Which is Better?
When it comes to house hunting, the second most important question to consider, is the size of the home. How many rooms, bathrooms and space will you and your family need? Within this question, you’ll find a multitude of other aspects to consider. For instance, do you want an open floor plan or a traditional space? Do you want multiple living rooms or is the main room enough? How much room do you need for storage? But even more importantly, when it comes to layout and space, you’ll have to decide do you want a one story or a two-story home? Before you decide, let’s look at the pros and cons of each.
One-Story Homes: Pros and Cons
Pros of One-Story Homes
Easy to Maintain – With everything on the same level, you’ll find your home easier to maintain. From daily chores, to major cleaning projects, everything is a lot easier when there are no stairs involved.
Simple Design – If you’re looking to build your dream home from the ground up, a one-story home is a lot easier to design and less expensive to build.
Safe to Navigate – Living with elderly parents or toddlers in a one-story home is much safer as there are fewer risks of falls and accidents due to stairs.
Easy to Evacuate – One-story homes are the safest structures to be in during an earthquake and are much easier to evacuate in an emergency situation.
Cons of One-Story Homes
Adding-On is Expensive – With less space inside, you’ll find adding more to a one-story home possesses some expensive problems. When building, on to your one-story home, you’ll have to invest in more land, and expensive materials such as foundation, roofing and windows.
Less Privacy – Having everyone on one-floor leaves you a little bit more exposed than having a second-story which tends to be more secluded.
Two-Story Homes: Pros and Cons
Pros of Two-Story Homes
Extra Privacy – A second floor makes for an easier separation of public and private spaces, which means more privacy in areas that you need it most.
Lower Risk of Burglary – Having a two-story home leaves you at less risk of a break-in if you accidentally leave a window or two open upstairs.
More Design Options – More existing space means more room to create and customize the rooms of your home.
Potential Views – If you’re living in a scenic neighborhood, the second floor gives you the ability to really enjoy the view.
Cons of Two-Story Homes
Costly Heating and Cooling – As heat rises, cold air drops and as a result your upstairs will always run hot, while your downstairs cool. This will require adjustments to be made to your AC accordingly to keep everyone comfortable and this all comes at a cost. Some experts say that a two-story home may have double the cooling costs of a single-story home of the same square footage.
Higher Noise Levels – Older multi-level homes can have some noise issues. For instance, the upstairs flooring might not be properly designed which means you’ll hear people walking and talking above you.
Buying a Home in Orange County
If you’re ready to take the next step towards becoming a homeowner, now’s the time. With interest rates on your side, and an experienced real estate agent to guide you through the process, you can find the home within your budget that will maximize your investment.
You’ll work with one of the best realtors in Orange County when you work with Rosemary Hieber. With more than 18 years of experience and a vast understanding of the local market, she can help you find the home of your dreams in a neighborhood you’ll be delighted to retire or raise a family in. Call her today at 949-285-3215 to learn more about the neighborhood you’re interested in.