House characteristics

Preferred House Characteristics

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Price range: Under $350K

Size: 2-3 bedroom; 2+ bath. Big enough (e.g., 1500 SF) but not too big for 2 people.

Condition: Good to very good. Not needing many repairs or updates.

Location: Prefer to be within 3 miles of downtown, on the west side of the river and north of Highway 20/34 (with preference to be north of Harrison)

Neighborhood: No unpleasant neighbors or problems. Sidewalks. Plenty of services (grocery, restaurants, hardware store, post office, etc.).

Siting of the house: Above grade. Southern exposure. Away from busy streets and other sources of noise. Prefer bedrooms to face east and living room to face south or southwest.

Style: Prefer mid-century modern or a style with similar characteristics.

Floorplan: The living room, dining room, and kitchen (and associated outdoor living spaces) should function as a unit (the living area). They should be open to each other, but have enough separation to define the area. The kitchen area should be open to the living area, but partially concealing unsightly views. The living area should be large and not cramped, and the layout should permit good placement of TV and stereo system. There should be no unnecessary duplication of rooms (e.g., a dining room and an eat-in kitchen).

Indoor / outdoor connectivity: Should be able to access the outdoors easily from the living area (living room, dining room); these areas should open onto a patio, deck, or porch

Screened-in porch: The house should have a screened in porch to enjoy the outdoors free of bugs and to allow the cats a place to be outside.

Views and privacy: The outward views from key vantage points within the house and outdoor spaces are pleasant. Living spaces within the house have plenty of privacy from the street and from neighbors. The front door opens to a foyer, and the rest of the interior cannot be seen (e.g., the front door is not visible from the living room).

Light: Rooms should be light filled, particularly the main living areas (living room, dining room, and kitchen). The living areas would benefit from southern exposure. The living room and dining room might be best situated on the southwest side, because this room would tend to be used more in the late afternoon. It would be pleasant to sit on the deck off of the living room and/or dining room in the evening and be able to see the sun. The kitchen might be best situated on the southeast side to catch morning sun. There should be places to sit inside the house and outside the house where one can sit in the morning sun and in the evening sun. Sunrise and sunset can be clearly seen. Can see a good deal of open sky, while still having some shade.

Systems: Should be energy efficient (with good windows and insulation). Well-functioning kitchen (floorplan, cabinets, etc.). Gas stove, broiler unit, and vent-a-hood (a gas stove is much preferred to electric). Decent appliances. Electrical systems are up-to-date. Good lighting. Newer furnace and cooling system. Newer roof. Laundry near the bedrooms. Low radon.

Surfaces: Brick exterior is preferred to wood. Wood floors are much preferred over carpet. Preferred countertop surfaces include synthetic stone, granite, and Formica. Undesirable countertop surfaces include tile and concrete.

Yard: No large trees that could fall and damage the house. No annoying trees (with sap or seeds). Sunny area for a garden. Some shade, but not too much. Not much grass. Low upkeep. Fenced back yard.

Additional desirable features: A two-car garage. Basement (dry and clean). Plenty of storage (big closets, attic, etc). The possibility of a home office area with a separate entrance for a psychotherapy private practice.

Security: Difficult to break into.

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2 mile and 3 mile radius from Benton County Courthouse