Buying a home is an exciting process, but there are a lot of elements to consider when deciding if a house is the right fit for you.

It's easy to be thrilled to find a place that ticks all of your favourite boxes, but it's hard work to make sure it won't cause you trouble down the road.

While some features may look great and can transform the space, like spiral kitchen taps and range hoods, they come with a price—extra maintenance.

To find out more about what to watch out for in a home, the experts at Leaders Cleaning in Auckland shared the five interior design decisions they wouldn't choose when deciding on their own homes.

There are different elements to look out for when buying a home. Credit: Unsplash

First, spiral kitchen taps. These taps may look amazing, but unfortunately, it's a false economy in the long run. Dust and dirt can get stuck between the spirals and create a build-up of calcium, making your taps look outdated and grubby.

Second, the mirrors behind taps. Having a mirrored back in the bathroom looks very modern and stylish, but they reflect every speck of dust and water stain – making it double the amount of work to wipe them down every time you wash your hands.

The third feature to watch out for is the long shower drain inserts. Grate drains are very popular for tiled floors, but the long chamber can be hard to maintain. Hair and debris can get stuck, which will create a foul-smelling mess if not cleaned often.

The fourth on their list is stainless steel benchtops. Stainless steel is one of the most eye-catching looks, but stainless steel benchtops require regular polishing and buffing. Stick with a marble countertop instead; it's a lot easier to wipe down!

Lastly, open-plan rangehoods. Rangehoods are great for dealing with steam, but the open-plan kind can look a bit cluttered after a while. Not only that, they often collect grease and dust, which make it hard to reach and clean the top. Try a concealed rangehood instead.

Key Takeaways

• Professional cleaners from Auckland have shared the top interior design features they would not choose for their own homes due to cleaning issues.
• The features include spiral kitchen taps, mirrors behind taps, long shower drain inserts, stainless steel benchtops and open-plan range hoods, which could cause additional cleaning work.
• Some features, such as stainless steel benchtops, need a lot of polishing for a clean look and are better suited to commercial kitchens.
• The cleaner's advice sparked agreement and discussion as other cleaners and homeowners shared their own experiences with difficult-to-clean features.

It's best to take your time while you're house-hunting and keep these five features in mind. You don't want to be left with a house that's almost impossible to clean – like the cleaners who have shared their experience.

If you listen to the advice of the professionals, you'll be sure to find the perfect home for your needs!

Are there any other home features that you think potential buyers should look out for? Tell us in the comments below!

 

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Marble bench tops wear, granite is the preferred option in kitchens