Which House Style Works Best For You: Rancher or Colonial?

When you're first starting the home buying process, you have to make many decisions about what you're looking for in a home. One of the most essential decisions that you need to make is whether you want a ranch style one floor home or a traditional two-story home. According to a real estate lawyer CT, this is one of the toughest decisions that people have to make about their dream home. While some people get taken in by a huge multistory home, they might find out later that a ranch home would have been a better choice. And more than one real estate lawyer CT has seen homeowners end up in a cute ranch home that doesn't have space or function that their family needs after a year or two. If you're on the fence about whether the right house for you is a rancher or a Colonial here are some things to consider that might help you decide according to a real estate lawyer CT

How Long Do You Plan On Living There?

How long you plan to live in the home should be factored into the decision of what type of home to get. If you plan on living in that home until you get old is the home going to be a home where you can grow old? A two-story house might be challenging to manage, take care of, and get around in as you get older. If the steps are steep and narrow, you could find it very difficult to get up and down the stairs multiple times each day as you age and develop health problems. If you are going to buy a home that will be your forever home, a one-story home might be the best choice in case you have health problems or limited mobility as you get older.

Will Your Family Grow In The Future?

If you are planning on having children, you might want to consider a two-story home with larger bedrooms and a playroom or bonus room upstairs where the kids can have some space to play without cluttering up the main floor. Or, if you have elderly relatives that you expect will need to come and live with you within a few years you might be better off choosing a rancher with an in-law site or an extra bedroom so that your relatives don't have to worry about trying to climb stairs.

Energy Costs And Maintenance

There is a big difference in the cost to heat and cool these two styles of homes. It will cost far less to heat and cool a one-story rancher than it will to heat and cool a big Colonial with multiple stories. If you are worried about energy costs and you, want to keep your utility bills small you should choose a one-story home. But if energy costs aren't a concern for you, then a Colonial is a traditional choice according to a real estate lawyer CT. Just be prepared, and budget for higher energy bills as the summers get hotter, and the winters get colder.  

Your Lifestyle

Another factor that you should always consider when choosing what type of house is best for you according to a real estate lawyer CT is what your lifestyle is like now. If you have small children will you regret buying a home where you have to run up and down the stairs multiple times a day to tend to the children and do the mountains of laundry that children require? If you work at home will a rancher give you the peace and quiet you need to work or is a home where you can have an office on a quiet upper floor better for your life?

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