What 'must haves' and 'would likes' would you have for your forever home?

[Swifey]

We are trying to compile a list before we start looking properly!! We have two dc, two dogs and will be rural. We definitely need a large garage (we have four cars so far) or space to build one, and we want a big garden, anything else that you would really like??

Kitchen-dinner or be able to make one by knocking down walls.

We have justoved into our forever home.

A workshop / garage for storage.

Utility room

Ensuite

Walk on wardrobe

(we have cast iron radiators that I love)

In

Great views

A garage/workshop is definitely a must for us! And a kitchen/diner too. We absolutely want open fires/log burners! I would love a big utility too, with a back door into it

Separate utility room
Big garden
2 reception rooms so I can have a play room.
Nice big bedrooms
Original features

There are 2 houses near me that have all the above and are within our theoretical price range. Shame we aren't in a position to move at the moment

Utility room
Windowsills

At least 5 large bedrooms
Study/library
Utility room
Ensuite in master bedroom
Fitted wardrobes in master bedroom
At least three toilets throughout the house
Kitchen/diner with bifolding doors to the garden
Aga
Wood burning stove
Large grassed garden with a couple of trees, preferably fruit trees
Double garage

I don't ask for much, though I may as well put 'comes with own unicorn' as we'll never be able to afford a house like that

Never say never Boogers

Limited, very well away from living areas, (ideally no) asbestos.
Utility room or boot room.
Study.
Double garage.
Guest cloakroom, family bathroom and ensuite.
Min 4 beds.
Plus a whole bunch of distance constraints around workplaces and schools. Like boogers I am v easily pleased. Availability of suitable houses more of an issue than cost in this neck of the woods.

Large rooms, and high ceilings, nice fireplace or log burner
Not overlooked
Off road parking for several cars
Large kitchen diner with bifolds
Home office
3 reception room, and 4 bedrooms
Utility room
2 bathrooms, a lovely bath, and walk in shower
Good size hall, and separate boot room/wheelchair space
Big windows that open wide
South or west facing garden with seating space, play area and grass
Sigh...... A wish list! We have some of this, but by no means all

Four bedrooms, one ensuite and a dining room.

We have 5 beds and an ensuite but what we need is either 2 ensuites or another bathroom as I have one teenage boy who is very into hygiene and one who doesn't know the word exists. Sharing a bathroom does not work well. But then, when DD is older it would be nice for her to have her own bathroom too. For me, we have a very nice ensuite shower room but what I really want is a very nice ensuite bathroom with tv in one wall and small champagne fridge in the other.

Good aspects & decent sized windows - to ensure lots of sunlight.

A dressing room with 360 degree mirrors and space for a nice dressing table.

As many bathrooms as there are people. At least one with a free standing roll top bath.

Big garden.

Big open plan kitchen.

Open fire.

*i currently don't have any of these things

A utility room that has outdoor access- somewhere a wet dog can be dried off, wet coats and boots hung out, and a door that can shut when the washer & dryer are running!

Flat windows, no bays, and no windows in hard to reach places.

Balancing on the edge of the bath to open the bathroom window is becoming an extreme sport now I'm getting on a bit.

Views (which I have already)
Non certifiable neighbours (which I only have on one side)

Kitchen diner (or potential to create)
Utility room
Large garage / workshop for DH
Woodburning stove

"Must have" - 3 bed semi, unless our circs change and make this unachievable. Anything more than that is a bonus and I'm grateful for it.

"Would like" - banisters! I miss banisters. Utility room, table in kitchen, 4 beds, 2nd loo and shower somewhere, nice spacious hall, walking distance to co-op, pub, library and main bus route.

We moved a couple of years ago to a house that is probably our final step up the property ladder. The things I really appreciate about it that I wouldn't necessarily have prioritised: separate laundry room, covered but outside area so I can hang washing out in the rain(!), rural but on a far better bus route than before so DD is not totally dependent, side by side parking on the drive - we had a long narrow drive before so always had to thing about the logistics of who was leaving first the next day. I got the things I was looking for too - period property, generous number of beds, receptions and bathrooms, big stereotypical kitchen extension with plenty of glass...but didnt necessarily know I was looking for the others. I would have less garden if I could though - if you don't love gardening a big garden is a bit of a burden.

DS2 is leaving for uni in a month and there will only be me and 14 year old DD here a lot of the time as DH works away during the week. I wish we could have afforded the house earlier and had more time as a full time family of five here. I would compromise on some things rather than wait for perfection if it was going to improve family life.

It's amazing how far a good well rack goes in making an perfect home

Having failed abysmally at this myself:

Bathroom not visible from the front door
Kitchen door

Things I have cracked:

Loads of storage
Apple tree
Sensible garden
Front garden and back garden
Big kitchen
Bedroom each
Guest bedroom
Second bathroom
Office
Futility room
Something quirky
Period features
Working fireplaces
Workshop
Herb garden

On the wish list:

New kitchen extension that opens onto garden
Hot water tap in kitchen
Built in appliances including fridge freezer
Kitchen island GBBO style
Big table in kitchen
Walk in wardrobe
Master bedroom with en suite
Window seat in living room
Tiled hall floor
Parque in living room
Walk in shower
Separate massive bath tub

We've just moved into what I hope will be the last house we ever buy not least because the actual process was horrendous!

The must-haves that were there:
Utility room
Decent, but not to big garden
Detached house
2 reception rooms so we can have a playroom/family room and a grown-up sitting room
Downstairs toilet
Opportunity to extend/convert attic

Must-haves that we will be (eventually) adding to the house:
Double glazing
Kitchen diner (we'll be knocking some walls)
Garage
Stove instead of open fire

And one thing that we didn't know was a must-have until we had it: a wet room downstairs off the utility room. The previous owner was an elderly man and his family arranged for the huge utility room to be split in two, and a wet room put in. It means DH can shower in the morning without waking us all up, and filthy children coming home from mucky sports can be walked around the side gate and straight in the back door into the shower

I forgot second reception room. Having a living room/playroom and separate sitting room makes such a difference. It's good to have somewhere nice to go away from the crap!