Just Right: How to Find a Home that’s the Perfect Size

Imagine literature’s Goldilocks as a homebuyer. As she moves from home to home with her real estate agent, she sees homes that are too big and more space that she can reasonably handle. Then she moves to homes that are just too small to accommodate her hobbies and lifestyle. Did you know that Goldilocks is a bit of a foodie and loves to cook? Perfect porridge is her specialty, so she’s in search of a home with an open and airy kitchen to accommodate all of her pots and pans. But she doesn’t want a home that’s too big and bulky for her lifestyle.

After an exhaustive home search, Goldilocks and her agent spot the perfect house. It’s not too big, it’s not too small, it’s just right.

There’s no one-size-fits-all home. Everyone’s needs are different. Huge homes just don’t work for some people. Others find that they can never find enough space and that bigger is always better. Read on to find out how to decide on the home that’s the perfect size for you and your needs.

Cost

The price of a home is the determining factor for most buyers. Your dream home may be a 20,000 square foot mansion. So, you’ll want to find the biggest home for your current budget. Of course, those moving towards retirement or empty nesters may want to downsize to a house that’s priced to match their changing income.

Take a look at your budget and how homes in your price bracket are sized. You may find that 3,000 square feet may cost your whole budget in one area but the same price buys 2,000 square feet in another location.  For many shoppers, the price is the way they’ll decide their perfect home size. An experienced agent can help you understand what your budget buys in each area, call us today to see if we can help you find the perfect sized home.

Personal Preferences

What is important to you? That’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Ask yourself what you prioritize in a home. Do you need a home with a bedroom for each of your children, plus a guest room, and an office? Or is it important to you to have your children share a bedroom to learn values that are important to you? Are you really hoping to have friends and family come stay with you when they visit? Or would you prefer to not host houseguests? 

You might find that you prefer a simpler lifestyle and need a smaller home. No, simplicity doesn’t mean you’ll have to move to a 200 square foot “tiny house” but it could mean having fewer bedrooms to vacuum each week! On the flipside, you may find that you love having people over for dinner parties and need a gracious dining room and area to gather. Take stock of what’s important to you. Then you can determine the size home you need to buy.

Family Personality

Your family may be one that piles on the couch together each night to watch TV. Or, you may find that you and the children need personal space to decompress each day. It may be important to find a home with more square footage simply based on your family’s personality. Introverts recharge by spending time alone while extroverts need to spend time with people to gain energy. What is your family’s personality? Do you thrive on closeness or a bit more personal space? Answering this question honestly will help determine the perfect size home.

Permanence

How long are you planning on staying in your home?  A lot of the size can be determined by how permanent you plan to be. If you’re looking to build your life in a home and plan to grow your family in that location, then you may find it’s more important to spring for the bigger house. But if you know this home will only be a starter home while you’re single or childless, then you may want to consider a smaller home that will work for now.

Whether or not something will be your “forever home” is a consideration when deciding the size that works best for you. A home that you won’t grow into is a waste if you’re thinking you’ll only be there for a couple years. Conversely, a home that’s too small for your long-term needs simply won’t work for a “forever home."

As you might have guessed, finding the perfect sized home is a complex and very personal decision. Take a look at your current situation and ask yourself what you love and hate about the size. Prioritize your needs in a home and your ability to afford your next home. Just like Goldilocks, you’ll be able to find the home that’s just right with a little bit of planning, personal reflection, and help from one of The Silva Group’s great agents.