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