5 Advantages of Smaller New Homes

Bigger is not always better, even in Texas. There are many reasons why having a smaller new home might be worth considering if you're thinking about moving.

You don't have to be downsizing to think about a smaller footprint for your new home, all you really need is an open mind and a good idea of what your needs & wants are - what I like to call the must-haves and the nice-to-haves.

Try not to think of your must-haves or nice-to-haves in terms of rooms, instead think about what you'd like to have space for in your new home.

Rather than saying, "We need 4 bedrooms" think along the lines of, "We need space for 3 of us to sleep and an office space." This will open your search up from homes with 4 bedrooms only to also include homes that have 2 bedrooms with a study, or 3 bedrooms with a formal dining that can be made into an office, or 3 bedrooms with a study and formal dining...the possibilities really start to open up when you change your perspective.

That's not to say you won't end up with a 4 bedroom home, but you'll have thought about your needs/wants instead of how many rooms there are.

Top 5 Advantages of Smaller New Homes

1. Spend Less Time Cleaning

When your home is smaller, you'll spend a lot less time cleaning. With less floor space there is less sweeping, mopping & vacuuming; with less furniture there is less dusting; and so on.

2. You'll Need Less Furniture - and Stuff

If it's your first home, you'll spend less upfront on furniture because you won't need as much and you can slowly add what you do need over time without feeling like you live in an empty house.

You also have the option to choose quality over quantity - for example, instead of a run-of-the-mill sectional that might only last a few years but has seating for 10 and fills your giant living room, you can choose a smaller, higher quality couch that will likely last much longer.

Moving into a smaller home is the perfect opportunity to eliminate clutter. This is not an easy process, so unless you're moving long distance, don't worry about getting rid of things before you move. This gives you the opportunity to proactively choose what gets a place in your new home as you unpack. If you don't love it, chances are you have an empty box nearby to start a donation pile!

You don't have to become a minimalist to enjoy the benefits of living with less stuff and everyone can benefit from the added joy that comes with less. I highly recommend reading The Joy of Less by Francine Jay if you need a little help getting started.

3. More Time with Family

Since you'll be cleaning less you'll have more time to spend with family and with an open concept floor plan & fewer rooms, you'll share more time together in the space you have.

Smaller homes also come with lower expenses, which means money saved can go towards family trips, date nights, etc.

4. Less Maintenance & Repairs

Compared to larger resale homes, or even smaller homes that are older, you'll save time & money on maintenance & repairs when you build or purchase a new home.

Your electric bill will likely be lower due to higher efficiency products used in new home construction and the smaller overall footprint - less space to cool/heat, less lights needed, etc.

MUST READ: How to Read a Floor Plan offers a lot of insights about efficiencies that come with new homes.

5. More Financial Flexibility

With a smaller home, you have more choices. For one, you can choose a smaller home in an affordable neighborhood and save on your mortgage payments.

OR...you could choose to use a little of the money you save on a smaller home to add a few upgrades, like the subway tile backsplash you love or the larger walk-in shower.

Either way, a smaller home can offer greater affordability & flexibility. With a lower mortgage payment you'll spend less time worrying about making your payments and more time focused on what really matters to you.

You don't have to join the Tiny Home movement to take advantage of the benefits of smaller homes.

What are the must-haves on your list?

Use our New Home Shopping List to get started: