Problems with living in a large home

[Anonymous]

We have an estate and the upkeep is insane but it’s beautiful. I guess my home is my expensive hobby.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

I think you make a lot of great points. Size is always relative. I think in the close-in DC area anything over 4,000 sq ft would be considered "large". My parents are in mcmansion land in dallas, TX in a home just over 6,000 sq ft, and it is too big for me (and them!). It was my mom's dream house. She loves to host the entire extended family for holidays and get togethers and her gigantic kitchen and living spaces are good for this. I prefer smaller get togethers. It is just too much space for me. We are in 2,500 sq. ft., and I think this is enough house for me. We plan to move as soon as our youngest finishes college. We'll be looking for about the same size of living space, with a slightly larger yard, and a 2 car garage (we have no garage right now).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You never want to leave!

Prior to this we've lived in apartments and smaller homes and were out all of the time.

In a large home, you don't want to leave, it's so weird.

Anyone relate?

Yes, and that is why we downside. We rented out our large house and purchased manageable nice townhouse, that we completely remodeled to our taste. We both more fit now and have more free time to do other things than taking care of the large house and the large yard. I don't miss it at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

Probably because you couldn't find each other to make a baby in that massive house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

Probably because you couldn't find each other to make a baby in that massive house.

childless PP here - classic DCUM response. A little insensitive but I guess this is the kind of nonsense keyboard warriors will post on anonymous sites.

[Anonymous]

No, I cannot relate. I do not like sitting around the house, and I've lived in places from 375 sq feet to 6000 sq feet.

[Anonymous]

Big house, big ego, big bills, big impact on the environment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

Probably because you couldn't find each other to make a baby in that massive house.

childless PP here - classic DCUM response. A little insensitive but I guess this is the kind of nonsense keyboard warriors will post on anonymous sites.

Maybe next time you scrub your 21st toilet you can contemplate why God does not want you to procrastinate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

I think you make a lot of great points. Size is always relative. I think in the close-in DC area anything over 4,000 sq ft would be considered "large". My parents are in mcmansion land in dallas, TX in a home just over 6,000 sq ft, and it is too big for me (and them!). It was my mom's dream house. She loves to host the entire extended family for holidays and get togethers and her gigantic kitchen and living spaces are good for this. I prefer smaller get togethers. It is just too much space for me. We are in 2,500 sq. ft., and I think this is enough house for me. We plan to move as soon as our youngest finishes college. We'll be looking for about the same size of living space, with a slightly larger yard, and a 2 car garage (we have no garage right now).

I like homes that size. We are now in 2,700 and it is perfect. We lived before in 3,500 and 6,000 and I would never go back. We currently have 4 bedroom, but ideally I would love to have only three after kids are out of the house.

[Anonymous]

Room for everyone! No need for houseguests to stay in a hotel! Stay in our compound!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Room for everyone! No need for houseguests to stay in a hotel! Stay in our compound!

Small homeowner here. That’s one of the perks of a small home. No room for houseguests to stay overnight and aging in-laws move in with sibling/sibling in-laws who have larger homes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

Probably because you couldn't find each other to make a baby in that massive house.

childless PP here - classic DCUM response. A little insensitive but I guess this is the kind of nonsense keyboard warriors will post on anonymous sites.

I mean, you started it with your obnoxious post. (DP)

[Anonymous]

Currently have 4500sf and 1/4 acre. Can’t wait to go smaller and yard less once the youngest heads to college. 6 more years.

[Anonymous]

LMAO the concept of never wanting to leave your large home is so unrelatable to me. During COVID I wished I had more space at home, but now that I can leave I like leaving! You might as well move out of this area and to somewhere much more inexpensive if you're never going to leave your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What's the definition of large by DCUM standards? DH and I built a 5,000 sq. ft house about eleven years ago with the intention of having kids. That didn't pan out but we love our house. With just two people, it's not hard to keep the everyday spaces clean and tidy. We do have a cleaning person every two weeks and she takes about five hours to do the main floor and bedroom level.
Now the problem with the large home is the exterior maintenance. Even with a lawn mowing service, there is still a great deal of weeding and general upkeep that's needed outside. I didn't grow up doing lawn work so it mainly falls on DH's shoulders as he's very meticulous about the yard. I know he gets annoyed that I don't always jump into action and start weeding or that I don't enjoy planting flowers, etc. It's just not my thing.
We've considered downsizing now that kids are off the table but we've grown attached to the house and enjoy the larger main rooms.

Probably because you couldn't find each other to make a baby in that massive house.

LMAO.