Lots of closet space ranks No. 1 with home seekers

My favorite things in my 5-year-old house in Mundelein are things most people wouldn't even look at twice -- closets. We have a small closet off our family room in the hall leading to the bathroom. We store the kids' toys, books, photo albums and blankets there. We also have a full closet in our first-floor den, a double-door coat closet in the foyer and a small closet in my laundry room. There's a linen closet in my master bathroom and, of course, a linen closet near the kids' bedrooms.

I would always insist on a linen closet in the master bath. Who wants to bend over under the sink to get all those personal things and cleaning products? Plus our towels and sheets are much more organized on the closet shelves.

The laundry room closet and big coat closet are great, especially with Chicago's changeable weather. You never know which coat you'll need. And there's extra space for guest coats, too.

Kristine Asmussen, Mundelein

Thaddeus Wong, co-founder of the real estate brokerage firm, @properties, says closets can make or break a real estate deal.

For high-end buyers, "luxury closet space is at the top of the list." Some have spent upwards of $20,000, $30,000 or even $50,000 finishing the closet interiors, he said.

In the middle range, closets play a big role in a purchase, differentiating one unit from another. When it comes to entry-level new construction and condo renovations, there is very little closet space to worry about, a result of trying to create affordable units, Wong said. "Then what becomes important is storage space elsewhere in the building."

www.GreatChicagoRealEstate.com