Bathroom's Most Wanted

Linen closets are the most-desired feature in a master bathroom for homebuyers, according to new survey data from the National Association of Home Builders.

Approximately 78 percent of homebuyer respondents in the NAHB's 2019 What Home Buyers Really Want report say that a linen closet in the master bathroom is desirable or an essential feature. Having "both a shower stall and tub in the master bath," and having a double vanity were both home features that at least 70 percent of survey respondents said were desirable or a must-have. These two features each garnered 32 percent "must-have" scores, the highest in the study.

The report is based on a survey asking recent and prospective home buyers (people who bought homes in the previous three years or are planning to do so in the next three years) about the features they want in a home or community.

One question asks home buyers to rate a comprehensive list of features using a four-tier scale of do not want, indifferent, desirable, and essential/must have. Figure 1 shows the top ten bathroom features with the highest share combination of desirable (would be seriously influenced to buy home if included) and essential/must have (unlikely to buy a home without it).

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