hand and kept in a temperature-controlled environment means that you’ll be ready to entertain at the drop of a hat. Owning a wine cellar is also an excellent excuse to start collecting some vintages that you can save for special occasions.

Walk-in closet

If you’ve ever dreamed about wandering into a socialite-worthy walk-in closet, this custom feature truly is a must-have. Having a large walk-in closet allows your clothes to be beautifully displayed and organized, rather than cluttered and crammed into a standard reach-in closet. Let your clothes and yourself breathe a little, and allow this space to be a haven of style and organization.

Heated floors

Wood and tile floors are aesthetically pleasing but unpleasantly cold during the winter. Look into heated floors instead of blanketing your statement-making hardwood floors with cheap rugs.  Generally speaking, heated floors are best suited for bathroom spaces. That said, aspiring custom homeowners should invest in this luxurious feature. Your feet will thank you once you step out of the shower on a brisk winter morning.

Final thoughts

Don’t settle for second best when designing your custom home. Instead, carefully research the features deserving of a spot on your home construction wishlist.