Big houses - why?
Discussion
Frimley111R said:
Running around the local area I pass a number of houses which are seriously big 5-6 bedroom+ with according space downstairs etc. Given how many there are I wonder why people have such large homes. Unless they have very big families aren't they just massive and mostly empty houses?
Because they have deeper pockets than yow?Apart from money I think it's a time-of-life thing. Also, if you want to live in a nice area, sometimes only large houses are available.
My last three houses have been about 3500 square feet but now I don't want the upkeep of all that space so Mrs G and I are downsizing. We're buying a small 1200 sq ft bungalow to smash around a bit to end up with something around 1400 square feet is my guess. I love the idea of living more simply now.
At the end of the day, each to their own.
My last three houses have been about 3500 square feet but now I don't want the upkeep of all that space so Mrs G and I are downsizing. We're buying a small 1200 sq ft bungalow to smash around a bit to end up with something around 1400 square feet is my guess. I love the idea of living more simply now.
At the end of the day, each to their own.
Edited by anonymous-user on Wednesday 10th July 15:19
It's a shame that the most appealing situations always have ginormous houses on them.
There've been plenty of places I've seen that made my mouth water in terms of their grounds and where they were but I wouldn't want them because having a vast number of cold and empty rooms would quickly grate.
I guess there's always demolishing but that might not go down too well.
There've been plenty of places I've seen that made my mouth water in terms of their grounds and where they were but I wouldn't want them because having a vast number of cold and empty rooms would quickly grate.
I guess there's always demolishing but that might not go down too well.
truth be told, it's probably willy waving if the house CLEARLY outstrips need.
a big (presumed expensive) house will be extremely illiquid and accordingly extremely difficult to turn back into ready cash... that kind of chops the investment angle off at the knees, the SDLT is also unacceptably crippling.
it's just a measure of perceived social standing, along with the metal on the drive. there's nothing particularly deep about it.
a big (presumed expensive) house will be extremely illiquid and accordingly extremely difficult to turn back into ready cash... that kind of chops the investment angle off at the knees, the SDLT is also unacceptably crippling.
it's just a measure of perceived social standing, along with the metal on the drive. there's nothing particularly deep about it.
The house next to me is a 5 bedroom and there's only one woman living there. Next door is a 5 bedroom with a couple and their toddler. The house next to that is a 6 bedroom and it's a couple with 5 daughters. The 6 bed is too small but likely the best they can afford. Her next door doesn't need a 5 bed she wanted it. It's down to what they like or need and can afford.
In the past I was aspirational and always wanted a bigger house. Every time I could afford to leap up a size (within reason) I did so. I didn't get that far up the size scale (4 bed) before I came to realise that a bigger house just meant more to go wrong, more to maintain, more time to cut grass, clean unused rooms etc etc.
I didn't need the extra space as I do not have a family and nor did I intend to have. Spare rooms were sat there for guest visits which were infrequent and for the few times a year that arose I could have paid for a 5* hotel room for guests frankly with money saved on maintaining a larger house than I needed for 1 or 2 people.
The problem as I see it often with smaller houses is that often rooms are proportioned to bedroom size. If you want a nice size lounge, or a dressing room, or a decent double garage, its unlikely to come with a 2 bedroom house. Until you go to a 4-5 bedroom house, you often don't get the niceties that I do want.
The other issue is area. Although there are plenty of exceptions, sometimes its hard to find properties with fewer bedrooms in the nicer areas that are reserved for the larger properties; the smaller properties grouped together in less prestigious zones. As I say, plenty of exceptions to that but its another factor.
I didn't need the extra space as I do not have a family and nor did I intend to have. Spare rooms were sat there for guest visits which were infrequent and for the few times a year that arose I could have paid for a 5* hotel room for guests frankly with money saved on maintaining a larger house than I needed for 1 or 2 people.
The problem as I see it often with smaller houses is that often rooms are proportioned to bedroom size. If you want a nice size lounge, or a dressing room, or a decent double garage, its unlikely to come with a 2 bedroom house. Until you go to a 4-5 bedroom house, you often don't get the niceties that I do want.
The other issue is area. Although there are plenty of exceptions, sometimes its hard to find properties with fewer bedrooms in the nicer areas that are reserved for the larger properties; the smaller properties grouped together in less prestigious zones. As I say, plenty of exceptions to that but its another factor.
Number of rooms is not of great interest to me, but the size of rooms in modern houses are typically too small.
I get particularly envious of our American cousins whose rooms are comparatively huge (unless NY/LA), especially in the mid west. Same goes for gardens/yards, garages, etc.
I get particularly envious of our American cousins whose rooms are comparatively huge (unless NY/LA), especially in the mid west. Same goes for gardens/yards, garages, etc.
LordGrover said:
Number of rooms is not of great interest to me, but the size of rooms in modern houses are typically too small.
I get particularly envious of our American cousins whose rooms are comparatively huge (unless NY/LA), especially in the mid west. Same goes for gardens/yards, garages, etc.
It is very true that typical house builders in the UK go for quantity of rooms rather than quality (size).I get particularly envious of our American cousins whose rooms are comparatively huge (unless NY/LA), especially in the mid west. Same goes for gardens/yards, garages, etc.
garyhun said:
It is very true that typical house builders in the UK go for quantity of rooms rather than quality (size).
There's a Gleeson development near me with 4 bed detached houses. We had a nosey around and I couldn't believe how small the living area and bedrooms actually were. The house had a smaller footprint than my old pokey 3 bed semi which I sold to make space for my increasing family. One of the rooms would struggle to fit anything other than a cot. Still, they are priced well for starter type homes but I'd rather have 2 larger bedrooms in a starter than 4 tiny ones.Shnozz said:
The problem as I see it often with smaller houses is that often rooms are proportioned to bedroom size. If you want a nice size lounge, or a dressing room, or a decent double garage, its unlikely to come with a 2 bedroom house. Until you go to a 4-5 bedroom house, you often don't get the niceties that I do want.
Yes, sort of where we are. I wanted a double garage and a drive for a few cars and a downstairs toilet and a bit more room but it came with 4 big bedrooms and there are only 2 of us. I do feel a bit like we've got too much space upstairs but unless we bought a pyramid shaped house.... I feel a bit like it needs a family to fill it but realised that we're far from the only ones in this situation ans many have much bigger houses.I’ve got a five bed house and it’s just my wife and I. Do we need all the room? Not at the moment, no. But the rationale for buying it was to future proof us. When we start a family, it has plenty of rooms, nice garden, good local schools. It’s equidistant between our works. All the rooms are used; we have people stay over regularly, Mrs Carnage works 24/7 shifts so it’s really handy for her to have another room to get dressed in, and one bedroom is my library.
After growing up in a terraced ex council house, I promised I’d never live like that growing up and love the space to move around.
TLDR; Had a double garage and suits my lifestyle!
After growing up in a terraced ex council house, I promised I’d never live like that growing up and love the space to move around.
TLDR; Had a double garage and suits my lifestyle!
Frimley111R said:
Shnozz said:
The problem as I see it often with smaller houses is that often rooms are proportioned to bedroom size. If you want a nice size lounge, or a dressing room, or a decent double garage, its unlikely to come with a 2 bedroom house. Until you go to a 4-5 bedroom house, you often don't get the niceties that I do want.
Yes, sort of where we are. I wanted a double garage and a drive for a few cars and a downstairs toilet and a bit more room but it came with 4 big bedrooms and there are only 2 of us. I do feel a bit like we've got too much space upstairs but unless we bought a pyramid shaped house.... I feel a bit like it needs a family to fill it but realised that we're far from the only ones in this situation ans many have much bigger houses.Although probably a poor investment, I have often thought it would be great to build a decent detached house with a large garage underneath, decent size living areas but only 2 or so bedrooms. A petrolhead property if you will. There are some housebuilding schemes like it I have seen in the USA but never in the UK. That said, that is kind of like the house I have here in Spain but by fortune of the shape of the land upon which its built rather than by outright design.
toon10 said:
garyhun said:
It is very true that typical house builders in the UK go for quantity of rooms rather than quality (size).
There's a Gleeson development near me with 4 bed detached houses. We had a nosey around and I couldn't believe how small the living area and bedrooms actually were. The house had a smaller footprint than my old pokey 3 bed semi which I sold to make space for my increasing family. One of the rooms would struggle to fit anything other than a cot. Still, they are priced well for starter type homes but I'd rather have 2 larger bedrooms in a starter than 4 tiny ones.It's all cutting costs but at the same time boosting the kerb appeal - it's a 4 bed not a 3 bed, they can also ask more money!
OP is about big houses..there's plenty of small ones too!
Frimley111R said:
Running around the local area I pass a number of houses which are seriously big 5-6 bedroom+ with according space downstairs etc. Given how many there are I wonder why people have such large homes. Unless they have very big families aren't they just massive and mostly empty houses?
I don't think it has to be "very" big families - a few kids take up quite a bit of space.Ours left home, got married and then came back to the area and had children of their own, so there's often 4 adults and two or three little kids charging about. I guess that'll lessen as they get older but right now we could do with more space than we've ever had.
I'd rather have a decent amount of land to call my own than some massive mansion on a relatively small plot. (less than an acre). Currently I own 6 bedrooms, unfortunately split over two properties. When I do get round to amalgamating my modest realestate into a single address I'll probably halve the number of bedrooms but have a decent lump of land, a few outbuildings a workshop etc to do what I want with.
If we did buy a big 6+ bedroom house my Mrs would only spend all our available cash filling rooms that we never go in. I want to use all our available cash filling garages and workshops that only I ever go in
If we did buy a big 6+ bedroom house my Mrs would only spend all our available cash filling rooms that we never go in. I want to use all our available cash filling garages and workshops that only I ever go in
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