Why Do People Buy Big Homes? 5 Disadvantages Of Having A Big House

For decades, millions of people consider a nice, large home as a cornerstone of being successful. Smaller, simpler homes are referred to as ‘starter homes’, implying that a nicer – most likely larger – house is what’s truly desired in the future, once it’s attainable. Movies, TV and other forms of media glorify large homes, including the mega-mansions owned by celebrities and other extremely wealthy people. We could go on about all the ways big homes are lusted after, including the bigger-is-better mentality of many Americans, but you get the picture. Do big homes really make us happy, though? Why do people buy big homes, other than being ‘groomed’ to desire them? Let’s talk about 5 disadvantages of having a big house that may change your opinion of wanting one.

Why Do People Buy Big Homes?

Before we talk about the disadvantages of having a big house, let’s address this question: why do people buy big homes?

Sure, many people that buy big homes simply need more space. Whether it be for a big family or to make room for a home-based business, there are instances where a buying a big home makes sense. Dare we say, select individuals may even need a big home.

The true burning question, though, is whether or not having a big house is right for you!

Here are a few reasons why people buy big homes that definitely aren’t based in need:

• Conditioning: Associating success with having a big house, whether it be from media, upbringing or a combination.
• Appearances: Having a large home can be impressive to some people, and provide the appearance of wealth and success.
• Chasing Happiness: Thinking that having a big house will bring enjoyment and happiness to the owner, simply through ownership.
• Greed: For those who think ‘more is better’, having a bigger house means more happiness, wealth, recognition, etc.
• Viewing Homes As Investments: The importance of home ownership is so deeply instilled in us, that many see their home as the crown jewel of their investment. Is this really the case? More on that below.

There are many more reasons why people by big homes, but these are a few common examples.

Home Size Statistics

Wondering how house sizes have changed over time? Here are a few other interesting home size statistics, courtesy of American Enterprise Institute:

• The average house size in 1973: Approx. 1,600 Sq. Ft.
• The average house size in 2015: Approx. 2,600 Sq. Ft. (+62.5%)
• Square footage per occupant in 1973: 551 Sq. Ft. on average
• Square footage per occupant in 2015: 1,058 Sq. Ft. on average (+92.0%)

We love statistics, as numbers don’t lie. The average home size has increased considerably since 1973. Interestingly, though, the average square footage per occupant has grown at an even larger rate!

Not only do we (en masse) want bigger houses in general, but we also want more space per person living in the house, too. Said another way, there will most likely be huge rooms and a couple empty bedrooms in the typical large American home.

5 Disadvantages Of Having A Big House That Many Don’t Consider

Now that we’ve discussed why people buy big homes, let’s go through 5 disadvantages of having a big house that many people don’t consider!

1. A Bigger House Equals Bigger Utility & Maintenance Bills
2. Wasted Rooms & Empty Space Are More Common
3. Big Houses Can Come With Expectations From Friends & Family
4. Larger Homes Can Be Tougher To Sell, Which Affects Their Value
5. The Allure Of A Big House Will Wear Off Eventually

Continue to scroll for an in-depth discussion of each of these disadvantages.

1. A Bigger House Equals Bigger Utility & Maintenance Bills

The price tag of a larger home is understandably larger than a similarly-appointed smaller home. Makes sense. However, this is where the difference is prices begins, not ends.

Consider all of the expenses that the average home comes with: electricity, heating, water, gas, lawn care and basic upkeep are just the beginning.

Utility and upkeep costs increase considerably in large homes.

Extra bedrooms will be heated and cooled for no reason. Replacing a roof on a big home is significantly more expensive. Pipes, ducts and wiring all must travel longer distances throughout the home.

If you do house cleaning and lawn maintenance yourself, these tasks will take a lot longer. If you pay someone to do it, it’ll cost a lot more.

One of the biggest disadvantages of having a big house is the cost of keeping in running!

Read Next: 15 Biggest Unnecessary Wastes Of Money

2. Wasted Rooms & Empty Space Are More Common

There’s only so much space that a person really needs. In a big house, there will almost certainly be space that goes to waste.

Although it seems the opposite at first, having too much extra space is one of the unexpected disadvantages of having a big house. This goes beyond the cost to maintain the space.

First of all, not all houses are created equal. Versatility of space, the size/capacities of each room and the general flow of the house all play a role. A versatile, efficiently-planned 2,000 square foot house can feel bigger than a poorly planned 3,000 square foot one.

Here are some examples of wasted space in many larger homes:

• Homes that have both a family room and living room
• Having both an eat-in-kitchen and formal dining room
• Home gyms that don’t get used
• Oversized rooms that either go unfurnished or contain furniture meant to just fill up space
• Guest bedrooms that get used a couple times per year…or less!

As a disclaimer, what’s considered waste is totally relative to what actually gets used. A family of seven could use up every square foot of a 4,500 square foot house – which is considered large by most – but never even use a few rooms in a 6,500 square foot home, which is gigantic by most people’s standards.

Read Next: How Do You Maximize Space In A Small House? Try These 6 Tips

3. Big Houses Can Come With Expectations From Friends & Family

If you have a big house and you want everyone to know it, you may end up regretting it.

Once family and friends know you have a larger home, expectations will form.

Is there a holiday coming up? You may be expected to host. After all, ‘you’ve got the space’!

Relatives are in town? Surely you’ll offer up a room. After all, what are all those extra bedrooms for?

Friends can gather easier at your house than others. They can also store stuff there, hang out leisurely and even stay a few extra nights (or weeks) if need be. You’re not obligated to say yes, but there’s a chance this will be received badly – after all, the space will be empty otherwise!

This is not a disadvantage for everyone. If you love to entertain and want people around, the ‘person-with-a-big-house’ reputation isn’t a big deal – you may want it. If you don’t, though, this popularity can quickly wear out its’ welcome.

Read Next: 7 Reasons Why People Become Obsessed With Material Possessions

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4. Larger Homes Can Be Tougher To Sell, Which Affects Their Value

There’s no shortage of people who want a big house. However, that doesn’t mean everyone is able to actually buy one.

Depending on your state, town and even neighborhood, a larger house can be harder to sell than a more commonly-sized one.

The way homes are priced can be complicated, but the simple way to look at it is to consider supply and demand.

It’s an age-old rule in real estate – never buy the nicest house in town. This specifically references the inability to sell the ‘nicest’ house for what its’ perceived price should be, after considering the price of nearby homes and the overall market demand.

In a town or neighborhood full of 2,000 square foot houses, a 4,000 square foot home is simply not what most buyers in the area want. Given that there’s not much demand, home buyers will likely pass over the larger house in favor of smaller ones they can afford.

Even though the 4,000 square foot home is double the size and possibly nicer, it’s simply won’t be worth what it’s ‘worth’ (based on perception), if that makes sense. There simply aren’t many buyers.

The variance in market demand and ability to fetch the desired price become disadvantages of having a big house when it comes time to sell it, depending on your location!

Read Next: Frugal Rich People: 7 Secrets Of Wealthy People Who Live Humbly

5. The Allure Of A Big House Will Wear Off Eventually

Many people who want a big house don’t actually want a big house at all – they want the things they believe a big house can provide.

Some of these desires can be fulfilled by owning a large home. This includes the ability to have lots of family over, entertain friends, have enough space to raise a large family, etc.

If a person buys a large home as a source of happiness, they’ll find that the house itself will lose its’ luster after a while.

Thanks to Hedonic Adaptation, our happiness and excitement levels always return to a default baseline, despite temporary changes (good or bad). Said another way, every new toy will get old eventually.

A big house is enjoyable at first – even with extra space and work to maintain it – if the buyer has been pining for one.

When the newness wears off, the vast space switches from ultra-comfortable to wasteful and empty. The extra work to maintain such a large space goes from being exciting to a chore.

When we buy large homes for the wrong reasons, we’ll almost certainly come to regret it on some level.

Read Next: What Is Hedonic Adaptation & How Can We Avoid It?

Disadvantages Of Having A Big House: In Summary

Big houses are glorified by the media, retail businesses and many people, but they’re not always as good as they seem. As you can see, there are many disadvantages of having a big house that many people don’t consider. Even if they do, the thrill and allure of having a big home can be enough to override logic. Now you know the good, the bad and the ugly about bigger houses. I hope this article has been helpful and informative. Thanks for reading!