Tips for Living in Small Home
With the rising cost of living and increased levels of unemployment, owning a mansion or an A-list condo has remained but a dream for many Americans. The invention of machines and robots that have led to a significant number of layoffs certainly does not help. As if that is not enough, come the realtors with their unaffordable mortgage rates. It is becoming more difficult for Americans to own large homes. Consequently, the real estate market is faced with the increased popularity of small homes. The National Multifamily Housing Council estimates that the US has 75 million homeowners with half of them being small homeowners. However, even though small homes are gaining popularity due to their affordability, owners can experience significant maintenance problems due to their size. Learning how to combat these small home challenges is key.
Plumbing Challenges
The average size of small homes is approximately 500 square feet and with the movable ones being about 200 square feet. With such small sizes, piping done during plumbing in most cases, is done in a congested manner which increases the chances of blockages. This is because with small homes, pipes with smaller diameters are often used. Plumbing challenges with movable houses are even higher. Movable houses are slightly cheaper. It is therefore obvious that the materials used during plumbing will be of slightly lower quality. Low-quality pipes and drainage systems mean they can be compromised easily.
To avoid such problems a homeowner should practice use of appropriate pipes for plumbing. These include copper pipes for water supply and drainage in permanent homes, and PVC pipes for portable homes. These have a lifespan of over 50 years. Early detection of sewer line breakages is also important. This helps in ensuring repairs are done early before the problem becomes too big and you have sewage flooding into your home. It also helps to avoid the need to install new piping systems. Gurgling sounds in pipes and bad smells in the sinks and bathrooms are the most common indicators that your sewer line needs to be checked out. Maintaining good hygiene habits is also a way of remedying plumbing challenges in small homes. Homeowners should make sure that wastes like twist ties and wet wipes are disposed of in the right places and not in the kitchen sinks and bathrooms so as to prevent pipe blockages.
Spacing Challenges
One of the main characteristics of small homes is the limited space, with most having the kitchen, sitting room and bedroom in one open space. This presents challenges to large families, especially the ones with small kids and seniors. Kids are better off in large houses due to the availability of large playing areas which are nonexistent in small homes. Small homes are also not ideal for senior citizens. For starters, the sleeping areas are difficult to access with most houses having bunk beds. Secondly, there is little space to maneuver with furniture cramped up everywhere and this can lead to the elderly injuring themselves.
Homeowners are also limited to a certain type and number of furniture and pieces of equipment they can own. For example, with small spaces, homeowners can’t buy huge electrical appliances such as big screens or double door refrigerators. They are also limited when it comes to the number of couches and beds they can have. To remedy this particular challenge, one should make appropriate furniture choices for small homes. Such choices involve choosing furniture that fits perfectly with their space as well as investing in pieces of furniture that serve multiple purposes. One should also arrange appliances and furniture in such a way that they occupy the smallest space possible. Placing mirrors around the living room strategically could also help by making the room appear larger.
Landscaping Challenges
Having a small home means having a small yard to do landscaping on. As a homeowner, you have limited space to express different landscaping ideas. This does not, however, mean that your home should be devoid of stunning landscapes. Simply come up with creative solutions for landscaping. You can make your yard, though small, look presentable by making a flower path to your house or making flower gardens of the same color in different areas. One can also plant small species of trees or trees that are dwarf so as to avoid making the house appear smaller. Vertical wall gardens are also a big trend.
Small homes are cost-effective, easy to furnish and cozy. They are also ideal for homeowners with small families or for people who live alone. Yes, they do present different challenges but none too difficult to handle. To quote Alfred Montapert, “Expect problems and eat them for breakfast.”
