Buying a house too big to clean alone?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are the kids? Can they help to keep their own personal space clean?

3 year old triplets and the others are 7, 9, and 14. The older kids help but I don't expect much more than having them do basic things to keep their rooms and bathrooms in order.

I think I would just create a space using beach house rental carpet and easy to wipe off furniture. Maybe have easy to clean shower liners instead of tile. Limit access hours into toys, clothes, etc. So that there is a certain time that they are dressing/brushing teeth and those things have to all be put away before toys can come out. Toys have to be put away before t.v. can come on, etc. Maybe have them do a quick vacuum/wipe down in between toy/t.v. time.

I don't see how a cleaning lady, even a daily cleaning lady is going to be able to keep everything clean if there is constant stuff all over the place. I don't mean to imply that is the case at your house - you are probably very neat/orderly - just pointing out that organization will really help.

Wouldn't it be easier to have less space?

Seriously, if you have to manage it to that degree - is it really worth it?

[Anonymous]

We have 6000SF for a family of 4. 10,000 for 8 seems ok.

[Anonymous]

I grew up in a family of 8 and I can't imagine having/needing that much space. Maybe around 4000 sq feet, but 10,000?

You know you will need to also hire someone to keep track of where your children are, especially the triplets because in a house that size you will likely loose at least one of them/day.

Even the Duggars don't have 10,000 square feet.

[Anonymous]

My grandparents lived in a chateau in France, with 7 kids and a full household staff as well as a governess and tutor. More people mean more cleaning.

Now my uncle lives there with his wife and they make do with just a cleaning lady, who doesn't even come daily. Most rooms are not used.

I assume you are very organized and your kids pick up after themselves. A daily woman who comes for a few hours should be just fine.

[Anonymous]

Oh my God. Could there be a more obnoxious First World Problem?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fxyhfiCO_XQ&sns=em

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Lord, why do you want such a large house?

+1

How fat are these people that each one needs 1200 sq ft to feel comfortable?

Who said it was needed. It's a desire we can finally indulge. Some of us enjoy having space for game rooms, a place to watch movies on a big screen, guest rooms for visiting family, lots of storage, dining rooms that seat large crowds, etc. If you don't want it that's fine but why is it an issue that some people do want those things?

Because of the environment.

[Anonymous]

We have 6000 sq feet and are just fine with a cleaner every two weeks. Clean the kitchen as you go and have the older kids straighten their own rooms. Three year olds will love to sweep and clean counters/windows.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Lord, why do you want such a large house?

+1

How fat are these people that each one needs 1200 sq ft to feel comfortable?

Who said it was needed. It's a desire we can finally indulge. Some of us enjoy having space for game rooms, a place to watch movies on a big screen, guest rooms for visiting family, lots of storage, dining rooms that seat large crowds, etc. If you don't want it that's fine but why is it an issue that some people do want those things?

For starters, it has a huge impact on the planet that we all occupy.

It is selfish and teaches your children that all that space is necessary. Which it isn't.

This x100. Totally wasteful. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. When I see these huge houses the waste of resources and energy is the first thing that comes to mind.

[Anonymous]

Cleaner 3x/week or a housekeeper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Lord, why do you want such a large house?

+1

How fat are these people that each one needs 1200 sq ft to feel comfortable?

Who said it was needed. It's a desire we can finally indulge. Some of us enjoy having space for game rooms, a place to watch movies on a big screen, guest rooms for visiting family, lots of storage, dining rooms that seat large crowds, etc. If you don't want it that's fine but why is it an issue that some people do want those things?

For starters, it has a huge impact on the planet that we all occupy.

It is selfish and teaches your children that all that space is necessary. Which it isn't.

This x100. Totally wasteful. Just because you can do it doesn't mean you should. When I see these huge houses the waste of resources and energy is the first thing that comes to mind.

Not to mention many of those oversize monstrosities are just awful to look at.

We drove along Prosperity in Fairfax recently. It used to be such a pretty drive, with charming houses nestled into the woods and a few truly lovely larger homes.

Now? Hilarious. Some of the houses are just truly awful. Faux chateaus, fountains, balconies, towers and more. Three different houses hooked together with a bridge. Combined materials, and not in a good way. It looks like everyone in the family got to design a portion of the house (each their own 2000 square feet) and then the designer stuck them all together in one or two buildings. A beautiful drive in the middle of Fairfax has turned into a spectacle. Why?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How old are the kids? Can they help to keep their own personal space clean?

3 year old triplets and the others are 7, 9, and 14. The older kids help but I don't expect much more than having them do basic things to keep their rooms and bathrooms in order.

I think I would just create a space using beach house rental carpet and easy to wipe off furniture. Maybe have easy to clean shower liners instead of tile. Limit access hours into toys, clothes, etc. So that there is a certain time that they are dressing/brushing teeth and those things have to all be put away before toys can come out. Toys have to be put away before t.v. can come on, etc. Maybe have them do a quick vacuum/wipe down in between toy/t.v. time.

I don't see how a cleaning lady, even a daily cleaning lady is going to be able to keep everything clean if there is constant stuff all over the place. I don't mean to imply that is the case at your house - you are probably very neat/orderly - just pointing out that organization will really help.

Wouldn't it be easier to have less space?

Seriously, if you have to manage it to that degree - is it really worth it?

If the concern is keeping the house clean/tidy, I don't see how Op can do that without a fair amount of clutter/dirt management. I don't care if it's 1000sf or 10,000 sf home.

[Anonymous]

The hard part will be keeping track of everyone and keeping things picked up well enough for a cleaning lady to be able to clean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Lord, why do you want such a large house?

+1

How fat are these people that each one needs 1200 sq ft to feel comfortable?

Who said it was needed. It's a desire we can finally indulge. Some of us enjoy having space for game rooms, a place to watch movies on a big screen, guest rooms for visiting family, lots of storage, dining rooms that seat large crowds, etc. If you don't want it that's fine but why is it an issue that some people do want those things?

For starters, it has a huge impact on the planet that we all occupy.

It is selfish and teaches your children that all that space is necessary. Which it isn't.

OP clearly doesn't care about the planet

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We have 6000SF for a family of 4. 10,000 for 8 seems ok.

+1

Same here. OP you'll manage fine. Move in and see how it goes first, if you end up needing help then hire someone. We do fine in our 6000 sq ft home without help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Good Lord, why do you want such a large house?

+1

How fat are these people that each one needs 1200 sq ft to feel comfortable?

Who said it was needed. It's a desire we can finally indulge. Some of us enjoy having space for game rooms, a place to watch movies on a big screen, guest rooms for visiting family, lots of storage, dining rooms that seat large crowds, etc. If you don't want it that's fine but why is it an issue that some people do want those things?

For starters, it has a huge impact on the planet that we all occupy.

It is selfish and teaches your children that all that space is necessary. Which it isn't.

OP clearly doesn't care about the planet

Having 6 children is more a drain on the planet than any 10k sq ft house the OP is going to move into. It's already been built and someone should use it.