| v> | | | | biggest mistake and stop the thought process. |
| Introduction | | | | It’s easy to take this info and begin laying |
| Smaller houses are very popular and there are | | | | out rooms, but there are some very important |
| many reasons that people are looking for the | | | | questions that are left unanswered. Consideration |
| “right-sized” home. Empty nesters, | | | | has yet to be given to the future needs of this |
| those people whose children have now moved | | | | couple. |
| out on their own, have too much house to take | | | | Future Needs |
| care of and may want to use their equity for | | | | Every bit as important as your current |
| more enjoyable purposes. Small houses are | | | | requirements is assessing your future needs. Are |
| popular for first-time buyers as well because it is | | | | we a family starting out and planning to have a |
| easier to qualify for a loan (and make the | | | | child or are we retiring and want to maintain our |
| payments!) when affordability is an issue. | | | | independence and stay in our home as long as |
| Whatever your reason to choose a smaller house, | | | | possible? Regardless of the current scenario, |
| there are things to look for that will allow you to | | | | it’s important to understand that your |
| live much more comfortably in your home and | | | | needs will change and that finding solutions |
| bring the resale value to a premium. In this article, | | | | up-front to accommodate those needs will benefit |
| we will touch on the design, usability, and resale of | | | | you greatly in the future. |
| your home. | | | | Let’s get back to our previous example. |
| Home Ownership | | | | Mom and Dad have retired and they intend to live |
| Although your thoughts are focused on the | | | | out their lives in their new home. As we age, our |
| purchase or construction of your new home, it is | | | | functional abilities decline and our homes must be |
| necessary to look at the full picture of the | | | | designed in such a way to accommodate those |
| ownership lifecycle. With this perspective in mind, | | | | changing needs. This is where the application of |
| you have several questions to ask, including: What | | | | “universal” and |
| are my current needs? What are the likely | | | | “adaptable” design criteria |
| changes that will occur during the time I plan to | | | | becomes very important. For this home to |
| live in this house? How should my house be | | | | adequately serve Mom and Dad’s future |
| designed to accommodate my changing needs? | | | | needs, a professional designer that is trained in |
| How do I retain the value and maximize my ability | | | | comprehensive client assessment and the |
| to sell the house in the future? Asking these | | | | application of universal and adaptable design |
| questions will lead to many other questions that | | | | solutions is required. Seek this person out! |
| will help you to pinpoint and address the specific | | | | One more note on future needs. Anytime we |
| requirements of your new home and heavily | | | | have areas dedicated to specialized activities, |
| influence your choice in design. | | | | it’s important that these rooms are easily |
| Current Needs | | | | converted to serve other purposes. For instance, |
| Assessing your current needs and wants is a fun | | | | Mom will, at some point, discontinue her work and |
| process. Deciding on how you are going to use | | | | wish to give up her home office. If designed |
| your home and anticipating the style and features | | | | properly, this area could be easily converted to a |
| you want takes a lot of thought and personal | | | | study, library, sitting room or even a secondary |
| exploration. Don’t stop at determining the | | | | bedroom and blend seamlessly with the rest of |
| “must haves”. Continue your list | | | | the house. |
| with the | | | | Resale of Your Home |
| “it-would-be-nice-to-haves”. Your | | | | Eventually you will want to sell your home, give it |
| nice-to-haves may not make it to the final design, | | | | to your children, or maybe even use it as an |
| but maybe some will. Get it all out onto the table. | | | | investment property and rent it out. Whatever |
| Let’s take an example. We have a couple | | | | the case, your home must have the features |
| who is retiring and wanting to move to a smaller | | | | that other people will want. Again, a good design |
| home that is easier to maintain and has lower | | | | will sell. A person walking into a universal designed |
| operating costs. They have equity in their current | | | | home will not see anything |
| home and will live comfortably off their retirement | | | | “different” about the home. |
| savings. Mom wants to continue working part-time | | | | Universal features will typically go unnoticed until |
| from a home office and Dad always has some | | | | it’s pointed out. But it can be used as a |
| project he’s working on. | | | | strong selling tool. Because of the nature of |
| What might their current needs look like? To | | | | universal design, the home will simplify life for |
| start, since they want to lower utility and | | | | everyone and benefit people regardless of age or |
| operating costs, some thought may go into solar | | | | ability. This really serves a win-win situation! |
| applications and good insulating materials; maybe | | | | Even though you are designing the smaller home, |
| alternative building materials, like straw bale. | | | | you want to keep in mind what the market will |
| (Straw bale has great insulating qualities!) Proper | | | | accept! In general, a home with a single car |
| orientation of the home on the lot and providing | | | | garage loses market appeal, although it may work |
| efficient exposure and shading to solar radiation | | | | in certain areas. Also, a home that has a bedroom |
| will help cut heating and cooling costs | | | | or bathroom door directly off the main living area |
| tremendously. Since they have equity to roll over | | | | is very undesirable. You want your home to |
| into their new home, they might consider installing | | | | complement your neighborhood, so be careful not |
| photovoltaic cells tied to the community grid | | | | to under-build (or over-build for that matter). |
| system and virtually eliminate their electric bill. | | | | Typically, three bedrooms and two baths is about |
| There are many other energy saving items that | | | | as small as you should go, but the third bedroom |
| they might consider in the design of their new | | | | may actually be a multipurpose room, like the |
| home. | | | | home office in our example. |
| Their space requirements are fairly straight | | | | Summary |
| forward. They need an area for the home office | | | | Designing a large, fancy custom home is not |
| and they prefer an open floor plan that | | | | nearly as challenging as designing a small home |
| doesn’t require formal dining and living | | | | that lives great and has broad appeal. The |
| rooms. The office area should be located so that | | | | important thing to keep in mind when designing |
| the occasional client doesn’t have to walk | | | | your home is the ownership lifecycle. If you |
| through the whole house to get to the office. | | | | carefully assess your future needs, as well as |
| Also, a secondary bathroom should be located | | | | your current needs, and you apply the design |
| near the office. This bathroom could also serve a | | | | criteria necessary to meet those needs, you will |
| guest bedroom. Dad is considering a little extra | | | | live much more comfortably and independently in |
| room in the garage for tools and storage. | | | | your new home. Find out about universal design |
| This home is beginning to take form! This is also | | | | and how it will greatly benefit your |
| the point where many people will make their | | | | family’s lifestyle. |