5 Things to Look for in a Home Beyond the Square Footage

When you're house hunting, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. How many bedrooms? How many bathrooms? How much square footage?

And while those things are important, they don't always tell the whole story.

Some of the best opportunities in real estate are the homes that don't necessarily check every box on paper. Maybe the kitchen is a little outdated, the floor plan isn't exactly what you imagined, or there's a room you can't quite figure out what to do with.

But here's something I always encourage my buyers to remember: you can change a lot about a house. The trick is knowing what's worth changing and what you can't change at all.

Whether you're buying your first home or looking for your next one in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, or the surrounding Metro East Illinois area, here are five things I think deserve a closer look.

1. Location: The One Thing You Can't Change

You've probably heard the phrase "location, location, location" a thousand times, but there's a reason it's repeated so often.

You can renovate an outdated kitchen, replace flooring, and completely transform the interior of a home. What you can't do is pick up the house and move it somewhere else.

Think about your everyday life. How close are you to work, schools, shopping, restaurants, or the places you frequent? Do you want to be tucked away somewhere quiet or within walking distance of your favorite coffee shop?

And don't forget to pay attention to what's around the home. Neighboring properties, road noise, traffic patterns, and possible future development can all impact how much you enjoy living there.

A beautifully renovated house might catch your attention, but if the location doesn't work for your lifestyle, those gorgeous countertops probably won't make up for it.

2. Lot Size: Think Beyond the House Itself

Sometimes we get so focused on what's inside a house that we forget to consider everything happening outside of it.

The size, shape, and layout of a lot can offer opportunities that aren't immediately obvious.

Maybe you want a fenced backyard for your dogs, room for a garden, space for an outdoor entertaining area, or simply more privacy between you and your neighbors.

But I also encourage buyers to think long-term.

Let's say you find a home that's a little smaller than you originally wanted, but it's in a great location, on a spacious lot, and priced right. Could there be an opportunity to add onto the house down the road? Build a detached garage? Create an outdoor living space?

Of course, things like zoning, setbacks, easements, and local building requirements need to be considered before making those plans.

But my point is this: don't overlook what a property could offer beyond the walls of the home.

A smaller house on the right lot might have more potential for your future than a larger house on a lot that doesn't work for you.

3. Think About the Spaces You Need, Not Just the Bedrooms

Before you start touring homes, I think it's important to sit down and really consider how you live.

Do you need a playroom for the kids? A dedicated home office? A workout area? A craft room? Maybe a space for the dogs?

These are the kinds of things that don't always translate neatly into the bedroom and bathroom count on a listing.

A formal dining room might make a great playroom. An unfinished basement could have room for a home gym. An upstairs loft might be the perfect office or reading nook.

And sometimes it's about thinking a little bigger.

Maybe you've found a house in your ideal neighborhood, but the kitchen is much smaller than you'd like. Instead of immediately ruling it out, what if the adjoining dining room could be incorporated into the kitchen to create one larger, more functional space?

That might involve a significant renovation, depending on the structure of the home, but it's an example of why I encourage buyers to look beyond how the current owners are using each room.

This is honestly one of my favorite parts of working with buyers. With my background in interior design, I love helping people see the possibilities in spaces they might otherwise overlook.

Sometimes the room you need is already there. It just isn't being used the way you'd use it.

And that brings me to my next point.

4. Consider the Price AND the Potential

Not every home needs to be your dream home the day you get the keys.

Let's go back to that smaller kitchen for a minute.

Imagine finding a home in a neighborhood you love that's $40,000 under your budget. It has the lot you want, the location is perfect, and the overall layout works for your family. But the kitchen? Not quite what you had in mind.

What if you could use some of that room in your budget to renovate the kitchen and create a space that actually works better for you?

Now, that doesn't mean you automatically have $40,000 to spend on renovations. You need to consider financing, contractor estimates, structural changes, and unexpected expenses. You also want to make sure your investment makes sense for the home and neighborhood.

But it's worth exploring.

I think buyers sometimes feel like they need to find a home that has absolutely everything already done. And while a move-in-ready home is wonderful, it isn't always the only option.

Sometimes the better opportunity is finding a home with the right location, the right bones, and a price that leaves room to make it your own.

The goal isn't to buy a house just because it's under budget. It's to recognize when the price and the potential make sense together.

5. Look Beyond the Cosmetic Details

This might be the point I'm most passionate about.

I love a home with character. Give me original hardwood floors, beautiful trim, built-ins, interesting doors, fireplaces, and architectural details that tell a story.

But I also know how easily buyers can be distracted by things that really aren't that important in the grand scheme of owning a home.

Maybe the paint colors are terrible. The furniture is oversized. The light fixtures aren't your style. Or the kitchen cabinets are a color you'd never choose.

Those are things that can change.

Instead, pay attention to the features that would be difficult or expensive to recreate.

How does natural light move through the home? What are the ceiling heights like? Does the layout flow naturally? Are there architectural details worth preserving?

And don't underestimate the power of seeing a house without someone else's decorating choices.

A room that feels dark or cramped because of furniture placement might feel completely different once it's empty and styled with your own pieces.

As someone who loves interior design, I think there's something really special about seeing the beauty in a home that other people might pass over.

Not everything needs to be replaced, renovated, or made to look brand new. Sometimes the best design decisions start with recognizing what's already good.

Final Thoughts: Look at What a Home Could Become

Buying a home is a big decision, and I'm certainly not suggesting you overlook major repairs, structural concerns, or take on renovations that don't make financial sense.

But I do think there's value in looking at a property with a little imagination.

The right home isn't always the one with the prettiest listing photos, the largest square footage, or the most updated kitchen.

Sometimes it's the one in the neighborhood you love, with a yard that works for your family and spaces that have the potential to become exactly what you need.

One of the things I enjoy most about being a Realtor® with a background in design is helping my clients see those possibilities. Not just what a house looks like today, but how it could function for them tomorrow.

So the next time you're scrolling through homes for sale or walking through a showing, try looking beyond the numbers.

You might be surprised by what you find when you stop looking for a perfect house and start looking for the right one.

Thinking about buying a home in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Troy, or the surrounding Metro East Illinois communities? I'd love to help you find a home that fits your lifestyle, even if it takes a little imagination to see the possibilities.

Logan Maggio | Gori, Realtors®