For years, larger homes have been all the rage. Sizing up seems to be the quintessentially American thing to do. Homeowners have loved the sprawling space, extra acreage, and fun amenities like theater rooms, home gyms, and dynamic outdoor living spaces.

But is bigger really always better? Larger homes often mean extra maintenance, expensive landscaping, and higher mortgages, utilities, and property taxes. Remember, retirees and empty nesters aren’t the only people who could benefit from less square footage. No matter how big or small your family unit is, a smaller home might be just right for your unique needs.

Read on to see why a smaller floor plan is sometimes the best option!

Boost Retirement Savings

If retirement is getting closer, trading in your larger home for a smaller one could translate into some extra cushioning for your nest egg. And who wouldn’t want that? While selling your home should not be the only avenue to funding retirement savings, it could serve as the catalyst for positive lifestyle changes that make sense for revised income levels during retirement. 

Financial Rewards

Moving into a smaller home can bring a host of financial savings. Think lower mortgage, reduced utility bills, lower insurance, less maintenance costs, and more. Getting relief from financial burdens that come with owning a larger home can add up to significant bottom-line savings.

Minimize Cost While Maximizing Comfort

Moving to a smaller home does not dictate that you must sacrifice creature comforts. Quite the contrary. A smaller space can ignite your creativity for ways to incorporate furniture, simplify your lifestyle, and get the most out of all the space that you do have.

Lower Your Maintenance Stress

While endless, rolling lawns can be a beautiful thing, they are also a lot to mow, edge, water, treat, and fertilize. And while any size home always carries a fair amount of maintenance responsibilities, a smaller home will almost always require far less. Envision trading half your Saturday doing yard work for an enjoyable day trip to a nearby destination!

Declutter. Declutter. Declutter.

This may be the crown jewel of benefits that come with downsizing. Remember all those containers of old school papers, closets full of forgotten clothing, and that garage full of dusty sports equipment, extra buckets, old tools, and miscellaneous odds and ends? Living in a smaller home will force you to really examine what you need, let go of the things you don’t, and use your space more efficiently.

Discover a Healthier You

Forget about cleaning empty rooms and spending time decorating space you don’t really use. Ideally, in a smaller home, there will be a lot less to clean, and consequently less nuisances like trash, dust bunnies, and pet hair and dander. A home that can stay fresh with shorter bursts of cleaning will free you up to spend quality time with family and friends taking walks, hikes, and bike rides, enjoying coffee and conversation, or just pursuing personal interests and hobbies. You may be surprised by how much better you feel physically and mentally.

Enjoy Intentional Design

Living in a smaller home gives you the opportunity to really stand out and show personality.  Create a living space, inside and out, using choice amenities and accessories that truly reflect what you’re all about. Consider incorporating design elements like crown molding, a painted front door, ceiling medallions, elegant window treatments, ornate lighting, and hardware finishes to make your smaller space shine.

Increase Your  Home Options in Desired Neighborhoods

Sometimes, choosing a smaller home will afford you the opportunity to live in a choice neighborhood that might not be affordable otherwise. If you have your sights set on a stellar school district, a home with a smaller footprint may provide the pathway into a specific community while also ensuring that your property value will enjoy the ripple effects of being situated among bigger homes.

Go Green

One of the best things that comes along with downsizing is knowing that you are having a positive impact on the environment. A smaller home requires less building materials, uses less energy to heat and cool, and is often situated in a more neighborhood-oriented locale that encourages walking to nearby shopping areas, schools, and more. Additionally, smart design, strategic insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, and even solar panels can help reduce a home’s carbon footprint even more.

Final Thoughts

The truth is that “rightsizing” your home is a smart strategy for just about anyone. Think of this process as choosing a home that fits your unique needs while contributing positively to your lifestyle. When reexamining and redefining your circumstances, you may find that living smaller can have big advantages. Transitioning to a cozier home has the power to improve not only your bottom line, but your life, your health, and your relationships.

Remember that the size of a home does not automatically equate to quality, comfort, or life satisfaction. In other words, living larger won’t necessarily make you happier. But what does make you happy, according to the insightful 79-year-long “Harvard Study of Adult Development,” is people. Sometimes referred to as the “longest study on happiness,” it revealed that even more than money and fame, relationships are what keep people happy and, subsequently, healthier.

So no matter what size house you have, home truly is where the heart is.

Find the Right Home for You with John Houston Homes

**John Houston Homes offers a variety of floor plans and housing options, including single-family homes and townhomes. Contact  a John Houston Homes New Home Advisor today at 866-582-9581!**