The average size home in America hovers right around 2,200 square feet, but you may need more or less depending on the size of your family, your budget, your lifestyle, and your household requirements. U.S. homes are reported to be among the biggest in the world, being 600 to 800 square feet larger than in other countries.
How much is too much? What’s not enough? How can you accurately estimate how much space you will need for your family? Here are some factors to consider. Asking a trusted real estate agent will help as well.
Family Size and Future Plans
The size of your family is the biggest factor when choosing the right size home. Don’t just consider the size of your family right now. Think about how big it could become in the future. If it’s just you and your spouse buying a house right now but you are pregnant and plan on having a few kids, don’t search for two-bedroom homes. Go bigger so you can accommodate a growing family over the next 10 years.
On the flip side, if you have three teens living at home right now but know they will all be going off to college in the next few years, you may want to downsize because you won’t need all those empty rooms.
Home Layout and Design
Layout and design is another important factor. Don’t just look at overall size; think about how much of that space has been allocated to each of your main living areas.
Let’s say you’re looking at two houses, each coming in at 2,500 square feet. However, one may have more square footage in the living room due to an open floor plan while the other house has larger bedrooms but a smaller living room.
You have to decide what’s more important to you: a large space where the whole family can congregate as a whole or larger individual spaces for each family member to call their own.
Square Footage
Most listings feature the square footage front and center. That can be helpful in immediately narrowing down possibilities, especially if you have a minimum or maximum number for square footage in mind.
The norm is to have about 600 to 700 square feet per person, which means your family of three should have a house measuring at least 1,800 square feet, and your family of four will need 2,400 square feet.
Furniture Measurements
Consider the size of your existing furnishings. If you really love your current furniture and don’t want to switch it all out, make sure you buy a home that’s big enough to fit it all or you will have to rent off-site storage space.
Storage Space
Many people neglect factoring in storage space when hunting for a home. Look at homes that have enough bedroom, kitchen, closet, basement, attic and outdoor storage space.
Age and Physical Ability
These factors will determine the type of home, size and layout of the ideal home. Even if you’re not of retirement age quite yet, you may want to consider a home with an open floor plan, wide hallways and fewer stairs to accommodate any future mobility concerns or disabilities.
Contact Berkshire Hathaway Premier Properties When Buying a Home in Houston
Still not sure? Our experienced agents can help connect you with the ideal house in the ideal size for your family and household needs. To get started, contact Berkshire Hathaway Premier Properties at 713-862-0000.