Every time the economy gets bad, the size of new homes goes down a bit. Once the economy improves, we seem to creep upwards in our preferences again. According to the National Association of Home Builders, the average house built in 2013 was 2,679 square feet, an increase of 160 square feet from 2012. Trends about where people want the space distributed in a home have changed, however, even as the overall varies. Even for those looking to buy a an existing home instead of new construction want a home that is laid out to accommodate their own lifestyle and the size of their family.
What Ikea Found Americans Want
As a study by Swedish retailer IKEA pointed out, people want space where they spend time in the home. Having extra rooms for special uses is not as important as having room to enjoy activities and store their stuff where they spend time. They recently surveyed 4,000 male and female U.S. consumers between 25-54. Here are a few of their conclusions:
- People feel cramped in the kitchen and long for kitchen storage, elbow room, and counterspace.
- In the kitchen, people love technology, but what they use is not high-tech cooking gadgets, but the TV, computer or music system.
- Bedrooms also lack enough storage space, so 54% of the survey respondents stored things under the bed.
- 65% of respondents felt the living room was the most popular spot in the house, especially when connected to the kitchen to make it open space.
Location, Location, Location
The survey responses may not hit on what you feel is important in your home, but does serve as a reality check for homebuyers.
In real estate, our shopworn mantra is "location, location, location." This is an important concept not just for the community you choose or the street where you buy your home, but for within your home itself. When you buy a new place, make sure that the layout and the space are right for you.
Of course, there are no perfect homes, which means that buyers always have to compromise a bit when making a purchase. This is true even in new construction, unless you have large sums to direct toward a completely custom made home. Even if you need to compromise on some things in your home, make sure that the home you buy lines up with your needs or can be renovated to do so.
Determining If The Space Is Right
Some of the questions you might ask yourself when you look at a home:
- Do you or another family member work at home? You need designated office space. This is not a TV home show, where the breadwinner is given a tiny desk in the corner of a room. Most jobs require room for a desk large enough to be functional, filing cabinets, office equipment, and storage.
- Do you have little children you need to keep an eye on? An open floor plan might give you the vantage point you need. There is a big "but" here. If what is in your site line is the main playroom, do you want to see toys as far as the eye can see? If not, where will the kids to play?
- How much company do you really have? Having a dedicated guestroom is ideal, but if you have infrequent overnight guests, you might be able to adapt another area of the home when people came. A pullout sofa in the family room or a daybed in a room you mainly used for other purposes might be a better use of space.
- How does the space flow? Before open concept homes were the trend, people were still conscious of how close the kitchen was to the dining room or where it was in relation to the living room. If the rooms are laid out conveniently, you might be able to ultimately knock down walls to create a larger open space if that's what you like. Some of your walls might be loadbearing, but usually the contractor can install a structural beam that will make an open layout possible.
- Are there enough bathrooms? You can add more bathrooms if there aren't enoughm but installing water and sewer lines are costly. Even if you want to renovate the bathroom, you are in a better position to do it you want without it costing a fortune if you have plumbing in place.
- Are there green features in place? You can add many energy-saving features to your home, as well as purchase Energy Star appliances and use the latest bulbs. However if you want to add a expensive solar upgrades, make sure that housing prices in the neighborhood can withstand the cost of the upgrades.
Find A Home In Louisville
With housing inventory down in Louisville, finding the perfect home can be a challenge. When you compromise, make sure you don't settle for something that does not meet your "must haves" for your family. I'd be happy to introduce you to our market. Just call me Jessica Gaines Jarboe at Louisville Gaines Real Estate today to discuss buying or selling your home.
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