Shali's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1.     Sizable Open Kitchen  – We love to entertain and have game nights with extended family and friends. It’s important that we can cook together in the kitchen, have conversations across the bar, and have an eye on the living room to watch all the little ones while the adults enjoy themselves.

2.     High Ceilings – My husband and I are both tall and enjoy higher ceilings along with unusually tall doors. Not to mention a floor plan that might be smaller on paper really can come to life and feel “just right” when the ceiling is 9ft+.

3.     A Private Entryway – Personally, having lived in apartments, it was a pet peeve when I had visitors or someone stop by, that the door was the center of the living area. There was no privacy. In our current home, it was important we have a hallway that allows for a little privacy and guest having an opportunity to take coats and shoes off.

4.     Large Closet – The bigger the better! My ideal closet would be one that is its own attached bedroom to the Owner’s suite. With a bay window, chair, and tons of shelving and shoe racks.

5.     A Game/Movie Room- My husband likes to play video games, and we LOVE movies. I would envision a movie room with a tv the size of the wall where he can retreat to, to play games as well as double function as a fun movie room with the family. Adding in a popcorn machine and mini fridge for pure entertainment and décor.

Jacki's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1. A Fenced in Backyard- This is a common one, but definitely at the top of my list. I need a large area for my big dog, Tucker, to run around in and sunbathe. I also love the idea of being able to create my own little getaway spot with the potential for outdoor furniture and maybe a small herb garden.

2. Extra Storage- I need all the storage! I’ve lived in many houses where storage was so minimal with nowhere to put all the necessities let alone stay organized. I love a few large closets and a good sized garage (built in cabinets or shelving for an added bonus!)

3. Cozy Living Room Set Up- The living room is the most used and favorite spot in our house! It’s important to me to be able to visualize furniture in the space- I want it to fit well with a good layout and have the potential for a great movie night.

4. A Quiet Street- This is a new one I never knew I needed. Currently, my backyard backs up to a busy road with constant traffic noises. I’ve learned to tune it out but realize I took for granted the quiet streets I’ve lived on that are peaceful and tucked away. Definitely a must have for me.

5. Lots of Windows/Natural Lighting- I find myself hardly turning on any lights and when I have to, it just doesn’t compare. The natural lighting from a good sunny day boosts my energy and happiness overall. It also makes your space feel bigger and more open. I’ll take as many windows as I can get! 

Emily's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

Perfect timing!  My family and I are currently building our forever home in Historic Springfield so "must haves" have been frequent conversation topics the last few months. When the perfect lot + plan became available we jumped on it because it included our major wants in a home!   

1. Backyard- With a 5 and 3 year old we need a place for them to burn some energy.  They will literally run in circles for hours so we need a place to accommodate their energy levels.  We also love to entertain so a space for hanging out with friends + family is crucial for us (and I love being outside- even in the Florida summer heat).

2. Home Office Space-My husband and I both work from home, like most people in 2020, and it's essential to have a work space that is separate from the rest of the house to help maintain a work/life balance.  An extra bedroom, garage apartment, or she shed is the perfect place to make a functioning home office. 

3. Open Kitchen (bonus: an island)- Mike loves to cook and I love to eat so the idea of a large kitchen where I can hang out while he cooks, see the kids in the living room while doing the dishes, and be able to host parties (when we can again) is definitely on my top 5 list!

4. Kid Space- Before I had children my house was always clean and orderly.  Fast forward to babies and that quickly changed- seriously a clean house lasts maybe 3 minutes these days.  A dedicated playroom or area to stash the clutter is super important for my sanity.  

5. Location- There is nothing better than an early morning walk to grab a coffee from our favorite neighborhood spots.  Walkability or a quick drive to our favorite restaurants, breweries, and shops is something I can't live without!

Jamily's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

I have a fairly large household. With 4 kids and two dogs my husband and I are always on our toes ready for the next adventure. Some days those adventures are simple, like getting our 5 years old to eat in a timely manner (seriously, some days it takes her an hour to finish a bowl of cereal) and other times they’re a little more complex. But nonetheless we’ve adapted our lifestyle to the ebbs and flows of our family and with that comes some must-haves for the Fullers.

1.     Coffee Maker. If you’re a coffee drinker you know how essential the first cup of the day is. Admittedly I’m slightly dramatic when it comes to coffee but it’s such a large part of my life it’s hard to be anything less than enthusiastic when I talk about it. A GOOD coffee maker (or 4) is non-negotiable in my home and that means a brand that adheres to the Golden Cup Standard.  I know, I’m a coffee nerd. The Golden Cup Standard was established to basically brew the best cup of coffee calculating the right temperature of the water and the ratio of ground coffee to achieve perfection. There are several coffee makers that follow this guideline and I can attest to the difference it makes! You can find your perfect home brewer here: https://sca.coffee/certified-home-brewer and pair it with my favorite coffee from Black Rifle Coffee here: https://www.blackriflecoffee.com

2.     Hurricane Preparedness Kit. With a large family comes large responsibility and that applies to safety! Florida is a hotspot for hurricanes and severe storms anywhere between June and November. Because of this we take safety very seriously in our home, especially during those months. Usually you can see a hurricane come closer in the days leading up to landfall to make preparations or even evacuate if needed. But you never want to be rushing to the store during those times and push through the crowd only to find the essentials already gone. Prepping for storms (or safety in general) is a standard, not an exception, in my home. We always have a surplus of things like first aid kits (one in the car and one in the house), propane for the grill, gasoline, dry goods/foods, water bottles or in gallons, batteries, flashlights, lanterns and satellite radio. My best advice would to be to have a family meeting and discuss the things you need, make a list and start collecting! The next time a storm or disaster strikes you’ll be prepared to care for yourself and others without the added stress of not having what you may need.

3.     Outdoor Space. Are you a back porch or front porch person? Personally, I’m more of a back porch person because you can make it your own and generally you have more space to do so. It can be such a wonderful oasis to relax and clear your mind. Or it can be party central (am I aging myself yet?) just waiting on the next weekend’s gathering. Here in Northeastern Florida we see some wonderful weather September through April where we can enjoy the outdoors with minimal bugs and low to no humidity. I love sitting outside in the early mornings with a coffee cup in my hands or watching the sunset – thank you west-facing backyard! I remember when my husband and I were house hunting and one of the first things we would do after walking in the home is go to the backyard. A home can speak to you just from the outdoor space.

4.     Knives. Yep, knives. I’m a sucker for a good chef’s knife because how else are you supposed to cook a great meal without one?! My background is in hospitality and culinary arts so I naturally gravitate towards cooking for people and making them feel happy and with that comes home cooked meals. Ever since I met my husband he’s been buying me knives for special occasions and it brings me so much joy! If you don’t have at least one great knife, like a Shun which is a company that used to make Samurai swords, I highly encourage you to take the leap and buy one! Your kitchen will thank you and your cooking will never be the same again.

5.     Exercise Equipment. This one is so versatile! It really just depends on how you enjoy moving your body. It can be as simple as a great pair of walking shoes or as grand as your own workout room - my personal dream. Right now, we have a spin bike, weights, a bench, some resistance bands and my favorite Brooks running shoes! There isn’t a perfect spot in my current home for those items but we make it work! Having a healthy mind and body is so important to success in anything from work to every day parenting.

Erica's Top 5 Must Haves in a Home

1. Kitchen Counter Space/ Island - As much as I wish I could say I'm a real deal chef, I can't. But, I do dabble in the kitchen. And by dabble I mean I follow recipes. step. by. step.

Because of that, there tends to be multiple bowls and pans and utensils when I'm cooking so I like (need) ample counter space to spread my wannabe chef wings

2. Big Backyard - A big backyard is definitely at the top of our must-have list for our next home! Right now, we live in a condo with no personal yard space and that's what we miss the most. We always loved sitting on the back porch drinking coffee on cool mornings and our pug, Theo, loved laying in the grass soaking in all the sunshine! Thankfully, there's a large green area where we live now so Theo still gets to run around and enjoy the fresh air

3. Double Vanity in the Bathroom - If you live alone and have the bathroom all to yourself then this isn't probably as big of a deal but if you've ever lived with anyone that you had to share a one-sink bathroom with, then you will probably understand! I shared a bathroom with my brother for most of my life and then shared one with a roommate, and I can confidently say that a double vanity is the way to go! Forrest and I have our own sinks, drawers and cabinet space in our bathroom now, and it's so magical

4. Home Office - This is a given. In real estate there is always something, most times multiple things, going on at any given moment and having a dedicated space to work while I'm at home is essential. I do miss going to coffee shops and working and of course, sometimes you need a change of scene but I really LOVE the office space in my home right now

5. Natural Lighting - The only time I want to be in a dark room is when I'm sleeping. If there's no natural light, then you can guarantee I'll have a lamp or two on and even though that does the trick, it's just not the same.  Nothing is better than natural light beaming through the windows

Amanda's Top 5 Must Haves In a Home

1. A Yard with Sunshine and Shade. I like to garden so a yard with plenty of room and light for a vegetable garden is my #1 thing.  I also like some shade for spending time relaxing outside though.  Plus we have an Australian Shepherd.  They are EXTREMELY active so she needs space to run.

2. A Large Working Kitchen.  Because I grow so much of my own food I love cooking and I am someone who doesn't like to be crowded in a kitchen.  I have a ton of equipment too like a kitchen aid, tagine, cuisinart, pasta maker, dehydrator, air fryer, canning equipment - you name it I've probably got it. So kitchen storage as well as work space is definitely important.

3. A Nice Office Space for myself + Mark.  Since I work primarily from home, a private office for myself is preferable.  Mark and I shared an office in our home in Maryland, when we were both flight attendants, and that just didn't go over well.  since I'm a visual person I like having stuff laid out.  If I file it away I will forget about it.  He thinks it's a mess.  I say "welcome to my brain" :)

4. A Formal Dining Room.  Not used much because it's just the two of us, but when my family is visiting we need to have space for 8 to eat.

5. A Guest Room. Again, to help accommodate my family.  In our house now, we have a guest room (my parents), a pull out couch in my office (my niece), and an apartment over the garage for my sister + brother-in-law. This is great because we each have our own space when visiting but are still close.

Our home now has all of my must have's so I feel very blessed at this time in my life.  Now we need a vacation home in NC! LOL