I enjoy watching house hunting shows. The shows almost always portray a couple, often with children, and the dream is for a bigger house with lots and lots of storage for all their stuff (insert a spouse’s snide comment about shopping or shoes or sports equipment). I often rolled my eyes at them and a few times even talked back to the TV. Eventually, I just stopped viewing any programs with people hunting for huge houses.
Then the tiny house programs began popping up. Those buyers are the counterpoint to the mainstream house hunters. I love watching those shows even though I know I would not be comfortable going that small (go ahead and roll your eyes, more-minimalist-than-thou readers). Somewhere between those seeking huge houses and those wanting tiny ones is my sweet spot.
I’m not inexperienced in house hunting. So far, I’ve bought four houses and sold three. In fact, I just moved into my current house in the summer of 2015, after moving halfway across the country. So why would I move again just two years later? It’s a huge hassle. It’s expensive. It’s exhausting.
Nevertheless, I’m determined to go smaller and live closer to the activities that make my life more meaningful. I’ve lived here long enough now to learn which areas of the city would work best for me. My beloved Rosie the dog has passed, so I don’t need much of a yard, just big enough for me to grow some flowers, vegetables, and herbs. Zac the cat wants to have a screened-in porch. My adult children live in other states and visit several times a year, but if someone has to sleep in the living room for a short time, so be it.
How small can I go? I’ve decluttered quite a lot of my personal possessions, so I know that I can go smaller than the space I have now (1600 sq. ft.). I’ve automatically ruled out any houses that are larger than my current one or have pools (I’m trying to simplify my life). My realtor took my preferences and set up the automatic listing service, so now, instead of watching house programs on TV, I’m looking at houses online.
My first excursion to view houses was exhausting, but informative. Most of the houses were about 1100-1300 sq. ft., and yet the space felt very different in each, depending on the layout. I didn’t find any to bid on yet, but I am happy to report that the size was not a problem. I could probably go smaller, but there aren’t many smaller ones available.
I still dread all the work involved in moving, but I know that I’ll have fewer boxes than ever to pack and move, thanks to all the decluttering I’ve done in the past year. I’m looking forward to finding my new home and hoping it will take less time and effort than in the past.
Zac loves the screened-in patio!
RESOURCES
Fivecoat-Campbell, Kerri Living Large in Our Little House: Thriving in 480 Square Feet with Six Dogs, a Husband, and One Remote–Plus More Stories of How You Can Too
Hutchison, Katie The New Small House
Morrison, Andrew Tiny House Designing, Building, & Living (Idiot’s Guides)
For resources, go to this page: Resources
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My Minimalist Home: How Small Can I Go?
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My Minimalist Home: One Month Countdown
My Minimalist Home: Neither Here Nor There
My Minimalist Home: Hurry Up and Wait!
My Minimalist Home: A Few Steps Backwards, A Few Steps Forwards
Think about what furniture you want to keep, then buy home to fit that furniture. Also, depends on how much storage you need. We bought a 1000 sq. ft. home without basement, and now find that it is much too small. However, if this home had basement, then I would be happy in 1000 sq. ft. home.
No basements in Florida! As a single empty nester (who has decluttered a lot), I don’t need too much storage, thankfully.