Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Use Your Space

Square footage in a home is a valuable commodity, and yet it often goes underutilized. I've witnessed this to be the case whether a home is quite spacious or bordering on tiny.

A couple of years ago, I worked with a client in need of home staging services, as she prepared her home for sale. Like many people today, she and her family spent very little time at home, as work, school, and other activities occupied their time. After a thorough review of their home, their lifestyle and needs, it was clear that they didn't use half of the square footage they had. This was, in a way, tragic, as they were paying for twice as much home as they actually needed.

If you're currently considering a home purchase, be realistic about your lifestyle and your needs. Do not pay for space and amenities you really don't need or won't likely use. That money could be better spent pursuing your passions, saving for retirement, or countless other things.

Of course, many of us are trying to use all of our space, but we don't know how to arrange it. Much of residential construction over the last 15 years or so has focused on creating large, open, communal spaces - Great Rooms, as opposed to separate rooms for the kitchen, dining and sitting areas. The lack of interior walls can present challenges for homeowners, with regard to furniture placement, storage options, and noise control - particularly in homes with vaulted or cathedral ceilings. Consider incorporating some design and storage solutions that might be found in a loft, which is commonly a space with very few interior walls.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, I've been in some very small homes that really want for closet space, or virtually any form of storage. Homeowners tend to gravitate toward these types of homes when they're first-time buyers or in a period of transition, as the price of the home often reflects its "shortcomings." But these homes could serve as much greater opportunities for building equity, if only their owners would pay a relatively small price for a little creative vision and a really good handyman, which could greatly extend their stay and satisfaction in the home.

There are numerous resources available for those seeking a little inspiration to help make the most of their small spaces. Online sources for HGTV and Better Homes & Gardens offer valuable advice and lots of photos.
Look closely at each of the rooms in your home. Determine what the space needs - what could make it much, much better? Make a wish list for each room, gather photos either online or in home improvement/decor magazines to be used as a visual aid, and then begin contacting insured, professional "handymen" for competing quotes on projects. Work quotes are typically free, though be sure to verify this with each professional. With work quotes in hand, you can begin to decide which projects you'd like to tackle first, according to both your budget and your needs.

The bottom line is simply this: Make the very most of all the space in your home. After all, you're paying for it.