NAHB study reveals top window, exterior door preferences among home buyers; ENERGY STAR rated windows essential or desirable for 83%, triple-pane insulating glass for 77%

The latest NAHB study on home buyer preferences – What Home Buyers Really Want Study¹ – asked consumers about the features and amenities they would want in a home, specifically regarding windows and exterior doors.  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.

Windows

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 (Figure 1).  Additionally, ENERGY STAR windows were ranked the third most wanted feature out of the 200+ options asked within the survey.

Doors

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 door rising the most (10 percentage points) (Figure 2).

Additionally, like the other areas of the home covered in the study, every question on windows and doors is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and the price they expect to pay for the home.  These details can be very useful in particular cases.  For example, the study discusses the three window features that appeal to older buyers, as well as how preferences for hinged/French patio doors change by income level and home price.

1. What Home Buyers Really Want, 2024 Edition sheds light on the housing preferences of the typical home buyer and is based on a national survey of more than 3,000 recent and prospective home buyers.  Every question in the survey’s extensive twelve-page questionnaire is tabulated by the buyer’s income, age, geography, race, household type, and price they expect to pay for the home. For readers interested in more detail on kitchens and baths, or other aspects of the home, the full study is available at BuilderBooks.com.