Time To Downsize? Check Out The Incredible Advantages

Karin Carr, REALTOR®
Published on October 13, 2021

The average size of a home in the United States in 1973 was 1,525 square feet. Since that time, home builders have been constantly increasing the total square footage of the houses they erect.

According to the Census Bureau, the average size of a home reached its highest point in 2007 (2,227 square feet), and it has been steadily declining ever since then.

In spite of the fact that Americans aren’t quite ready to give up their McMansions for good, the trend appears to be toward smaller dwellings.

There are benefits to having a smaller footprint. Let’s take a gander at a few of them, shall we?

Money Saver

The most obvious advantage of buying a smaller home is that the monthly payment will typically be lower than it would be if you bought a large home.  Less obvious money-saving advantages include:

  • Lower utility bills – less area to heat and cool.
  • Smaller houses require less maintenance, which can cost a bundle with a large house — a smaller roof requires fewer materials to repair, for example.
  • Small homes cost less to keep clean – you’ll spend less on cleaning supplies and whatever you estimate your time is worth.
  • Small houses cost less to furnish – the furniture that you purchase will be smaller as well.
  • Smaller homes have smaller tax bills.

The case for downsizing to save money is even more urgent if you are nearing or in retirement. Annual property taxes and home maintenance can eat up a huge amount of your savings.

If you aren’t near retirement, think of what you can do with the money saved by downsizing – like furnishing it with high-quality furniture and appliances that will last longer; another cost-saving advantage.

Time To Downsize? Check Out The Incredible Advantages

No Wasted Space

Lifestyles have changed since the days when formal dining and living rooms were in vogue. Americans are awake to the fact that they have been paying for huge amounts of space that they seldom use.

Today, a country kitchen or informal dining room suffices for our smaller families, and any extra space is typically devoted to a home office or larger kitchens and bathrooms.

One of the most common fears when considering a smaller home, however, is the lack of storage space. The solution? Downsize all your “stuff” too.

“We use 20 percent of what we own, 80 percent of the time,” according to Regina Brett at cleveland.com. This means that 80 percent of our “stuff” just sits, taking up valuable space.

If you feel that you absolutely can’t live without these belongings, put them in storage and pull them out on the rare occasions you need to use them.

The rest can be stored creatively in a smaller home. Utilize the vertical spaces in the home, such as placing shelves above the washer and dryer or the clothing rod in the closet. Raise the beds to create storage space beneath them.

Peace of Mind

While living large is impressive, living small brings happiness, according to Stephanie Rosenbloom of the New York Times. Smaller homes require less work thus freeing up time for leisure activities and time to make memories.

Since they also cost less, the extra money can be used to create happiness. “Current research suggests that, unlike consumption of material goods, spending on leisure and services typically strengthens social bonds, which in turn helps amplify happiness,” Rosenbloom claims.

Yes, large homes still signify status – especially if the home is of the luxury variety. If you aren’t a member of the country’s 1 percent, however, smaller may just be better.

Reach out to us for more ideas on downsizing to a smaller home.

Contact Us!

chat_bubble
close
Sell Your Property With Us
Get Started Now