Never been too bothered about owning a house in TES games. Doesn't really fit in with the charcters i play. 1 question i do have though.

If i was to buy a house do they come with optional extras... Such as

Alchemy lab

Arcane enchanter

Etc.

Otherwise, is their any benefit at all?

most houses come with the lab and the enchanting table, but you have to pay to have them put in. The other benefit is that you can trust the storage containers in your house to be safe for your gear.

Yeah, but you have to buy those separately. It also depends on what house you buy.

http://www.uesp.net/wiki/Skyrim:Houses

If you buy the extras yes.

Storage mostly, and I like to display my special weapons I get in game in my house.

Yes, but you have to buy the appropriate 'decorating' package...and some places don't get the arcane enchanter.

Tangible benefits from having your own digs is that you have a place to dump your excess cr*p, and a place for specific followers to return to (dependant on who they are).

I only have the one in Whiterun and it comes with alchemy lab but not enchanter. benefit is a safe place to store your stuff but not as good as houses in Oblivion. You still have to furnish it but it is not as expensive as Oblivion. Less than half the price of the house I think.

I was never much into homes, never suited my character either, but I was surprised that once I did buy a home, I actually took ages trying to set up my old weapons and armour and my Dibella statue and If i saw an apple fall on the floor i`d pick it up and put it back in its bowl.

You do get attached to your home.

They also have kitchens for your SO to stay in.

I always liked to think of my Nord as a man with humble tastes. I would only ever take the house in the docks of the Imperial City in Oblivion and in Skyrim his ancestor bought the house in Whiterun. They are immensly handy to have, not only for storing crap but for showing off your spoils. It also allows you to deepen your character, nothing reflects on a person more than how they keep their house. Houses are also greatly improved from Oblivion, I am an avid reader of lore in Skyrim and it gives me a place to neatly store all my books etc. They're great to have!