Energy Star windows and sliding patio doors are at the top of prospective home buyer wishlists, according to the latest NAHB What Home Buyers Really Want Study. The 2024 survey generated responses from more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers on features they do not want, features they are indifferent toward, features they find desirable, and features that are essential or must have.
Respondents were asked to rate eight window and four exterior door features using the following four-point scale:
- Do not want – not likely to buy a home with this design or feature.
- Indifferent – wouldn’t influence decision.
- Desirable – would be seriously influenced to purchase a home because this design or feature was included.
- Essential/Must have – unlikely to purchase a home without this design or feature.
ENERGY STAR rated windows were rated essential or desirable by 83% of home buyers, followed by triple-pane insulating glass (77%) and low e-insulating glass (67%). Since its introduction to the survey in 2007, ENERGY STAR rated windows have been wanted by at least 83% of home buyers
All four exterior door features were rated essential or desirable by a majority of home buyers (>50%) with very little separating the highest (sliding patio doors at 64%) to the lowest (double main entry door at 58%) rated options. Furthermore, all four exterior door features have increased in popularity compared to 2020, with double main entry doors rising the most (10 percentage points).
