Problems with living in a large home

[Anonymous]

It's expensive to heat and cool all the rooms you don't use.

[Anonymous]

My biggest complaint about a 5000+ square foot house are that we don’t use 25% of it, yet we have to pay to heat and cool it and make updates (refinish floors, paint) to match the rest of the house. It’s just wasteful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest complaint about a 5000+ square foot house are that we don’t use 25% of it, yet we have to pay to heat and cool it and make updates (refinish floors, paint) to match the rest of the house. It’s just wasteful.

I’ll add that we leave our home all the time. While our house is lovely, comfortable and decorated just now I like, we still have the desire to get out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My biggest complaint about a 5000+ square foot house are that we don’t use 25% of it, yet we have to pay to heat and cool it and make updates (refinish floors, paint) to match the rest of the house. It’s just wasteful.

A lot of the typical American UMC lifestyle is wasteful, frankly. Airline travel, home renovations, multiple cars, personal electronics that are replaced every few years, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is not large but it’s inviting and I never want to go out unless it’s to walk in the woods, kayak or rock climb.

I cook at home and have friends over.

Same. Not about size but comfort. We have 2500sq ft but across 3 levels so dh, kids and i can all be in separate spaces.

NP, and agreed. It's about comfort. My townhouse is 1700 sq ft. and decorated from top to bottom. Home is my favorite place to be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is not large but it’s inviting and I never want to go out unless it’s to walk in the woods, kayak or rock climb.

I cook at home and have friends over.

Same. Not about size but comfort. We have 2500sq ft but across 3 levels so dh, kids and i can all be in separate spaces.

NP, and agreed. It's about comfort. My townhouse is 1700 sq ft. and decorated from top to bottom. Home is my favorite place to be.

This! Smaller house allows us to remodel and decorate to our taste and put higher end stuff. I am surprised to see a lot of mcmensions in Mclean and Great Falls with builder grade bathrooms. My smart toilet costs more than all their toilets together, it washes me, dries me and does many more things.

[Anonymous]

I can't relate. I grew up in big houses, but now live in a small one by choice. I like to be outside, and I like the lower cost, lower environmental impact, fewer houseguests.
We still entertain, and it's cosy, but fun.

When my husband and son are away overnight, I particularly appreciate it. It feels safer - I could hear it if anyone came into the house. (A dumb thing to worry about as I live in a safe neighborhood, but I have a habit of staying up late listening to scary true crime podcasts).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My house is not large but it’s inviting and I never want to go out unless it’s to walk in the woods, kayak or rock climb.

I cook at home and have friends over.

Same. Not about size but comfort. We have 2500sq ft but across 3 levels so dh, kids and i can all be in separate spaces.

NP, and agreed. It's about comfort. My townhouse is 1700 sq ft. and decorated from top to bottom. Home is my favorite place to be.

This! Smaller house allows us to remodel and decorate to our taste and put higher end stuff. I am surprised to see a lot of mcmensions in Mclean and Great Falls with builder grade bathrooms. My smart toilet costs more than all their toilets together, it washes me, dries me and does many more things.

...like, what other things?

[Anonymous]

Well, we are in a 3 bedroom rowhouse that's about 2,100 sq. it suits our needs as a family of 4 with one kid entering high school and the other in middle school, and a low, low mortgage rate. We were looking to buy a bigger house but the math didnt make sense. We're already locked into good schools though they're not closeby. Your post makes me think bigger isn't always better, but I should love a yard and a large cool basement/ family room, two things we are lacking.

[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.