Yeah, I get it; but I'm not going to buy a one-level house on the off chance I break a leg.
How old are you?
As you get older, you get more aware of things that can make life easier or more difficult as you age. One of the biggies is stairs. So while at 30 you think no big deal, at 45 and some starting arthritis in your knees/hips/back, those stairs you bounded up so easily 5 years previously become an obstacle to avoid.
My SO's family bought this house 30+ years ago and had no intention of moving. This was going to be their last house. They had no idea that SO's stepdad would wind up with an infection of one leg, then another that resulted in a double amputation. They had no idea when they bought the house 30 years ago that it would have been prohibitively expensive to expand the lower level powder room and carve out a bedroom. They had no idea that even though their house would have fetched a good amount of $$, that selling it would have taken him further than the medical care that he needed - had they been able to find it (they live in Vancouver, where house prices are utterly obscene).
Listen, my house has two bedrooms on the first floor and we bought it on purpose knowing that and I think you're being a little relentless here. There are many unknowns in life. Accounting for all of them in all life decisions would be impossible. It's not foolish not to buy a house with a main floor master with no known or certain future conditions that require it. It just isn't.
Well, she was concerned about people wandering into her bathroom, so yes, lol.
I'm just a bit surprised at the strong feelings about this. I really don't have any, except that I want a one story now.
I have a whole list of shit I completely hate in houses. Main-level masters, two-story family rooms, catwalks, coffered ceilings when the height is less than twelve feet, open floor plans.
ETA: UGH, and brick. I hate brick inside.
I think mofongo and I may be kindred house spirits. Love my main floor master, don't care if people go in it to use my bathroom (although they normally don't).
And lucy, we are so not kindred house spirits. I SO miss my exposed brick wall from my old house.... le sigh.
Honestly though, first floor masters are not a thing here. Unless you are in a rancher or a retirement community, they just are not common. We saw one house with one in a neighborhood we liked and the realtor was acting like it was a s&m room - trying to explain it away and how you could change it to something else. That house took forever to sell and was priced well below other houses in the neighborhood. It was otherwise a nice house. Like I said, it's just not common or desired around here. In other areas, it's an asset.
Honestly though, first floor masters are not a thing here. Unless you are in a rancher or a retirement community, they just are not common. We saw one house with one in a neighborhood we liked and the realtor was acting like it was a s&m room - trying to explain it away and how you could change it to something else. That house took forever to sell and was priced well below other houses in the neighborhood. It was otherwise a nice house. Like I said, it's just not common or desired around here. In other areas, it's an asset.
Tangent: I have always wanted to ride one of those. It looks like fun.
Our last house had a main floor laundry room but also a stacked W/D in the master closet on the second floor. It was divine. So much handier to do your laundry right where you take your clothes off/on. We live in a 2 story now with the main on the first level so two laundries wouldn't make sense. But I do miss having it in my closet.
ETA: It's pretty common for houses here to have the master on the main level and the kids rooms all upstairs or sometimes in the basement.
Honestly though, first floor masters are not a thing here. Unless you are in a rancher or a retirement community, they just are not common. We saw one house with one in a neighborhood we liked and the realtor was acting like it was a s&m room - trying to explain it away and how you could change it to something else. That house took forever to sell and was priced well below other houses in the neighborhood. It was otherwise a nice house. Like I said, it's just not common or desired around here. In other areas, it's an asset.
Tangent: I have always wanted to ride one of those. It looks like fun.
We used to have one in the house I grew up in, in the back staircase from the kitchen, from the previous owners. My mom used it to send the laundry basket up from the main floor laundry room.
First floor masters suck, and anyone who has one is a loser. The only reason you're not concerned about guests seeing your your dirty drawers and dingy bras strewn about your main floor laundry is because you don't have guests. However, one positive is that homeowner's insurance rates are substantially lower for first floor masters, because it's common knowledge that no one wants to steal your lame shit anyway.
First floor masters suck, and anyone who has one is a loser. The only reason you're not concerned about guests seeing your your dirty drawers and dingy bras strewn about your main floor laundry is because you don't have guests. However, one positive is that homeowner's insurance rates are substantially lower for first floor masters, because it's common knowledge that no one wants to steal your lame shit anyway.
Dammit. How did you know? Why can't you let me pretend I have friends!?!
First floor masters suck, and anyone who has one is a loser. The only reason you're not concerned about guests seeing your your dirty drawers and dingy bras strewn about your main floor laundry is because you don't have guests. However, one positive is that homeowner's insurance rates are substantially lower for first floor masters, because it's common knowledge that no one wants to steal your lame shit anyway.
Dammit. How did you know? Why can't you let me pretend I have friends!?!
Your last Christmas "party".
Another well-known fact: People with first floor masters are 10x more likely to forget their kids at home when they rush off to the airport.
Our master is on the main floor. I hate it! Our old house was 3 stories, so bedrooms, main, basement. That was ideal. I could actually sit in my living room and HEAR my tv while the kids slept upstairs. I have to have subtitles now when I watch tv because I don't want to wake the kids. It's bullshit!
Then again, maybe if h would finish the basement, we could move the tv down there and I could turn that shit up. Fuck sakes.
We were house hunting while I was very pregnant. It helped me notice all sorts of inconveniences. The houses around here can be weird. Three flights of steep mossy hillside steps down to the front door and then an internal flight up just to get a gallon of milk from the trunk to the fridge? No thank you. I don't care how pretty the trees around it are.
Dammit. How did you know? Why can't you let me pretend I have friends!?!
Your last Christmas "party".
Another well-known fact: People with first floor masters are 10x more likely to forget their kids at home when they rush off to the airport.
You say that like the kid-free vacation that results would be a bad thing.
And I'll have to let my parents know that they are utterly fucked. Not only are they both over 60, they live in a split level. They can't even get to the bathroom, or their bedroom, without going up three stairs. The rest of the bedrooms are up EVEN MORE STAIRS! And the garage is underground, and connects to the basement. You get to the house via....you guessed it....stairs.
That's also why I like hallways, which aren't popular anymore either. It's not wasted space, it's keeping my damn private area private. But that's another tambgent. lol
Yes, what is with that? I browse house plans sometimes and the bedrooms are right off of other rooms. I don't want my bedroom to open directly into the foyer or the kitchen. Give me some proper buffer space.
Remember how in Gilmore girls Rory's room was right off the kitchen? I always thought that was weird.
I mean I can see wanting all bedrooms upstairs. I hate feeling like guests can just look into my master bedroom. That's also why I like hallways, which aren't popular anymore either. It's not wasted space, it's keeping my damn private area private. But that's another tambgent. lol
(1) If people can afford two laundry rooms, they can afford to have somebody else do their laundry (and not have two laundry rooms) (and have a more fun room instead).
(2) Tambgent is the best thing in this whole thread.
Honestly though, first floor masters are not a thing here. Unless you are in a rancher or a retirement community, they just are not common. We saw one house with one in a neighborhood we liked and the realtor was acting like it was a s&m room - trying to explain it away and how you could change it to something else. That house took forever to sell and was priced well below other houses in the neighborhood. It was otherwise a nice house. Like I said, it's just not common or desired around here. In other areas, it's an asset.
Tangent: I have always wanted to ride one of those. It looks like fun.
I have a friend who has one. She was going to take it out, but then realized it is super helpful for moving shit upstairs without having to go upstairs. I rode it once, it is slow.
I mean I can see wanting all bedrooms upstairs. I hate feeling like guests can just look into my master bedroom. That's also why I like hallways, which aren't popular anymore either. It's not wasted space, it's keeping my damn private area private. But that's another tambgent. lol
(1) If people can afford two laundry rooms, they can afford to have somebody else do their laundry (and not have two laundry rooms) (and have a more fun room instead).
(2) Tambgent is the best thing in this whole thread.
Just because someone can afford it, doesn't mean they want to. I am just bitter because DH doesn't trust anyone, even dry cleaners, with his clothes.
(1) If people can afford two laundry rooms, they can afford to have somebody else do their laundry (and not have two laundry rooms) (and have a more fun room instead).
(2) Tambgent is the best thing in this whole thread.
Just because someone can afford it, doesn't mean they want to. I am just bitter because DH doesn't trust anyone, even dry cleaners, with his clothes.
Yes, what is with that? I browse house plans sometimes and the bedrooms are right off of other rooms. I don't want my bedroom to open directly into the foyer or the kitchen. Give me some proper buffer space.
Remember how in Gilmore girls Rory's room was right off the kitchen? I always thought that was weird.