To many this may seem like a funny question.
Has anyone who has built or had built for them a “largeish” home ever regreted it later?
My wife and I live in a 2000 sq ft. house. We need more storage space (a basement would work or just more closest). The floor plan is just not to our liking either. So it is a no-brainer that we should have a different home. We start dreaming and coming up with grand ideas, stone fireplace, high ceilings, largish kitchen and morning room, den, and likely arrive at a 3000 – 3300 sq ft. just for the two of us. But then I just wonder if that is overkill and whether I would be happier trying to think smaller.
Any thoughts.
Replies
We went from 5000sqft heated to 1200sqft. Wanted more money and time for travel. Less payment, less yardwork, housework, etc. No kids now, probably not in future (have addition planned if that should come to be).
No regrets, but did take some getting used to, especially deciding which furniture to keep/would fit in smaller house.
We were just tired of living "big". We lived within our budget, but no room to spare. Now, we have a surplus every month. Amazing how much simpler life is, too. got rid of 2 tractors, now all we have is a push mower, for example.
Thanks for the input.
Wow 5000 sq. ft., I was never thinking that big. And I agree with you about the yard work. I have way too much landscaping. Too much pruning, too much watering.
Wait till you see 9400 feet on the first floor with only 3 rooms. Then add as much for a finished basement, 4 car drive thru garage, 2,000 foot loft and 2600 foot guest / efficieicy apartment.
Just a husband and wife. Not even a pet bird.
Reminds me of a huge house in the Boise area. Knew a lady who drove the school bus there. Huge houses. The biggest of the big, a couple with a 5 yr. old kid. They have no plans for any more kids.
One day the 5 yr. old starts telling her how he sometimes still gets lost in the house.
I love space, but don't quite get the need to live in a mall.
As far as the original question. My house is about 3200 sq. ft. I have 3 kids. Tons of room. Upstairs: big kitchen, laundry room, 1-3/4 baths, 2 bedrooms, LR, and office (only room that's a bit small). Downstairs about 60% finished: 3 bedrooms, family room, small storeroom. Eventually it'll have a bath, nicer family room, and bigger better laid out storeroom. Just not yet.
If I had no kids I might turn part of the basement into a shop so the cars could park in the garage again. :o) Otherwise, I can't figure out how I'd use so much space if it was just the wife and I. You may be better served by a smaller house with a well designed floor-plan. But, only you can decide if that's true. May just depend on what's available when you go house hunting, unless of course you're building.
I certainly haven't regretted having more space. Our previous house was 1200 ft w/o a garage.
Well sure, my wife and I might only need one bedroom, but for resale you pretty well need three. We have fairly large bedroom furniture and you likely know women and clothes and closest. So the master should be fair sized. My wife bakes and has kitchen stuff so need a bit more kitchen counter and storage space. She also likes being able to entertain two or four people in the kitchen will cooking casual meals. So would like some sitting area in kitchen/morning room. If I liked the great room concept there would be no need for the sitting/morning room, but I don't like looking at a kitchen when on the sofa. Then for a livingroom I like the idea of a high ceiling and floor to ceiling rock fireplace. The room needs to be scaled for that. I would like a nice den on the main floor as well. Could put it up or in a basement, but I do like the idea of one floor living as we get older. At any rate, you start adding it up and the square footage climbs.
Thanks for helping me think it out, everybody.
Less truly can be more.
We sold our 2200 sq. ft. house. (plus large 2 stall garage and 400 sq. ft. guest house) 2 years ago. Bought a very well maintained 50 yearold 1200 sq. ft. home. Big time adjustment. But as others mentioned maintanance, cleaning, and taxes are much more to our liking. We now can't imagine why we stayed in the other place so long. We created plenty of storage in the attic (pulldown ladder) and in the garage. Sold a ton of crap we never really needed anyway. Life is simple and a lot more pleasurable.
bit
Big as you can.
If you do anything other than just sit and read or watch the tube, go for as big as you can handle, maybe find an old smaller house in a location that allows a DIY add on, etc. to keep cost down. We've a 5300 sq ft house, detached 1200 sq ft 4 car garage/shop, 1120 sq ft barn/shop, plus 9 ea. 120 sq ft sheds (you can build 120 sq ft here w/o permit) and a pump house, still not enough space. Of course, with kids gone for years, 2 whole rooms in the house are now just for grandkids toys, one for DW to store quilts, etc. etc.
Maybe if retirement ever looks good, another and bigger barn/shop would be good also!
Look for a post last week about the structure somebody was building in Alaska - recall it was 50 feet by 150 feet, combo house and shop, etc all under one roof.
Probably true. Need a craft room for the wife, maybe a sewing room. Hopefully one would combine the two.
LOTS of cabinets in the sewing room. BTW, the former dining room often is covered with stacks of surplus sheets from hotels destined for world relief quilts, etc.
If your DW like my DW, she likes to use all the open horizontal space that is available. So, lots of counter space also, (e.g. 80 sq ft of kitchen counter is woefully inadequate) provide at least 12 sq ft of counter at stair bottoms to avoid having every stair step covered on the outer edges, etc. etc. <G>
You have been snicking around my house haven't you! LOL.
I believe that stuff is light a gas. If you recall from chemistry, a gas expanses to fill the size of it's container!
my house is only 1100 sq feet. By only having two bedrooms and getting rid of hallway it not really that little. Both bedroom exit onto the main room and its 16x26 so not small. good thing about small, wife cannot save everything she wants.
three bedroom? county gave me hell about two bedroom (had permit problems) because they could not charge the high property tax. They had an unwritten rule that only three bedroom could be built. In fact my permit said it was a three bedroom
Capn's advice is good. Sarah Susanka's philosophy (paraphrased) is that you should put more money into good architecture, materials and craftsmanship and less into space. Rarely is a house too small. Normally it is just configured wrong, or simply has no real storage.
If you really want space, I say build a nice house, and put the rest towards a pole shed or an RV ;o)
And unless you have a cleaning person, do you REALLY want to clean yet another bathroom?
No, no, no. When I think larger I think few rooms, but larger and open. Even at 3000 sq. ft. I would plan for 2 1/2 baths (master, one for the bedrooms, and a 1/2 day use guest lav).
Me thinks that people that have huge houses have little pee pees and fluffy ole ladies. 1800 to 2400 sq feet is enough for any couple or a family of 5 or 6 for that matter.
"good thing about small, wife cannot save everything she wants." Want to wager?
but for resale you pretty well need three.
I'm assuming you're owner building? Regarding resale, one other thing to consider when building larger, is a better profit margin. The land as a fixed cost takes up a smaller percentage of the overall cost as you build bigger. You can take greater advantage of the margin from doing it yourself. Also, from my research, people tend to catagorize homes ie a starter house etc. Those who maybe looking to "move up in the world" will likely be willing to pay a greater dollar/foot for a larger home in a more well to do neighborhood then for a smaller one in a not as well to do area. In my case resale is very important. I originally was looking to build between 1800 and 2000 sq feet in a pretty nice area. But from talking with people and doing my research, I found that the risk/reward just wasn't good enough to warrant this. Similar new houses(that had been built within the last 3yrs and sold recently) were going for $90/ft to $95/ft, which just doesn't provide much potential profit. However, similar new builds in more expensive subdivisions are going for $95 - $115 /ft. which is considerably better. I am ultimately going with close to 2800sq ft. The land though considerably more expensive still takes up an equal proportion of the total cost. I live in Western NY fwiw.
-DP
Edited 8/15/2003 7:35:58 PM ET by dperfe
Hi,
From my point of view, size is not the answer. Intelligent design is the answer. I saw lots of really BIG houses, with lots of wasted space. When I design a house, my main concern is with corridors (a real waste of space IMHO)and intelligent solutions for the spaces, heating and illumination.
In other words, you will regret if you invest a lot of money inside a house full of wasted space. But a big house full of cozy and well designed spaces will be just your dream house
Hope this helps!
[email protected]
> So it is a no-brainer that we should have a different home.
Is it?
There are a lot of features of a home that are important, such as location (type of town, services available, land, etc.) If you like everything but the floor plan, you could consider a renovation.
Given the number of larger families who live in 2000 feet or less, it seems unlikely that any couple "needs" more. Of course, there are some folks who want to live in large or even huge homes.
My preference would be smaller, get top quality, and use the money I save in living expenses elsewhere, but that's my preference.
Brad, thanks for the input, but it is a no brainer.
First, set-backs precude an addition.
Secondly, I don't like the neighborhood.
Thirdly, the floorplan is very closed verses open, not fixable.
Fourthly, the value of the home is such that major renovations even if possible would likely never pay.
The list could go on.
The question is, whether I were to build or buy would I be happier in a larger home. I don't think anything crazy but larger.
shakey....u no damn right well that everything u need can be had in a double wide... anything more is pure excess..
our excess is about 2600 sf, w/ 10 rooms & 3.5 baths...... i have no idea what other people are doing in 5000 sf houses... but i would certainly be planning "smaller is better"... i think retirement should also involve retiring from trying to maintain big houses and big yards
Mike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
Mike,
Hey, no one ever tried to define need vs excess. That is not the issue.
Someone on this thread said no one, no couple, or no one with five kids "needs" more than 2000 sq. ft.. I say no one needs more than 400 sq.ft. Most of the world lives in less.
The issue is what do I want. what will be comfortable for my life style. And that could include living with some guilt factor.
As for 5000 sq. ft., I also could never imagine wanting that. For me it seems 3000 +- is tops. However, I am just reconsidering if I would LIKE to make 2000 or 2400 work.
If people what to moralize about need. Fine. I do it as well. But, then do you eat out for lunch once a week. EXCESS. Do you buy a latta in the morning? EXCESS. Do you drive a car newer than five years old? EXCESS. Do you have a hot tub? EXCESS. The list is endless, but as for my original question, it is not relavent.
Cheers.
shakey.... easy, big fella.... the ole double -wide is one of my standard lines...
i'm sure you can be perfectly happy in 3K... now.... as we progress thru our journey in life... circumstances and fulfillment changes...
i live in an area where many of the homes are still occupied by the same family... some for 6 generations or so..
i caretake for a family compound that was built in the 1890's... and the same family still owns all of the houses...
they do turn them over to the next generation...
it just seems like there is a time period in each family's life where they need the big house, and they have the energy and income to support it... but , make sure you have an exit startegy... figger out which of your young relatives are going to be your host when you no longer want the 3K.... then transfer or sell it to them and move into your retirement houseMike Smith Rhode Island : Design / Build / Repair / Restore
"what other people are doing in 5000 sf"
One example - the 'billiards room' still has the pool table, but it is stacked with walnut shorts, and underneath the table is filled with QS oak. -- Maybe you are right, what really is needed is a 2000 sq ft house and a FIFTY Thousand square foot heated shop <G>.
Maybe you are right, what really is needed is a 2000 sq ft house and a FIFTY Thousand square foot heated shop <G>.
Junk,
EXACTLY!!!!!!
Was looking at the trenches that were just dug for the additions I'll be adding on next week....looks hugeeeeee. Way bigger than it looked in the plans...lol.
As I stared at the trenches I realized half of it was for my shop..what was I thinking ; )~
BE huge
andy
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Hey Andy, yu want to start a pool to see how long it takes to say that the shop should have been bigger? What you were probably thinking is, I wonder if the wife would notice that the shop grew a little, while the new______ got a little more confined,cozy, feeling. Keep going, you know you are having a blast now!!
Dan
dan,
I already, during the planning stages had to increase the size of the shop little by little.....I just kept saying that the garage doesn't add much to the taxes.
I ended up with a 30x30, two stories.....not bad. After all I'm more of a builder than a cabinet maker so....
I had to explain that if my new Powermatic is in the middle of the garage/shop and I have to push an eight foot piece of ply through it I need at least 22' and then theres the walls for my benches and shelves....so am I wrong.....yeh, probably, it shoulda been bigger......lol...why'd ya have to start in.
And here I was thinking that bigger only mattered to woman.
Be big
andy
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
And here I was thinking that bigger only mattered to woman.
You wife must be one forgiving lady....
I was told to marry a woman with small hands.....LOL
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
>>what really is needed is a 2000 sq ft house and a FIFTY Thousand square foot heated shop <G>.<<
Right on the money. Actually, I could be pretty happy with 500 sq. ft. of shop.
Easy big fellow? No, problem. Sorry if you thought I was coming down on you. I was serious about the 400 sq. ft. however. Nobody, NEEDs very much of anything. However, that is only one part of the equation.
about 3 yrs ago built a 5000sqft house for a man,sat on 5 acres has a 40x40 workshop,5bdr. 4 full bath.they sell around here (coastal nc)upwards of 1/2 2 mill and up.BUT he is about 10 or so miles from the ocean.houses around his go for around 4-500000.the finished price was almost 700000.he tried to sell it for 1.2 price went down to about 9.5 then down to 823000.he still lives in it to this day.thinking he is just in the wrong area to warrant that kind of a house so yeah i'm sure he regrets building big.but then again maybe someday..........
S&S,
Seems to me you have a design problem, rather than size problem. Unless you do large scale entertaining or have other unusual needs. Our next digs will be almost as much under roof as you're planning, but ours includes a large lap pool and my wife's substantial business needs. A majority of your size decision could very well be determined by "where".
I have a potential client who lives in 6k ft (4 bdrm) that was built when I was running a shop for a builder. Now they're empty nesters in a controlled subdivision that won't allow detached garages. And he's acquired a boat. Wanted to know if I could figure out a ramp to the second floor, that is otherwise unused. Far as I can tell, there are at least 4 rooms they never visit.
They haven't figured it out yet, but their house is too big and configured wrong. Not that they can't afford it, but he's unhappy with their utility and maintenance bills. When their place was under construction I was also buying land. Turned out my 83 acres cost half of his 3 acres- on opposite ends of a mountain ridge.
We're still only in the initial stages, but they need a different house. I'm quite certain they don't "regret" their initial decision (fine when they had kids and nanny), but it isn't working now. The only people I've known who immediately regretted their decision for a large house, were some who decided what they got to live in wasn't worth the mortgage payment. These were "trophy" homes. Usually he was unhappy, she was thrilled.
Good luck.
PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!
trophy house. Good point, about reviewing one's motives. I don't think I fall in that category or a keeping up with the Jones frame of mind.
My wife does have a big family and does like to have them over. I hate the thought of it every time she suggests it. Our house is just not condusive for large entertaining. On the other hand is that a reason to have an extra 600 sq. ft. 24/7 for 10 or 12 evenings a year?
lots of great answers to this thread, if i were in your situation i would move, you are obviously unhappy there. as to regretting moving to, or building to much house i think thats silly if you can afford it and if you are not locked in by HO assoc to stupid restrictions like no detached garages. design is key. you can always change things, and if you plan for several different scenarios of change the addition, subtraction, or reconfiguration will be simpler and cheaper. come up with a design for a house with several designs of additions to the house. then decide how many of the additions you want now. use a simple self supporting roof framing design so no interior walls are bearing.
Well, perhaps I like your, too much house - don't be silly, thought. I guess because 3000 sq ft does not sound like too much of a leap. But, I also suppose I am a bit of a puritan. My parents and consequentially myself have always been thrifty.
shake i can most definately relate to being thrifty. have you ever read the book "the millionaire next door" most people in the US with a net worth of over a million dollars are thrifty, thats how they got a net worth of over a million. there are a few things that people who have worked and saved hard their entire lives will spend money on. one of the biggies is real estate. a well thought out design, not overbuilt for the neighborhood, that is adaptable to many different families uses will increase in value. that is an investment, not a waste of money.
Visit your local book seller and look through Sarah Susanka's "Not So Big House" books. You may be surprised at how much bigger a little smaller can be. It may be all you need is 1800 sf of properly designed house. Or, maybe 1600 sf.
If you have "seasonal" family entertaining, it may be an idea to look into a 'vacation' home--with a twist, on the same lot. A dining room for 10-12, and a playroom/family room (plus xmas tree and presents and more presents), would not have much use the other 45-50 weeks of the year. But, what if you built the space with the same thought that would go into a vacation cabin? Maybe that huge family room is really a four season porch. Perhaps a loft sleeping space over the dining room for younguns. "Design" seems to be the key.
Where does that lead us? Maybe a "couple's" house, in an L shape, around 1400 SF with some very well designed spaces for two people. Then a courtyard with a "cabin" for when all the guests come calling. Or, perhaps the extended family space is its own "wing" off of the main house; say, attached near the kitchen to better share utilities.
Keep thinking, keep asking questions. We have a number of very good designers here (even if some would be horrified at being identified with the 'enemy' :) . . . )
I built a 2300 square foot (plus 600 square feet shop) for just me. I was considering resale, which is why I built it so large.
I think the biggest reason to not go large is money. Not just contruction, which are one time costs, but all the other costs which go on forever and never get smaller: taxes, insurance, paint, roofing, heat, air conditioning. Also, all that cleaning, more landscaping to maintain, more lawn to mow, more fertilizer to buy, more snow to shovel, and on and on.
The basement is empty except for one bag of hockey gear. I mean completely empty. Two closets are completely empty, the master closet is half empty, the garage has lots of room. I can't imagine ever filling this house up, let alone "needing" something larger for me. The only thing too small is the shop.
Empty basement? You don't know my wife.
Live ther a little longer or....
Get a female room mate...
I posted a reply to the wrong person before. My mother and I just finished building a house of appx 1380 sf. It has good design, vaulted ceilings giving volume open feeling, french doors, pocket doors, all walls interior including insulated and soundproofed makes house seem more private. Built ins, window seat doubles as a sleeping area. Daybed and sleeper sofa. with seperate suite allows sleeping over of 10 adults in beds with 2 full baths. No one on the floor.
The is more but the is good materials, good design, good decorating, and no lawn to mow. We are in the middle of 25 Acres in the country. Best part of small house is being able to buy more land. This gives options that subdivision living never will.
Enough preaching, good luck in your search........dan
You did mention a couple of things not on the need list . Thats cool , just one thought for the road;
Dont build too much to sell and you will be fine if you can afford the figgure. If you are in it below appraisel you can pass it off nicely.
Tim Mooney
Even though we don't "need" so much space, DW and I are just starting to build almost twice as much square footage as we have raised two kids in. Hope we don't regret it.
Oh, yeah. We live in 870 sqr ft now and are building 1,536 sqr ft with another 764 unfinished basement (plus a large garage/shop/carport detached).
The idea that large is "for the market" is generally nonsense. In all but the most exclusive neighborhoods, there is a market for all sizes of homes and there is a market for two bedroom homes.
The 90's are over and they won't be back for a long time.
Any jackass can kick down a barn, but it takes a carpenter to build one.
The last house I built and lived in (spec house) is 4000 sq ft (see my website below if you wanna see pics). One thing I did in the design was to create it so it didn't look as big as it was (from the outside). I wanted the appearance of "charming" not big.
I lived in it finished for about a year and never really liked it. The size was way too big for me. Granduer isn't exactly my middle name. Like I said....it was a spec house.....it got me into my current project.
My newest project will also be quite big but this time its for me so the spaces will revolve around my families needs. One thing that will make it big will be my shop. Adds on a two story 30 x30 garage (I keep telling my wife its a garage,,,heh heh).
Its quality not quantity.
BE big.....lol
andy
In his first interview since the stroke, Ram Dass, 66, spoke with great difficulty about how his brush with death has changed his ideas about aging, and how the recent loss of two old friends, Timothy Leary and Allen Ginsberg, has convinced him that now, more than ever, is the time to ``Be Here Now.''
http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM
Bigger can be better--e.g., do you need to isolate a bunch of noisy kids from the adults? More sq ft also leads to extra care (more mopping, etc.). Have these suggestions been made yet?
Don't make it the biggest property in the neighborhood, or, if it is, don't expect top dollar when you sell. You'd be better off to have the next biggest property, or even smaller, for more bang for your resale buck (according to San Diego realtors).
Where do you currently spend your time, percentage-wise? I would make those rooms the most friendly, and possibly extra large, esp the kitchen if you make it a kitchen/dining (casual) combo.
I'd want a full bath for every bedroom--if people need to have many occupants to pay for the big place, it's nice for a modicum of privacy.
Personally, my place is nearly miniature, but it's plenty big for me (now that I have stopped collecting and have shifted into de-materializing!) Are you comfortable talking w/your guests over a distance of 20'? I wouldn't be, so I'm one of those who would say just because you need several "bed"rooms (you and DW, kids, den, sewing, computer), workshop, greenhouse, etc., doesn't mean you need a big house. Maybe a stackable house :-)
Seriously, take DW to a few hotel lobbies, lounge around beneath the high ceilings, then go to a little dive that has good food. Which feels better? Maybe she needs a huge living room and you want a cozy bedroom. Whatever.
Once I stayed w/a GF who had a 5k sf house, which included the attic. Mammoth! Anyway, I hope you have fun figuring it all out!
Great input.
One bath per bedroom? Big bucks! For me I would expect the non-master bedrooms to me multi-purpose. On occassion they would serve as guest rooms for realitively close relatives and they can share a bath for a few days. I do not intend to clean them and pay for them the remaining 350 days a year. Just my thoughts.
You are right in that we don't want a hotel lobby feel. That is something to think about.