- This topic has 49 replies, 23 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 3 months ago by
lpjohnso.
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August 13, 2013 at 10:37 AM #764394August 13, 2013 at 11:05 AM #764395
SK in CV
Participant[quote=njtosd][quote=all]
Get roomba at Costco. It won’t mop, but it will get off the charging station, sweep and go back.[/quote]
Do you have one? Does it transition well/at all between tile and carpet?[/quote]
I had one. It transitions pretty well. It’s kinda fun watching it negotiate around furniture and stop at stairs and stuff. For about 30 seconds. Battery doesn’t last very long and it does sometimes get stuck. But more importantly, it’s crap on hard floors. Worthless. I gave mine away.
August 13, 2013 at 2:03 PM #764400all
Participant[quote=njtosd][quote=all]
Get roomba at Costco. It won’t mop, but it will get off the charging station, sweep and go back.[/quote]
Do you have one? Does it transition well/at all between tile and carpet?[/quote]
We got one about four years ago. Replaced the battery about a year ago (~$50). Unlike SK we are happy with the results – the wife would likely pick roomba if she had to chose between me and the machine. There is a mop version, but the reviews were not good so we did not get it. Most models have 4+ stars on Amazon and the Costco price was $100 better than the Amazon price.
We have 65% hardwood and 33% tile (2% carpet in one of the closets) and few area rugs. No pets.
If you feel nerdy – it can be hacked and it’s not hard – hackingroomba.com.
August 14, 2013 at 11:52 AM #764432sdduuuude
ParticipantThere is definitely an “optimal” home size for everyone, that is for sure. Bigger is not always better. Bigger is only better if you need space for something specific.
Also, design is key. Poor design can require more sqare footage than good design. You definitely need a master bedroom, but do you really need it that big?
Another consideration is – is the square footage on one floor or two ? Stairs and hallways can burn alot of square footage in a 2-story home.
Our 1700 sq. ft Clairemont home on one floor that we re-designed seems more adequate than many 2400 sq. ft homes we have looked at in Carmel Valley.
Plus, as I once said “I like big lots and I cannot lie.” The problem is, developers these days tend to build on small lots, even for big homes. One would hope that as you get bigger houses, you get bigger lots, but the houses have to get quite extravagant before the builder starts putting them on premium-sized lots.
So, is is very hard to find a small home in a really nice neighborhood on a large lot.
So, I may not need all that interior space, but I don’t want to live where the smaller homes are because the neighborhoods aren’t as nice, not as many professionals living there, good schools, etc.
And, of course, cost, utilities and cleaning time are the downsides of more space.
To answer the question – how much do I need ? My 1700 sq. ft Clairemont home is almost enough. Other than some minor layout changes, I would like a game room/poker room where one group can play loudly while others are in bed sleeping. I would also like a “craft/art/design/project” room connected to the garage/shop where everyone on the family can work on projects with all the tools they need. I think a well-designed 2500 sq. ft. plus a 2-car shop, plus a covered carport for the cars would really do it. On 2 stories, may need 3200+. A half-acre would be nice, too.
Not surprisingly, I grew up in a family of 6 (4 kids) in a 3-br, 2400 sq. ft house on 1.5 acres in Tucson.
August 14, 2013 at 11:58 AM #764433an
ParticipantI totally agree. Layout is KEY. My house is a 2 story with only 2000 sq-ft, yet it feels just right. I’ve been to some 2900 sq-ft houses and it actually feel smaller than my 2000 sq-ft house. It makes me wonder where the sq-ft go? Also, the orientation and amount/placement of windows makes a huge difference too. My house feels a lot more brighter than some of those 2900 sq-ft I’ve been in. Due to the amount of lights, it also makes the house feel bigger as well.
So, assuming we’re talking about a good layout floor plan, I would be perfectly happy with a 2000-2500 sq-ft single story on 1/4 acre lot w/ an ocean view. I also prefer a wider lot than a narrower lot. So, preferably, I would like a 100×100 sq-ft lot over a 50×200 sq-ft lot.
August 15, 2013 at 2:13 PM #764462FlyerInHi
GuestSmall spaces should be clutter free.
When I bought my 679sf condo it was occupied by a woman who is a horder. It’s totally different now.I try to keep it neat like a hotel suite which is basically what the size is. Just putting laundry on the floor makes it feel nasty. So I have to avoid spreading out junk. But it’s not hard once you’re used to it.
Not buying any knickknacks, then discarding them, then buying some more, saves you money over time.
August 16, 2013 at 3:15 PM #764507spdrun
ParticipantFlyerInHI – sadly, hoarders can expand into any amount of space and make it feel claustrophobic given the time and money. When they fill all available space, they’ll start filling their car or rent a storage unit. It’s pretty sad.
August 19, 2013 at 10:14 AM #764583lpjohnso
ParticipantI think you have posted some great questions. We live in 1400 sq feet, 3/2 (with vaulted ceilings and a medium sized backyard) and we have 2 young boys. It is great for us. Any larger and there would be more to clean, heat, cool and buy.
We have been to those lovely 3000 sq ft model homes in Temecula for the same price as our place, and while it is tempting to “move up”, we believe less is always more. We want to have more quality, not so much quanity. We took our 1990s 1400 sq ft home and were able to remodel in a way that we would have never been able to financially do to a 3000 sq ft home. And everyone is right, the vaulted ceilings/open layout make a HUGE difference. I lived in a 3400 sq ft house in Vegas and it felt like a claustrophobic maze.
I don’t like the thought of getting a larger home to accommodate the kids and more stuff only to have the kids move out one day. I think it would feel too big and lonely. So then, people may say, just down size to a smaller home when the kids are gone. I wouldn’t want to do that because I would love to stay in the same house as my kids did growing up. I would love them to be able to “come home” with their family one day to all of the memories of the house that they grew up in. I never had that. We moved around constantly. That kind of stability and nostalgia is very attractive to me.
Having a decent sized backyard has been great for the kids, especially in my lazy days when I don’t feel like going anywhere but I can open up the back door and the kids can still get there vitamin D and wiggles out. I would much rather have a smaller home and a larger back yard. That’s really were the kids want to be anyways.
Our boys have shared a room and we have kept the 3rd bedroom as a play room/guest room. It has been great. I believe my kids have grown closer because of it. I have a friend who desperately wants his 2 boys to share a room because he did with his brother growing up and they are extremely close, but unfortunately his wife is not going for it. My mother grew up on a ranch in an 800 sq ft home with 3 other siblings who all shared 1 room and they all turned out great. WIth that said, just last week my oldest (he’s 6) declared he wanted his “own” room and so we moved him into in the play room/quest room. So, it has been great to have an additional room in case the kids really want to be separated, but funny thing is, now my 3 year old is sleeping next to the 6 year old in the new room. Lol! They really do prefer being by each other, but we’ll see how that goes as they continue to grow older.
My advice to you and yours: stay in your home in Encinitas, make it the best you can, and add on and open up the ceilings or walls if you feel like you need to. 🙂
August 19, 2013 at 2:53 PM #764602sdsurfer
Participant[quote=lpjohnso]I think you have posted some great questions. We live in 1400 sq feet, 3/2 (with vaulted ceilings and a medium sized backyard) and we have 2 young boys. It is great for us. Any larger and there would be more to clean, heat, cool and buy.
We have been to those lovely 3000 sq ft model homes in Temecula for the same price as our place, and while it is tempting to “move up”, we believe less is always more. We want to have more quality, not so much quanity. We took our 1990s 1400 sq ft home and were able to remodel in a way that we would have never been able to financially do to a 3000 sq ft home. And everyone is right, the vaulted ceilings/open layout make a HUGE difference. I lived in a 3400 sq ft house in Vegas and it felt like a claustrophobic maze.
I don’t like the thought of getting a larger home to accommodate the kids and more stuff only to have the kids move out one day. I think it would feel too big and lonely. So then, people may say, just down size to a smaller home when the kids are gone. I wouldn’t want to do that because I would love to stay in the same house as my kids did growing up. I would love them to be able to “come home” with their family one day to all of the memories of the house that they grew up in. I never had that. We moved around constantly. That kind of stability and nostalgia is very attractive to me.
Having a decent sized backyard has been great for the kids, especially in my lazy days when I don’t feel like going anywhere but I can open up the back door and the kids can still get there vitamin D and wiggles out. I would much rather have a smaller home and a larger back yard. That’s really were the kids want to be anyways.
Our boys have shared a room and we have kept the 3rd bedroom as a play room/guest room. It has been great. I believe my kids have grown closer because of it. I have a friend who desperately wants his 2 boys to share a room because he did with his brother growing up and they are extremely close, but unfortunately his wife is not going for it. My mother grew up on a ranch in an 800 sq ft home with 3 other siblings who all shared 1 room and they all turned out great. WIth that said, just last week my oldest (he’s 6) declared he wanted his “own” room and so we moved him into in the play room/quest room. So, it has been great to have an additional room in case the kids really want to be separated, but funny thing is, now my 3 year old is sleeping next to the 6 year old in the new room. Lol! They really do prefer being by each other, but we’ll see how that goes as they continue to grow older.
My advice to you and yours: stay in your home in Encinitas, make it the best you can, and add on and open up the ceilings or walls if you feel like you need to. :)[/quote]
Thank you Lpj!Wow…I’ve been waiting to mention this topic I started with the wife because people keep chiming in with such great thoughts and I want to go over everything with her together when we have a moment. I’m pretty sure when we do she’s going to think I wrote your post to prove a point…it is just so in line with so many things I believe in.
The reason I started the topic is because I do not want to be naive and think that my way is always the right way. I want to be open minded about possibly being wrong and I wanted to hear from people that have been there and their experiences which is exactly what you shared and so appreciated here. I’d love to have my kids come back with their kids one day and show them the home they grew up in. I like the idea of sitting on the same porch and holding my grandkids the same way I currently hold my son with him crawling around and just being so curious about the world as is the stage he’s in right now. Maybe I’m just a big softy in that sense or have a bit of nostalgia since I was the one that moved around a lot as a kid. My parents got a divorce (as do many) and both were constantly moving around with dad always upgrading simply because he could and mom just struggling to keep a roof over her head by doing whatever it took to do so. I remember how my brother and I love top ramen and sunsets because it reminds us of being young with mom and we did not understand the gravity of those two things until talking with her recently. I mean..of course everyone loves sunsets (or at least most), but it was crazy to have her tell me how it was the only thing she could afford for a while there and she wanted to make us smile. The amazing part is how we did not even realize how broke she always was until recently when she mentioned it. We actually had a blast trying to improve the top ramen with our own ingredients and spices not realizing till we were older that it’s one of the least expensive items in the store. I think there is a little hidden lesson there that our children often have no idea how rich or poor we might be and that it does not matter to them until they get older…what a shame it is that this belief is lost sometimes as we grow up and start comparing each other to our friends, collegues, etc. On the other hand my wife’s parents pretty much live in the same home she grew up in. I think I might have admired her families simplicity and structure as something that might help her to believe that more is not necessarily better. That her being raised the way she was might help our children one day because we can both agree that less is often more and the difference between what a need and a want are.
allright…enough from me. I guess I got a little carried away there, but I just really appreciate that you took the time to add to this topic and speak from your experiences on it. I appreciate everyone’s comments, but I feel yours just really hits home on this one for me. Thank you!
August 19, 2013 at 5:07 PM #764608Participantsdsurfer, you are so welcome. 🙂 It sounds like we are cut from the same cloth and I’m so glad you feel what I wrote will benefit your discussion with your wife. 🙂 What you wrote about growing up with your mother was very touching. It’s funny that you didn’t even realize how broke she was. Often kids don’t. You were fed (even if it was good ol’ Top Ramen!), you were loved, and you had each other. Kids don’t care about living in 3000 sq ft. It’s just more room to divide each other, not help bring together.
It took me a while to get to those beliefs about less is more. I, too, bought into the modern American ideology of “bigger is better” for a while and can even find myself fantasizing about it when I go into those large, luxurious models. However, a nice, stable, modest home is all we really need. It is already so much more than many people have in this world.
Love this short article:
August 19, 2013 at 5:12 PM #764609CA renter
ParticipantThose are beautiful posts, LPJ and sdsurfer. Wanting to stay in the same home for the rest of your life, watching your grandkids play in the same home in which you raised your kids…priceless!
I also grew up moving (“moving up” according to parents), while my DH’s mom still lives in the same house she grew up in. The sense of history is warm and comforting, and it’s something we want for our kids, too.
Loved the part about how much you enjoyed the sunsets and ramen noodles with your mom, sdsurfer. She sounds like an awesome woman.
Good luck on making this decision as you discuss this with your wife. Personally, I think you’re in a good place where you are. 🙂
August 19, 2013 at 5:39 PM #764610Participant🙂
August 19, 2013 at 9:13 PM #764613NotCranky
ParticipantYep very nice posts. I wanted for my kids not to change school districts more so than houses, but that kind of goes hand in hand. So far so good.
We have a 2280 sqft house and a second smaller house + garage, which is nice. The yard is huge and that is what matters most to the kids and me. We have chickens, 2 large dogs, Trampoline, BMX track, serious tree fort, they can fly kites and large airplanes, or even shoot targets. They could have a batting cage or hard court, if they were to get serious about a sport. They can walk to a lake to fish. The kids had their first sleepover a week ago…nice that the kids had space to play and could camp outside and have a fire for marshmallows.
My wife also prefers a smaller house, but doesn’t mind ours since we can handle stay over guests well enough.
2 boys in 1 BR and one has his own. Extra BR is my office which is really nice to have. I wish my office had a door directly to the yard and may do something about that.
MIL may come to live with us in a few years, so that would change things a bit. I think she will be too disabled to live in the second house alone. I will be very glad that the main house is at least as big as it is . Maybe put a bath in the second largest bedroom or bootleg a studio apt into the family room which has a private access. No need to add on. Maybe this is something for some people to consider?
August 20, 2013 at 9:43 AM #764620GuestOver the weekend I visited a 4000sf 1 floor house with guest house. I could see myself holding a party in such a house
Maybe I like small because I can’t afford big.
August 20, 2013 at 11:17 AM #764622Participant[quote=FlyerInHi]Over the weekend I visited a 4000sf 1 floor house with guest house. I could see myself holding a party in such a house
Maybe I like small because I can’t afford big.[/quote]
Pick different career in your next life. A single, currently active tennis player recently built a 20,000 sqft house (10-car garage not included in the sqft) in Crosby Ranch.
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