When buying a home, getting the size right matters. A home that is too small feels cramped and cluttered while a home that is too big feels cold and uninviting and can be difficult to maintain. You might think figuring out how much space you need is a simple matter of determining how many bedrooms you need and whether anyone is sharing a room, but it's more complicated than that.
How Much Living Space Do You Need?
You might have a specific square footage in mind. That can be great for staying within budget, but the layout of the home can make the same square footage drastically different in two homes. For example, one home may have bigger bedrooms than the living room, while another has a larger living room than the kitchen. Your lifestyle and habits can influence which home you should buy. For example, you might spend more time in your bedroom than the living room, or hate cooking and love watching TV.
How Many and What Kind of Rooms Are You Looking For?
You'll usually find that bigger homes have more bedrooms and bathrooms, designed more for a bigger family. Smaller homes have fewer bedrooms and bathrooms, designed for couples or singles. But even if you're a single or a couple, you might want those extra bedrooms and bathrooms for visiting family members, other guests, or a home office or craft room. Determining how many bedrooms and bathrooms you want, as well as whether you want other rooms like dining rooms, dens, or a dedicated laundry room helps you figure out how much space you need.
What's Your Budget?
Your budget will play a huge role in how much space you can afford, whether you need a lot of space or not. In this case, working with a real estate agent can help you get the most space for your budget. Your real estate agent will be able to help you determine how much space you can likely get for the money you have. But more importantly, if you can't afford the space you want in the location you desire, they can show you smaller houses that might still meet your needs or help you find another location where you can afford more space.
How Much Time Do You Spend in Your Yard?
Maybe you spend a lot of time puttering in the garden and flowerbeds or sitting outside on a lanai or patio. Maybe you enjoy spending your days playing tennis, swimming, or playing golf. If you spend more time outdoors than in, you may prefer a smaller home with fewer expenses so you can engage in more of your outdoor pleasures. In this case, you might ask your real estate agent to focus on finding properties with large yards as well.
There are many factors that can go into determining how much space you really need in your next house. And while many of them are ones you can easily consider on your own and make decisions on, some need an expert's help. Let your real estate agent help you with all the details so you can find yourself a home that even Goldilocks would love.
