Is bigger really better?

by Laurel Grandle, REALTOR

America has always had a mind-set of bigger is better. Even our personalities seem to be that way.

In colonial times, are homes were small and cozy, with a ceiling height of 6' to 7'.

Around the mid-19th century, houses of every class, from mansions to workers' cottages, began to get bigger and bigger. Ceiling heights went to 10 and 12 feet in the Victorian era, while floor plans got more and more complicated. Victorian kitchens were sometimes 3 or 4 rooms! Immense entry foyers were lavishly decorated to impress guests and flaunt wealth and status.

Yet, rather than making their owners happier, these vast houses instead provoked a backlash -- especially among women, who typically had the task of keeping them clean. This disenchantment with the bloated Victorian design ushered in the bungalow homes of the early 20th century, with their credo of "smaller and simpler is better."

In the face of the current recession, Americans are slowly turning away from our 30-year obsession with bloated houses, despite the fact that we've already learned this lesson once before.

I think we could learn a lot from these downsized homes of a century ago. I've sold huge homes to empty nesters, as this is what they wanted. In a few years, they call to say, "We only use about 4 rooms. We're heating and cooling all this space, paying taxes on it and we don't use it or need it." It may be time for a condo or a smaller home!

I think that there is an unnecessary "stigmatism" to "downsizing". It's not just good economic sense, in many cases, it's also practical: Less to clean, paint, heat, cool, etc. freeing up your energy and money for more enjoyable activities.

How much space do you really need? I would encourage buyers to carefully consider this. It's not so much what you can afford, but what do you really need? What will you really use?

As our population ages, a lot of baby boomers are looking for (and having a hard time finding!) a home similar to their "starter" home, but with more amenities. Most do not need a lot of space, but they've got money and they want a nice home...so why buy one that's really too big? They want one with solid surfaces: Granite counters, tile and wood floors, lots of upgrades, but not necessarily a lot of square footage. And a "UNIVERSAL DESIGN" should be considered.

A Universal Design calls for wide hallways, to accommodate wheel chairs, walkers, crutches (we have accidents, you know); a bath room conducive to use by older folks, one level or at least the master on the main, that sort of construction. The kind of home you can live in for a long, long time, in spite of unanticipated future health issues is ideal for many homeowners.

Thinking of downsizing? Give me a call. I can help you. My cell is 865 389 2551 and I'd love to help!

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Laurel Grandle sells homes throughout the East TN Area, including Knoxville, Karns, Farragut, Halls, Powell, Loudon County, Knox County. She specializes in Lake homes, Luxury homes, Historic homes, New Construction and is an expert at matching buyers with the right house, regardless of the area or price range, she has over 25 years of experience and has helped thousands of clients with their real estate needs.

Here is what some of her clients have said about her recently, “Laurel has an unlimited amount of patience. My family has very specific needs and she understood them and worked with us until we found the perfect home at the right price. I don’t think anyone else would have done that for us and we’ll always be thankful we found her and worked with her. She’s wonderful!” Margo

“Laurel has accommodated us on many occasions very quickly, as our schedules change all the time. She was always understanding of
the time and date changes and she helped us find a great house.” Williams

“Thank you! It's wonderful having you as our agent and we both think you're a terrific person. Bob was right when he said we'd love you.” Joe

“Laurel really knows the area and the market. She didn’t waste any time…she showed us what we ask for in the location we wanted and made the whole move a very good experience for our family”. Robert

“Before we wrote an offer, Laurel did a detailed market analysis for us and discussed it with us so we understood what a fair price would be. She went over the entire contract in detail and clarified everything for us. We purchased with confidence and we’d never use anyone else IF we ever decide to sell!” Anne

Exit Realty Knoxville (each office independently owned and operated) is your number one resource for all your real estate needs, including listing, sales, referrals; our EXIT agents are committed to serving you—put us to work for you: 865 389 2551 865 690 4300 TOLL FREE: 888 966 4926

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