How Much Home Do You Need?

If you’re looking to buy a new home, you’ve probably lined up a real estate agent with plenty of experience in your target city and neighborhood – someone who can help guide your decisions about where to move. You probably have a timetable. Maybe you are casually shopping until something strikes your fancy, or maybe you’re selling your existing home and need to move quickly.

So you’ve answered the “Where?” and the “When?” But have you stopped to think about the “What?”

What kind of house are you looking for? Or more precisely, how much home do you need?  Houses come in all shapes in sizes – capes, colonials, ranches, and split levels. Quaint and cozy cottages and sprawling luxury estates.  A rambling antique Victorian holds a very different kind of charm than a home with a sleek, modern design and all the latest updates.

Have you stopped to think about what kind of home you need? Most people know what types of homes appeal to them. Others “know it when they see it.” A rambling antique Victorian holds a very different kind of charm than a home with a sleek, modern design and all the latest updates.

When considering the size and style of the home you are searching for, you’re going to want to take into account the size of your family and your lifestyle. Ask yourself questions about how you spend your time. Where do you spend the majority of your time in your current home? If the answer is “outside,” then you probably don’t need a lot of indoor space. If your family congregates in a living space, is it a comfortable size for everyone to fit? Would something larger be more fitting? Or do you have more space than you need?

The size of your family isn’t the only factor to take into account when deciding how many bedrooms and bathrooms you need. If you entertain a lot of overnight guests from out of town, you may opt for extra bedrooms so that you have guest room space. If you work from home, maybe you’ll need an extra bedroom to convert into an office or study. Other bedroom makeovers that fit your interests could include a sewing room, an art studio, or a library.

When it comes to homes, kitchens and bathrooms are often focal points for buyers. If you entertain frequently, not only are you going to want the type of kitchen that will facilitate feeding or hosting a crowd, but you will likely also want a bathroom that is located on the main floor for guests to use. Keeping your bedroom space as a private area can be appealing when guests visit.

If you’re a cook, you may also look for more storage in the kitchen as well as larger or more gourmet appliances. Maybe you’d like an island where family or guests can sit and socialize while you cook. If your family is more comfortable with an informal mealtime environment, you might consider a larger eat-in kitchen rather than focusing on formal dining room space.

By taking into consideration your lifestyle, family size, and current use of space, you should be able to come up with an idea of the type of home you are looking for. A good real estate agent will know to prompt you for this information, but if you have already thought it through, you can take a more targeted approach to your home search. Good luck!