When it comes time to buy or build a home, determining your budget and the ideal home size for your family are the first decisions that you will need to make. While your budget is based on facts and figures, the size of your ideal home may be much harder to determine. The square footage of your house can have a significant impact on your cost of living, comfort and future plans in the home. If you are considering buying or building a new home, understanding your current living situation, as well as how you want to live in your new space, can help determine the right home size for you.
Consider the Expenses
The first step in house hunting should be to figure out what you can comfortably afford. Beyond the purchase price of the home, however, it is important to consider the expenses that will come along with the home that you are considering for purchase.
What is Working, and What Isn’t
Look around your current living situation—what works, and what doesn’t? Are there spaces that you just don’t use? Do you have the right number of bedrooms for your family size? Is there enough storage, or too much? When looking to buy or build a home, it is important to look at not just the overall square footage, but how that space is used. Oftentimes, bigger isn’t always better if it is not a design that fits with the needs of your family. Having a full understanding of your existing space will help you make better comparisons when determining the ideal home size to suit your needs.
Living in Your New Home
Certain lifestyles have particular needs. For example, a family that values cooking and entertaining will need the space to do so. Conversely, if you prefer quiet, individual activities you may not want or need an open-concept, farmhouse kitchen. Focus on the space you need for the lifestyle you prefer by making a list of what is desired to feel comfortable “living” in your home.
What Does the Future Hold?
A lot can happen throughout the life of the home; kids, aging parents, empty nests, etc. What will your family look like in five years? Ten years? Your future intentions for the home can help you determine the ideal home size for you now and ten years down the road.
If you are ready to look for a new home and have an ideal size in mind, consider building a custom home with Homewood. With over 50 years in the business, we know how to build the right-sized home for your family.
Contact a sales associate today to get started on the design process or select a home from our inventory that is newly built and ready for move-in today.