Are you ready to buy a house for yourself and your family? If so, you’re in good company. Existing home sales in 2020 hit the highest point since 2006.
What if you’re not sure what home size would be the right fit? What’s the average home size in the US? There’s a lot to consider when it comes to buying a house, such as having enough bedroom space and areas for storage.
Learn which factors you should consider when shopping for a house here so you can make the best choice to suit your needs.
Number of Rooms
Consider your current living situation. Do you have enough bedrooms? Would you like additional space? Is the living room too small?
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? How about space for guests? A separate play area for your kids?
Do you have enough rooms to comfortably live, or is it time to look into extra square footage?
Ask yourself questions like these to get a better idea of what to look for when you’re shopping around. They’re some of the most important factors you need to consider when buying a new home.
Extra Room vs. Amenities and Upgrades
Make a list of pain points that bother you in your current home. List your needs and the items that would be nice to have, such as granite countertops or french doors. Consider whether you’d rather have more space or if those upgrades are important to you.
For instance, do you have to have a pool? Would you rather have a smaller house and a bigger backyard?
The average house size for a single-family home, according to United States Census data, is 2,261 square feet. Whether that seems like it would be enough room for your family depends on your lifestyle and preferences.
Remember Maintenance Costs
The bigger the house, the longer it will take to clean and maintain. Plus, you’ll have to consider the cost of your utilities. It will cost more to heat and cool a bigger home.
Features like vaulted ceilings and older windows can also contribute to higher energy costs.
Think About Your Furniture
If you plan on bringing your furniture to your new home, make sure you have a clear picture of how it will fit in the new space. Take measurements of your furniture. When you tour homes, either in person or online, get a measurement of each room size.
Tour homes in various sizes. If the home is staged, you can get a better idea of how the furniture fits in each room. If you’re moving from a small home to a much larger one, you may need to buy larger furniture.
Find the Right Home Size
Finding the right home size for you and your family comes down to considering what you need in the new house. That might be more square footage or additional bedrooms. Remember to think about the future, as you might need more bedrooms for kids or an aging parent.
For more homeowner tips, check out some of our other articles.
