The ups and downs, pay attention to elevation
I have clients who wanted to buy a house with six foot ceilings. These buyers were short. Their relatives and friends were short. The price was relatively low, too, like the ceilings. They called it “the hobbit house” and they were charmed.
I reminded them that the ceiling height would haunt them on resale. They didn’t care. Any friend over five feet ten would never visit twice; they didn’t care. They gave me a song and dance about saving heating costs. Then he called his parents; they talked sense into him. They bought something else.
Frequently, I make my buyers imagine living in the house they are thinking about buying. I ask them questions like this:
Will the steep stairs bother you?
No.
How about at night? No.
How about if you are carrying someone?
Oh, well maybe...
Buyers, think about these things:
Ceiling height:
Tall men frequently bump their heads at the bottom of stairways. This can be merely annoying, or it can be dangerous when carrying a child. Same with low doorways.
Many people find low ceilings unpleasant. Tall ceilings waste heating dollars, but lots of people love them. Which do you choose?
Stairs and hills:
Steep stairs indoors can be hard to get up and down. They can be trip hazards or make it hard to get out in case of fire. They can be just fine for you. But think about it.
You must clear snow and ice off outdoor stairs. Steep driveways are slippery when wet or icy. Check drainage on sloping driveways; puddles and ice in front of a garage door isn’t amusing.
Bedroom locations:
Young children often wake at night. Do you have enough bedrooms on the same level so your child (or future child) can get to you after a nightmare or when sick? Can you get to your child when you are half-awake?
There is a reason that homes with low ceilings, steep stairs, hilly driveways and bedrooms separated by stairs are less popular than those without those features. Sometimes things will bother you enough to make you wish you lived someplace else, sometimes you get used to it. If you can get used to it, you may find a quirky house that suits you for less money than more popular designs. However, what was unpopular when you bought will still be unpopular to your future buyers.
What’s your advice on elevation issues in homes? Did you get used to any of these kinds of things or were you bothered by them the whole time you lived there?
What compromises are worth it?
