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What's the right size house for your family?

Nov 15, 2017
What's the right size house for your family?
If you’re looking for a new property, you may be wondering whether to opt for more space or less for you and your family, or whether to move to a house of the same size. What one family classes as being the perfect size and layout, might not suit your family.

Key Takeaways

1. Determining House Size:
  • Consider your family size, potential life changes, and any special room requirements.
  • A general rule of thumb is to multiply the number of people by 600 square feet to find the best size house for your family.
2. Location:
  • A smaller house, which is in your ideal location, may work much better than a bigger house elsewhere.
3. Budget:
  • How much you can afford to spend on your next home will often determine the size of house you can afford to buy.
4. Layout:
  • The layout of a home is important, and shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s surprising how different two houses that are the same size can feel, due to having different layouts.
However, by asking yourself the questions below, you should have a better idea of what’s the right size for you.

How big is your family and how long are you planning on staying in your new home?

Is your new home going to be a stop-gap, and an opportunity to make a profit and move up the property ladder? Or are you planning on staying for a number of years? If you’re currently a family of three, your requirements will be different from a family of six. However, if you’re planning on having more children in the next few years, or an elderly family member might be moving in, you may want to find a home with adequate room and a suitable layout right away. Alternatively, you may decide to buy a property that suits your needs in the short-term and consider moving or extending in the near future so that you have enough space. 

Is bigger better, or is location more important?

It’s important to understand what your priorities are. For instance, many families consider being in the catchment area of a good school as being essential, and if you’re going to be commuting to work, being a few minutes from the motorway or train station could have a big impact on your work/life balance. For this reason, a smaller house, which is in your ideal location, may work much better than a bigger house elsewhere. However, you don’t want to feel overcrowded and confined, so striking the right balance is essential. Will your furniture and belongings fit in a smaller property? Some people don’t mind having to sell furniture and cut down on belongings, but for others, it can be extremely hard to do.

What’s your budget?

How much you can afford to spend on your next home will often determine the size of house you can afford to buy. You should never overstretch yourself. Even if you want a larger home, a smaller home could be more affordable, allowing you to reduce your day-to-day living costs, and allowing you to have the kind of lifestyle you’re looking for. It could free up money that you could use elsewhere, to help your child at university or to get their first home, or to pay off any debts you may have.

Does the layout work for you?

The layout of a home is important, and shouldn’t be underestimated. It’s surprising how different two houses that are the same size can feel, due to having different layouts. If you’re a family that loves cooking together or you want to be able to watch your kids are playing safely while you cook, a new-build home with an open plan kitchen/diner offering flexible living space, could be just what you’re looking for. A home that doesn’t have this, and instead has a small kitchen with a separate dining room that isn’t adjoining, might not work for your family. This may be perfect for families with teenagers, as the dining room could be turned into an office for studying. Talk to your family about just what sort – and what size – of house you want to move into. Sit down with everyone and discuss this before you start your search, so that you are on the same page when it comes to looking at property websites, show homes or when you go on house viewings. Everything from the layout to the size of each room will make a real difference to how comfortable you are in your home. Floor plans are a great way to get an idea of the size and layout of a potential property before you buy. In addition to just going on viewings, this will help you make your decisions carefully and make sure all parties are happy with the type and size of house you choose.

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