|
This cute little 1,900 square foot house built by Berkeley Homes has won both local and national awards! |
In an article written by Heather Levin of U.S. News & World Report, she explains why small homes are making a big come back! Taking a look back you'll see that smaller
homes historically were the norm for most Americans. In 1950, the average
home size was 983 square feet compared to 2004, at the height of the
building boom, where the average home size was 2,340 square feet. There's no doubt that small homes are seeing a
resurgence as people realize how great they can be. Here are five reason Levin says you should consider a small home:
1. Small homes cost less. Think about what it costs to heat and cool a 3,000-square foot
behemoth. Home-improvement projects such as
repainting the exterior, replacing the roof or changing the flooring
cost more because of the size of these homes.
Small homes, on the other hand, reduce expenses because of their
size. A small home has smaller rooms to heat and cool, less square
footage on the outside to paint and a smaller roof. You also save
money on property taxes, since you have less square footage.
2. Small homes save time.
It takes a significant amount of time to clean a big house and maintain
the yard.
Living in a small home means you spend less
time, week after week, on housecleaning and other home maintenance.
3. Smaller homes make it easier to live simply. When you have a smaller home, you have less space to store belongings. You are forced to
make choices about what you keep and what you donate, sell or give
away.
4. Smaller homes mean quality splurges.
It costs a small fortune to upgrade countertops or replace cabinets and
appliances in a restaurant-sized kitchen. Living in a
small house means you can splurge on quality upgrades because you have
less to buy.
5. Small homes may be easier to sell. Energy costs continue to rise. That means energy-efficient homes,
especially small energy-efficient homes, will be in high demand in the
future.
Perhaps next time you're in the market for a new home you'll consider a small home with all its time and cost savings over a McMansion!
To read the full article click
here.