Pools, Floors, Fireplaces: What Do Couples Fight Over?
Couple buyers can be deeply in love and still argue while house hunting.
Couple buyers can be deeply in love and still argue while house hunting.
NEW YORK – Couples bicker when trying to decide on a home to buy, and they usually need to compromise along the path to finding a listing they can both accept. In some cases, Realtors find that they’re playing the role of mediator in an intra-family dispute.
Nearly one in four homeowners said their current home doesn’t have all the features their partner considered important, according to a survey of more than 980 homeowners by Porch.com, a home remodeling website.
So what features inspire the most spats during a house hunt? Wood-burning fireplaces, in-ground pools and hardwood flooring top the list, according to the survey. With a pool, for example, couples may not see eye-to-eye on whether the joy of having a private swimming pool is worth the ongoing maintenance costs and upkeep.
“Not all features are bound to cause a struggle though,” Porch.com’s study notes. “Couples were often quick to agree on energy-efficient appliances, newly renovated bedrooms and freshly upgraded bathrooms.”
Still, 49% of couples said housing hunting strained their relationship.

Top 5 features couples disagreed on:
- Wood-burning fireplace
- In-ground pool
- Hardwood flooring
- Outdoor bar or barbecue area
- Finished garage
Top 5 features couples agree on:
- Energy-efficient appliances
- Newly renovated bedrooms
- Newly renovated bathrooms
- Installed security system
- Finished basement
SOURCE: “Homeowners’ Most Wanted,” Porch.com (2020)