What's an absolute "No" in your house search?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I want a large, non-floodable, arable piece of land walkable to shops with a compact, solidly-built, well-insulated house with passive solar features sitting in the middle of it. No basement. Two storeys with a large, safe staircase (landings instead of steps in staircase turns). Luminous with a smart layout, no wasted space.

That sounds like my dream home.

We had to settle for: space for two cars to park, at least two bathrooms, and a kitchen both of us could work in at one time (just barely.) And only a couple stairs to enter the house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it's a pipestem. I'm not living on a shared driveway. Give me a house on a street like a normal person, where my house isn't hidden off the street behind two other houses where it's difficult to find and you risk getting blocked in by your neighbors when they throw parties. My friends who live on them love them and I just don't get it.

Also, sunken living rooms. There's no benefit to a step down into a room and it just means you can't expand furniture from an adjacent room into that room. When I've gone to open houses that I didn't realize had sunken living rooms, I've turned right back around and walked out. Hard pass.

I think a pipestem could provide lots of privacy. It’s like you could get the benefit of urban area but hidden and private.

Really depends. Maybe if you have normal neighbors who respect other homeowners, yes. But a bad roll of dice and you get inconsiderate jerks who consider the pipestem to be a public playground / screaming area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The fireplace is in our family room, and is a central gathering area for our family. I happen to really enjoy TV and so does DH, so we have no issue with putting a TV above the mantle. Also there's no other place in the house that will accommodate our 65inch. But hey, different strokes for different folks. I just find it hard to believe this is an actual deal-breaker for anyone. The rest of the house is perfect, location and schools work. But OH NO only place for a TV is above the mantle...sorry it's off our list. That is just crazy talk and nonsensical.

That's great that you and your husband don't mind but it really isn't that crazy or nonsensical. I don't know that it would have a total deal breaker when we were looking but it was definitely a minus. It speaks to general poor layout and design in the house as well.

No it doesn’t “speak” to poor layout. It likely means your home isn’t a new McMansion.

It actually does, but guess we'll have to agree to disagree. And what...? My home is 58 years old and we have no TV over fireplace situations going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Bamboo

We are twins. Also busy street, two story foyer, and master bedroom on the first floor. My husband has a major issue with faux columns in the entryway, like these.

That looks like a house presenting to be a church

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Bad/ mediocre school District
Lack of charm and curb appeal
Busy street
No nearby parks to walk dogs
Outside the beltway

I seem to be in the minority but I would prefer to be able to walk to shops and restaurants than to have a garage.

I do not like to live that close to town.
My ideal is somewhat rural but not remote. Think 30 miles outside a big city
I am not into restaurants. I like more traditional activities. I bake bread, grow vegetables, love gardening, cooking

[Anonymous]

Anywhere that garbage collection occurs in the front of the house and you have to keep your cans in front of the house. This happens on certain blocks of Capitol Hill, for example. You can't wheel your cans to the back or side of an attached row house, so people have built little sheds for their cans out front.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The fireplace is in our family room, and is a central gathering area for our family. I happen to really enjoy TV and so does DH, so we have no issue with putting a TV above the mantle. Also there's no other place in the house that will accommodate our 65inch. But hey, different strokes for different folks. I just find it hard to believe this is an actual deal-breaker for anyone. The rest of the house is perfect, location and schools work. But OH NO only place for a TV is above the mantle...sorry it's off our list. That is just crazy talk and nonsensical.

That's great that you and your husband don't mind but it really isn't that crazy or nonsensical. I don't know that it would have a total deal breaker when we were looking but it was definitely a minus. It speaks to general poor layout and design in the house as well.

No it doesn’t “speak” to poor layout. It likely means your home isn’t a new McMansion.

It actually does, but guess we'll have to agree to disagree. And what...? My home is 58 years old and we have no TV over fireplace situations going on.

Is 58 years old supposed to be old? Your house was build in the 70s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family room where the only place to put a TV is over the fireplace.

Hold on - THAT ^^^ is a deal breaker for you?

PP isn't the only one! I HATE TVs over the fireplace. And we watch enough TV that not having someplace else to put it would make this if not a dealbreaker, a real downside.

Lack of sidewalks and/or not walkable would be an actual dealbreaker for me. Walking is my main form of exercise and it's how I decompress, and not being able to step out my door and walk would make me miserable.

+1 hate it! You have to look up so high, it’s uncomfortable. And the TV has to be really small. Plus it looks so tacky.

No it doesn’t. It’s 2021. Ppl watch TV. Big deal

That's the point - I like watching TV and I want the TV to have a good place to go, where it'll be enjoyable to watch. I don't want it to feel like I just stuck it in the only available spot and who cares if it's uncomfortable and ugly there.

We actually live on a busy street - yeah I know - but have a nice quiet room in the back where we have some comfortable couches, and the TV at eye level for when we're sitting on them. I enjoy the privacy of not watching TV in a room in the front of the house - I don't like feeling on display when we're vegging out - and I like that we can look straight ahead, not up, to watch.

I'm sure you get used to staring above the fireplace! I just don't like it, and a house would have to be pretty fantastic for me to get that setup.

I hate it too. And I hate that our recently purchased house has an HDMI port above it. We were able to hide it with a mirror but it was tough to find.

I love a good fireplace and I want the mantle to be seasonally decorated and cozy. A TV does not do that

I think a tv above the fireplace is just about the most god-awful thing ever. Who wants a television to be the focal point of the room? We have a fireplace in our family room and in our living room. They are beautiful. And I keep the mantle decorated as well. Our television is in the family room inside a built in cabinet that closes when we aren’t watching television.

The only people I know who have TV’s over their mantle either a) grew up on TV and truly can’t live without it, therefore it really is the centerpiece of their house or B) don’t care for interior design. There are so many more interesting ways to stage your home but it’s convenient and some people just don’t care.

I guess I'm a bit amused/surprised by the level of hate here, but in fairness it is probably worth pointing out that having a TV over a mantle doesn't mean you can't decorate said mantle. I have a pretty thick fall garland along with candles and a small picture on ours right now with room to spare. We got The Frame TV (with one of the optional decorative frames) and have hidden our sound system along with all the cords so it doesn't take up any space other than the wall.

And while I'll ignore the blanket statement about not carrying about interior design, given it is intentionally judgmental, most folks I know with a TV over the fireplace (including us) don't watch TV that much and the placement likely speaks to that--I personally don't mind looking up slightly when on our couch watching TV, but all the folks on here that complain that such an angle would hurt their neck likely must watch a lot more TV than us.

Anyways, I really do get why some wouldn't like it--but the above take is a bit overblown.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

The fireplace is in our family room, and is a central gathering area for our family. I happen to really enjoy TV and so does DH, so we have no issue with putting a TV above the mantle. Also there's no other place in the house that will accommodate our 65inch. But hey, different strokes for different folks. I just find it hard to believe this is an actual deal-breaker for anyone. The rest of the house is perfect, location and schools work. But OH NO only place for a TV is above the mantle...sorry it's off our list. That is just crazy talk and nonsensical.

That's great that you and your husband don't mind but it really isn't that crazy or nonsensical. I don't know that it would have a total deal breaker when we were looking but it was definitely a minus. It speaks to general poor layout and design in the house as well.

No it doesn’t “speak” to poor layout. It likely means your home isn’t a new McMansion.

It actually does, but guess we'll have to agree to disagree. And what...? My home is 58 years old and we have no TV over fireplace situations going on.

Is 58 years old supposed to be old? Your house was build in the 70s.

Quick math!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it's a pipestem. I'm not living on a shared driveway. Give me a house on a street like a normal person, where my house isn't hidden off the street behind two other houses where it's difficult to find and you risk getting blocked in by your neighbors when they throw parties. My friends who live on them love them and I just don't get it.

Also, sunken living rooms. There's no benefit to a step down into a room and it just means you can't expand furniture from an adjacent room into that room. When I've gone to open houses that I didn't realize had sunken living rooms, I've turned right back around and walked out. Hard pass.

I think a pipestem could provide lots of privacy. It’s like you could get the benefit of urban area but hidden and private.

Really depends. Maybe if you have normal neighbors who respect other homeowners, yes. But a bad roll of dice and you get inconsiderate jerks who consider the pipestem to be a public playground / screaming area.

I hear so many people talk about how they love pipestems, because it's a place for their kids to play in the street (same with people who love cul de sacs). Based on that, I would think there's a lot of screaming kids treating it like a public playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family room where the only place to put a TV is over the fireplace.

Hold on - THAT ^^^ is a deal breaker for you?

PP isn't the only one! I HATE TVs over the fireplace. And we watch enough TV that not having someplace else to put it would make this if not a dealbreaker, a real downside.

Lack of sidewalks and/or not walkable would be an actual dealbreaker for me. Walking is my main form of exercise and it's how I decompress, and not being able to step out my door and walk would make me miserable.

+1 hate it! You have to look up so high, it’s uncomfortable. And the TV has to be really small. Plus it looks so tacky.

No it doesn’t. It’s 2021. Ppl watch TV. Big deal

That's the point - I like watching TV and I want the TV to have a good place to go, where it'll be enjoyable to watch. I don't want it to feel like I just stuck it in the only available spot and who cares if it's uncomfortable and ugly there.

We actually live on a busy street - yeah I know - but have a nice quiet room in the back where we have some comfortable couches, and the TV at eye level for when we're sitting on them. I enjoy the privacy of not watching TV in a room in the front of the house - I don't like feeling on display when we're vegging out - and I like that we can look straight ahead, not up, to watch.

I'm sure you get used to staring above the fireplace! I just don't like it, and a house would have to be pretty fantastic for me to get that setup.

I hate it too. And I hate that our recently purchased house has an HDMI port above it. We were able to hide it with a mirror but it was tough to find.

I love a good fireplace and I want the mantle to be seasonally decorated and cozy. A TV does not do that

I think a tv above the fireplace is just about the most god-awful thing ever. Who wants a television to be the focal point of the room? We have a fireplace in our family room and in our living room. They are beautiful. And I keep the mantle decorated as well. Our television is in the family room inside a built in cabinet that closes when we aren’t watching television.

The only people I know who have TV’s over their mantle either a) grew up on TV and truly can’t live without it, therefore it really is the centerpiece of their house or B) don’t care for interior design. There are so many more interesting ways to stage your home but it’s convenient and some people just don’t care.

I guess I'm a bit amused/surprised by the level of hate here, but in fairness it is probably worth pointing out that having a TV over a mantle doesn't mean you can't decorate said mantle. I have a pretty thick fall garland along with candles and a small picture on ours right now with room to spare. We got The Frame TV (with one of the optional decorative frames) and have hidden our sound system along with all the cords so it doesn't take up any space other than the wall.

And while I'll ignore the blanket statement about not carrying about interior design, given it is intentionally judgmental, most folks I know with a TV over the fireplace (including us) don't watch TV that much and the placement likely speaks to that--I personally don't mind looking up slightly when on our couch watching TV, but all the folks on here that complain that such an angle would hurt their neck likely must watch a lot more TV than us.

Anyways, I really do get why some wouldn't like it--but the above take is a bit overblown.

I am certain if I asked for pics there would be no difference in design aesthetic between the two groups.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Family room where the only place to put a TV is over the fireplace.

Hold on - THAT ^^^ is a deal breaker for you?

PP isn't the only one! I HATE TVs over the fireplace. And we watch enough TV that not having someplace else to put it would make this if not a dealbreaker, a real downside.

Lack of sidewalks and/or not walkable would be an actual dealbreaker for me. Walking is my main form of exercise and it's how I decompress, and not being able to step out my door and walk would make me miserable.

+1 hate it! You have to look up so high, it’s uncomfortable. And the TV has to be really small. Plus it looks so tacky.

No it doesn’t. It’s 2021. Ppl watch TV. Big deal

That's the point - I like watching TV and I want the TV to have a good place to go, where it'll be enjoyable to watch. I don't want it to feel like I just stuck it in the only available spot and who cares if it's uncomfortable and ugly there.

We actually live on a busy street - yeah I know - but have a nice quiet room in the back where we have some comfortable couches, and the TV at eye level for when we're sitting on them. I enjoy the privacy of not watching TV in a room in the front of the house - I don't like feeling on display when we're vegging out - and I like that we can look straight ahead, not up, to watch.

I'm sure you get used to staring above the fireplace! I just don't like it, and a house would have to be pretty fantastic for me to get that setup.

I hate it too. And I hate that our recently purchased house has an HDMI port above it. We were able to hide it with a mirror but it was tough to find.

I love a good fireplace and I want the mantle to be seasonally decorated and cozy. A TV does not do that

I think a tv above the fireplace is just about the most god-awful thing ever. Who wants a television to be the focal point of the room? We have a fireplace in our family room and in our living room. They are beautiful. And I keep the mantle decorated as well. Our television is in the family room inside a built in cabinet that closes when we aren’t watching television.

The only people I know who have TV’s over their mantle either a) grew up on TV and truly can’t live without it, therefore it really is the centerpiece of their house or B) don’t care for interior design. There are so many more interesting ways to stage your home but it’s convenient and some people just don’t care.

I guess I'm a bit amused/surprised by the level of hate here, but in fairness it is probably worth pointing out that having a TV over a mantle doesn't mean you can't decorate said mantle. I have a pretty thick fall garland along with candles and a small picture on ours right now with room to spare. We got The Frame TV (with one of the optional decorative frames) and have hidden our sound system along with all the cords so it doesn't take up any space other than the wall.

And while I'll ignore the blanket statement about not carrying about interior design, given it is intentionally judgmental, most folks I know with a TV over the fireplace (including us) don't watch TV that much and the placement likely speaks to that--I personally don't mind looking up slightly when on our couch watching TV, but all the folks on here that complain that such an angle would hurt their neck likely must watch a lot more TV than us.

Anyways, I really do get why some wouldn't like it--but the above take is a bit overblown.

I am certain if I asked for pics there would be no difference in design aesthetic between the two groups.

Lol, OK you grump. But I still have plenty of room for stuff on the mantle, which was the more practical point for those reading along IMO, everything else is personal taste, which you have a strong view on!

[Anonymous]

Backing to water. So. Many. Bugs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For me, it's a pipestem. I'm not living on a shared driveway. Give me a house on a street like a normal person, where my house isn't hidden off the street behind two other houses where it's difficult to find and you risk getting blocked in by your neighbors when they throw parties. My friends who live on them love them and I just don't get it.

Also, sunken living rooms. There's no benefit to a step down into a room and it just means you can't expand furniture from an adjacent room into that room. When I've gone to open houses that I didn't realize had sunken living rooms, I've turned right back around and walked out. Hard pass.

I think a pipestem could provide lots of privacy. It’s like you could get the benefit of urban area but hidden and private.

Really depends. Maybe if you have normal neighbors who respect other homeowners, yes. But a bad roll of dice and you get inconsiderate jerks who consider the pipestem to be a public playground / screaming area.

I hear so many people talk about how they love pipestems, because it's a place for their kids to play in the street (same with people who love cul de sacs). Based on that, I would think there's a lot of screaming kids treating it like a public playground.

I’m confused, are kids only supposed to play in backyards? And does that noise not carry?

[Anonymous]

Safe/feeling community
Stable structure (apt or house)
Easy walk/train to a City
Walk/bike ride to a town - at a minimum grocery, playground, elementary school, library, coffee, bookstore.
Extra bonus if walking trails in nature
Quiet street (no double line)
House with decent light and view of nature
Bathroom on main floor


Dream- outdoor space (roof access, balcony, patio or yard)