When buying a new home, what features would you NOT be willing to compromise on?

I've just been through this. My last house was a pit and the new one is pretty decent because we knew what bothered us about the first one.

One of the most important things for me buying the second time was a decent floor and no need to actually gut the first floor in order to replace the joists. I would also want to know what was under any installed carpets. Didn't ask the first time. We did the second.

I also would insist on not having a lot of handyman fix me ups in the joint. Those things make me run. Had those in our last house. The new one has had renos done by someone who measured twice and cut once. I shuddered every time we put serious thought into putting a second shower in...not an unreasonable thing in North America...because we'd have had to gut the whole basement.

The last and probably most important thing is the orientation of the house. I've had north/ south and found them very dark. We live at in a spot where the sun comes up at 7 in the am during the winter and is gone by 5 pm. Dark and gloomy makes me very dark and gloomy.

No water heaters I want a home with the wire heated pipes like a coffee machine. I hate even if I'm not using it heating up water over and over and over again

Less important things eg fancy pictures for the house etc.

the right number of bedrooms, off road parking, a garden that while not having to be big , makes me happy.

...and it must feel right, you'll know what I mean by that I'm sure.

The bathroom. I've always felt that having a bathroom is important.

off road parking

garden

It has to have its own roof and running water

Heated Floors are a MUST!!!

vaulted ceilings for the family room

i need that

must have a roof