The Pros and Cons of Living in a Bungalow

The Pros and Cons of Living in a Bungalow

When it comes to real estate, there really is something out there for everyone. Is a ground-floor home more to your taste? Does it correspond to your lifestyle?


Here are the pros and cons of this type of residence to help you reach a decision.

1.   The Constructions Costs Are Lower

Building a multi-storey house requires special engineering plans and reinforced materials to support the upper floors. Furthermore, building and finishing the second-storey rooms is more complicated, as this necessitates supplemental scaffolding and extra steps to hoist the materials.

For all these reasons, constructing a single-storey house may be less expensive. Moreover, municipal taxes are typically lower for this type of residence.

  • However, …

You will need a larger plot of land to accommodate a bungalow’s square footage. You will therefore have to take this cost into account to evaluate if you really will be saving money overall during construction. The roof surface is likewise greater and, consequently, so will be the cost of repairs down the road.

 

2.   It Is Easier to Maintain

Not having to go up and down several flights of stairs to do the laundry or move the vacuum from floor to floor certainly makes keeping this type of property clean easier. And since it doesn’t have a staircase, there are no gymnastics to perform to wipe down the walls and ceilings in this area. Washing the window’s exterior glass is equally more straightforward and less hazardous. 

3.   It Is Safer

Families with young children and people with reduced mobility particularly appreciated this type of floor plan since the lack (or minimal number) of stairs is perceived to be a major safety feature. It is easier to move around in a wheelchair inside a ground-floor home. The risk of falling is also diminished.

Plus, in the event of an emergency like a fire, the occupants can more quickly and safely escape a bungalow than an upstairs storey.

 

4.   It Is Cheaper to Heat

Usually, reducing the number of storeys equals lower heating and cooling costs. Therefore, a bungalow is far more economical regarding energy consumption, especially if it is open planned.


5.   There Is Less Privacy

Conversely, in a single-storey home, the living areas and the bedrooms are on the same floor, reducing the occupants’ privacy. This is often a major downside for families with children.

When the kids are small, parents really appreciate having their little ones’ bedrooms far from the noisier rooms, such as the living room or kitchen. Once they are teenagers, having a separate space that is isolated from the rest of the house is likewise a plus. However, the disadvantage of such proximity can easily be remedied by finishing the bungalow’s basement.


6.   A Simplified Horizontal and Vertical Layout

In a single-storey house, there is no space “lost” to the staircase. This means it is the perfect residence for optimizing the use of vertical space with a cathedral ceiling and tall windows, for example. Additionally, the horizontal space can be transformed into a lovely open concept main living area. 

7.   It Is Missing an Important Focal Point: The Staircase

Nevertheless, the fact that a bungalow doesn’t possess a staircase leading to a second floor may be a negative for people who love them. Indeed, this architectural feature can truly act as a focal point in a home.

A stair ramp is a popular canvas when it comes to seasonal decorating for holidays like Christmas. The most romantic may dream of dramatically walking down the steps in their prom dress or wedding gown, recreating in real life certain movie scenes. In fact, many homeowners find that the design of two-storey houses is often more elegant (could you imagine the White House or Buckingham Palace without their second and third floors?).

 

To conclude, you should know that the limited number of large bungalow homes available on the market in urban areas and in the suburbs of big cities means they usually sell quickly and at a higher resale price. Good luck in reaching your decision!

RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

By RE/MAX Québec

A leader in the real estate industry since 1982, the RE/MAX network brings together the most efficient brokers.