Assessing whether a home is the right size for your family can be tricky. There are a number of factors to consider beyond how many of you there are and how many bedrooms the house has. Before buying or building a new home, be sure that it’s the right size for your family.
1- Think About Family Dynamics
One thing to consider is family dynamics. If there are two adults and three children, will every child have their own room? Will that need to change over time? Younger kids may be fine with sharing a room, but once they are in their teen years, they might want their own space. You also need to take a look at how many bathrooms are available. It’s always nice to have, at minimum, a half bath alongside a full bathroom, but you might decide you need two or three or more full bathrooms for everyone’s comfort and convenience.
2- Consider the Age of Children
Another thing to consider is the age of your children. While you don’t want to make your older teenagers feel like you’re pushing them out of the house before they’re even adults, buying a huge house right before the empty nest happens might be a mistake. You don’t want to get into what you think is your “forever home” and then realize you’d be much happier downsizing just a few years later when your kids are on their own. Of course, it might be important to you that there is plenty of space for extended family to come back and live there. Furthermore, do you have elderly parents or other relatives you anticipate caring for in your home? How long do you plan to live there? If you’re a young couple or single, you might be looking in a different direction, anticipating whether or how many children you’ll have.
3- Make Sure There’s Space for Hobbies
Of course, the space you need in a home is about a lot more than the number of bedrooms. You’ll need to consider everyone’s habits and hobbies as well. Does one person love to cook? Is someone into collecting vinyl or books or models, or plants? Is there a woodworker or a computer or a film enthusiast in the family? Do you entertain at home often? How many people would you like to have over when you do? Do you need room for sports equipment, such as bikes, camping gear, surfboards, or kayaks? It’s important to have enough storage space for the things you care about, but be careful if you are someone who is prone to expanding your belongings to fill whatever space you have. In that case, you might be tempted to purchase a bigger house, but a smaller one might be the right choice to help you stay more organized.
4- Factor in Remote Learning or Working
Another important question is whether anyone works at home. Many people found themselves squashed into a bedroom corner or using part of the dining room table when remote work became common. A home office or at least a dedicated space is important for comfortable, effective work.
Choosing the right size home for your family is not a simple task, and you don’t want to rush into it and then realize you’ve made a mistake. Weigh all of the factors carefully, and make sure you think about both the present and future as well as everyone’s needs and preferences.