Homes for Sale in Auburn: Huge Pantry or Laundry Room?

Homes for sale in Auburn offer many different floor plans, but here is a surprisingly difficult choice: Would you rather have a huge pantry or a large, functional laundry room?

A pantry provides valuable storage and can keep kitchen counters less cluttered. A spacious laundry room may offer room for folding, hanging clothes, organizing supplies, washing pets, or creating a drop zone.

The better choice depends on how you live. Think about your shopping habits, household routines, existing storage, and whether either room could serve more than one purpose.

Why This Choice Matters
The Case for a Huge Pantry
The Case for a Large Laundry Room
Pantry vs. Laundry Room Comparison
Questions to Ask During a Showing
Auburn Home and Lifestyle Considerations
A Realistic Buyer Scenario
Quick Q&A
Related Auburn Real Estate Topics
About Laura Sellers

Homes for Sale in Auburn: Which Space Would You Choose?

Buyers often focus on the kitchen, primary bedroom, bathrooms, and yard. However, storage and utility spaces can affect everyday life just as much.

A gorgeous kitchen may become frustrating if groceries, small appliances, and household supplies have nowhere to go. Likewise, a home may look perfectly organized during a showing, but laundry can quickly take over bedrooms and hallways if the laundry room is too small.

Neither space is automatically more important. The goal is to determine which room would solve the bigger problem in your daily routine.

The Case for a Huge Pantry

A large pantry can completely change how a kitchen functions.

Instead of filling cabinets with groceries and small appliances, you can use pantry storage for:

Canned and packaged food
Paper products
Pet food
Serving pieces
Small kitchen appliances
Bulk purchases
Cleaning supplies
Extra beverages
Holiday dishes
Reusable shopping bags

Some walk-in pantries also include countertops, electrical outlets, appliance storage, or space for a secondary refrigerator or freezer.

That can be especially appealing to buyers who cook frequently, buy groceries in bulk, entertain, or want kitchen counters to remain clear.

Questions to Ask About the Pantry

A pantry may look impressive, but examine its actual function.

Ask:

Are the shelves deep enough without making items difficult to reach?
Does the door block part of the storage?
Is there adequate lighting?
Are electrical outlets available?
Could adjustable shelving improve the space?
Is the pantry ventilated?
Does the kitchen already have sufficient cabinet storage?
Could the pantry accommodate small appliances?
Is the room conveniently located near the kitchen?

A poorly designed walk-in pantry can waste space. Sometimes a smaller pantry with well-planned shelving works better than a much larger room.

The Case for a Large Laundry Room

Laundry is unavoidable, so a well-designed laundry room can make a home more functional every week.

A larger laundry room may provide space for:

Side-by-side appliances
Folding counters
Hanging clothes
Laundry baskets
Cleaning products
Utility storage
A sink
Cabinets
Pet supplies
Shoes, bags, and outdoor items
An additional refrigerator or freezer

In some Auburn homes, the laundry room also serves as a mudroom or drop zone between the garage and the main living area. This multipurpose arrangement can help keep shoes, backpacks, coats, and everyday clutter out of the kitchen.

Questions to Ask About the Laundry Room

Look beyond the washer and dryer connections.

Consider:

Can the appliance doors open completely?
Is there room to move around the appliances?
Where will clean clothes be folded?
Can hanging clothes drip without damaging flooring?
Is the dryer properly vented?
Is there a utility sink?
Does the room have storage?
Is it near the bedrooms or across the house?
Will noise affect nearby living or sleeping areas?
Is there enough room for the household’s normal laundry routine?

Also check whether an unusually large appliance will fit through the doorway and into the designated space.

Huge Pantry vs. Large Laundry Room

Consideration	Huge Pantry	Large Laundry Room
Primary purpose	Food and kitchen storage	Clothing care and utility tasks
Helps reduce clutter in	Kitchen and dining areas	Bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways
Best for bulk storage	Usually yes	Sometimes
Folding and hanging space	Rarely	Often
Small-appliance storage	Often	Occasionally
Mudroom potential	Limited	Strong
Pet-supply storage	Possible	Often practical
Used most frequently by	Buyers who cook or stock up	Buyers with frequent laundry needs
Renovation potential	Shelving may be relatively simple	Plumbing and ventilation may add complexity

Think About the Rest of the House

Do not evaluate either room in isolation.

If the kitchen already has abundant cabinetry, you may not need an enormous pantry. If the home has linen closets, a mudroom, garage storage, and spacious bedroom closets, a smaller laundry room might be perfectly adequate.

During showings, look for storage throughout the property:

Kitchen cabinets
Coat closets
Linen closets
Bedroom closets
Bathroom storage
Garage storage
Attic access
Outdoor storage
Drop zones near entrances

A large pantry cannot compensate for a poorly functioning floor plan. A beautiful laundry room cannot fix a home with inadequate bedroom storage.

Auburn Home and Lifestyle Considerations

Auburn includes older homes, newer subdivisions, condominiums, townhomes, and custom properties. Storage and utility-room layouts can vary significantly by the home’s age and design.

Buyers can explore Auburn subdivisions (https://auburnopelikaalrealestate.com/auburn-al-subdivisons/) while comparing property types, locations, floor plans, HOA requirements, and amenities.

Location matters too. Some buyers prioritize access to Auburn University (https://www.auburn.edu/) or Downtown Auburn. Others want additional space, a shorter commute, or convenient shopping at Auburn Mall (https://www.shopauburnalabama.com/).

Game-day property buyers may care about storing tailgating supplies, coolers, folding chairs, and Auburn decorations. A large pantry or utility room could become especially useful for a home near Jordan-Hare Stadium (https://auburntigers.com/jordan-hare-stadium).

Those researching public school information should verify current attendance zones and enrollment details directly through Auburn City Schools (https://www.auburnschools.org/).

A Realistic Buyer Scenario

Imagine a buyer comparing two Auburn homes.

The first has a beautiful walk-in pantry with enough room for groceries, countertop appliances, pet food, and serving pieces. However, its laundry closet barely accommodates the washer and dryer.

The second has a modest pantry but an oversized laundry room with cabinetry, a sink, a folding counter, and direct garage access.

If the buyer cooks daily, buys in bulk, and already has organized bedroom storage, the pantry may be more valuable. If the buyer frequently washes clothes, needs a drop zone, or wants storage for cleaning and pet supplies, the laundry room may win.

The right answer depends on everyday life—not which room receives more attention in listing photographs.

What Should Sellers Do?

Sellers should clean and organize both areas before listing.

For the pantry:

Remove expired products.
Reduce overcrowding.
Group similar items.
Clean shelves and flooring.
Improve lighting when appropriate.
Show the available storage without filling every inch.

For the laundry room:

Put away loose clothing.
Clear the tops of appliances.
Organize cleaning products.
Remove empty containers.
Clean around the washer and dryer.
Use baskets or bins to create an orderly appearance.

Buyers need to see usable space. An overcrowded pantry or laundry room can make the home feel smaller than it is.

Quick Q&A

Does a large pantry add value to an Auburn home?

It may increase buyer appeal, but value depends on the entire property, local comparable sales, construction quality, and buyer demand. One feature alone does not determine market value.

Is a laundry room better near the bedrooms?

Some buyers prefer that convenience. Others prefer a laundry room near the garage, kitchen, or an exterior entrance. Consider noise, ventilation, and your normal routine.

Can a pantry be added after purchasing a home?

Possibly. The difficulty and expense depend on the floor plan, available space, ventilation, electrical needs, and construction involved.

Can I expand a laundry room later?

Possibly, but moving walls, plumbing, electrical connections, or dryer ventilation may increase the cost. Consult qualified contractors before assuming a change will be simple.

Which room is more important for resale?

Buyer preferences vary. A functional pantry and laundry area may both help, but the home’s location, condition, price, layout, and major systems generally affect the overall decision more.

Should I reject a home because one room is small?

Not necessarily. Compare the home’s complete storage plan and determine whether a reasonable improvement could solve the problem.

How can a REALTOR® help me compare floor plans?

An experienced local REALTOR® can help you look beyond attractive finishes, compare available homes, and identify practical questions to investigate before making an offer.

Let’s Find the Auburn Home That Fits Your Routine

Laura Sellers is an Auburn University alumna who has lived in the Auburn–Opelika area since 1988 and has been a REALTOR® for over 20 years. She is an Associate Broker with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Preferred Real Estate, the Official Real Estate Partner of the Auburn Tigers.

When we tour homes, I help buyers look past pretty finishes and consider how the floor plan will work on an ordinary Tuesday. The best home is not simply attractive—it should make everyday life easier.

If you are comparing homes for sale in Auburn, call or text Laura Sellers at 334-332-7263 or visit AuburnOpelikaALRealEstate.com.

Now tell me: Would you choose the huge pantry or the large laundry room?

Homes, y’all!