What Are If Any Downsides to Owning a Two Story Home?

dragging the vaccuum and sleeping children who are constantly growing up those stairs. Also, vaccuuming those stairs. lol.

Congrats on the new house.

My only gripe is that there is more to clean. It really is a pain to carry the laundry and vacuum up. Other than that, i like having 2 stories. There is more room and everyone is not on top of each other.

We live in a two story and the times I don't llike it is:
a. Carrying laundry UP 2 flights to put it away (unless you have a 2nd fl laundry--which I don't)
b. Being in the basement & needing something from the 2nd floor.

Something always gets forgotten upstairs...it gets tiresome going up and down all the time. Then again i'm pregnant, I get winded just going up once (so take that with a grain of salt). Other than that, since your children are past the point where you'd be worried about them going down the stairs I see no downsides. At least the w/ the master downstairs...I don't like houses that are designed w/ the masters upstairs and the rest of the bedrooms down...that's just a level of security (or lack of it) I'm not comfortable with. We bought a house last year in which all the bedrooms are upstairs, and that works out just fine too.
Good luck on your home search! :)

living in tx you may want to consider the electric bill, heat rises and the upstairs will stay warmer than the downstairs during the hot tx summers. and if you get a 2 story with seperate air for upstairs the temp upstairs will have to be set pretty low in order to keep it cool.

The stairs! ;) I hated having a two story home. I always left things on the stairs to take up later, but never got around to it. It was sort of our collecting place.

Other than that it was okay. I got tired of going up and down the stairs all the time honestly....I wasn't lazy, actually a big runner at the time, but they just go old. And I hated vacuuming them! Oh, yeah, and I did buy two vacuums so that if I had a quick vacuuming job to do, I didn't have to go drag the vacuum up or down stairs!

I'm a California girl though and we like one story ranch houses!

When you get old you cannot live in your own home. It will be more likely that you will be moved out of it and into your child's home or a convalencent home.

My mom had cancer and couldn't climb the stairs. So we put a hospital bed in the front room. That still didn't take care of the fact that there was no shower for her.
BOTH my parents fell down the stairs. My mom broke her leg, my dad , his pelvis.

If you ever get knee problems, or become disabled, you will not be able to live in the home either.

You'll definetly want to have at least one bedroom on the first floor, or an area that can be turned into a bedroom. You never know when someone in the family might break a bone or have an illness that prevents them from climbing stairs.

There are both advantages and disadvantages to having the kids on a separate floor. You can't keep as close an eye on them as you might want or need to. For example, my bedroom is on the main floor, my daughter is upstairs and likes to watch tv at night, she'll occassionally watch later than she should, but she can hear me coming up the stairs to check on her. Having kids upstairs gives you more privacy, you can also do things around the house after they've gone to bed and you won't keep them awake.

Also make sure you have a bathroom downstairs that can be used by all family members and guests.

The only downside we have in ours is that it gets very hot upstairs in the summer. We have to run our AC non stop all summer so that we can sleep. Other than that, I like it!

that is one thing that has always terrified me if having my room on a different floor then the kids. I always have this fear that a fire will break out and cover the hall way or the stairs and i wont be able to get to them. I know that the odds of that are very slim, but its just an unsettling fear of mine!

we have a split level home and i love it except for a few things.
1) it makes cleaning a lot harder to have to haul the vacuum up and down stairs.
2) it makes laundry harder to carry up and down stairs.
3) if you are injured (like i hurt my leg recently) its a pain to get up and down stairs.
4) since heat rises, it tends to get a little stuffy in the humid summer months.

I have had 1 story with a full basement, several standard 2 story houses, and older home wiht 4 floors (basement, main floor, second floor, and walk up attic) and currently have a 1 story house (no basement - this is TX and not the norm here to have one) - I LOVE having a one story house.

I love the look of a 2 story - but I just love our floor plan - we have nearly 4,000 square feet - the kids are on the opposite side of the house - it is a really quiet house.

Also, we did have to move my parents here - they have a separate apt in back - but my mom was using a walker and wheelchair and it would have been hard to have her here - my dad can't do stairs well.

I think it all comes down to personal preference and finding a house that meets your needs and that you love.

With kids, everything that belongs upstairs usually found their way downstairs and everything that belongs downstiars inevitably ended up upstairs. The clutter that it created drove me crazy.

Also, with our first house was a two story and, our power bill during the summer was through the roof because we have a AC unit for each floor. Now we are living in a 1-story house literally a block a way from our old house, pretty much the same square footage but our power bill is a fraction of what it was. I am so much happier with our 1-story house; better flow, less expensive, so much easier to keep up.

Hope this helps.

One upside is that you'll definitely get a good workout.
The downside....break a leg and you are just hosed. In this house, my room is the only one downstairs which was great for me...but I couldn't get up and down the stairs to my kids rooms. Or their bathroom. Needless to say, they were all a mess by the time I could navigate my way up there.
The kids rooms being on a separate floor are fine as long as they are good sleepers and won't try getting up in the dark to go downstairs. You want to make sure there's a night light or something.
The thrill of stairs wears off pretty quickly for kids who live with them for any length of time as far as playing on them.
You might want a baby gate up at their end to keep them from being tempted to come downstairs during the night until you're sure they won't do that a lot.

I think you can adjust fine.
Best of luck!

We own a home with a lot of stairs and I wouldn't change a thing. Our house is over the side of a hill with a wooded valley in the back. One flight down to the front door, a flight inside to the lower level and another outdoor flight to the garden and woods behind. In our situation no stairs would mean little privacy and the loss of gorgeous views from every room, it's like living in a treehouse and totally private. I think you need to decide if the stairs add anything to the home. Is the view from upatirs pretty? do you have a larger yard due to a smaller house footprint? Also, in our home adults and kids are on different levels and that is a good thing. Your kids are not going to be little much longer and really a bit of distance as they grow is a good thing. I think looking 3-4 decades down the road at this point as far as getting old is a little silly. You shouldn't base a decision like that on a flight of stairs. I do get more exercise than if we lived on one level, every stair step is supposed to add a few seconds to your life so I'll be REALLY old when I can't get up and down them anymore! LOL

Sorry if this is a duplicate response...2 stories are great. My main concern would be having a master bedroom downstairs. I personally would want to be upstairs where the kids are. I'd hate to be sleeping downstairs & having God knows what happening upstairs (when the kids are older) b/c they think we can't hear them.

We have a Master Down 2 story house and although I do get tired of running up and down the stairs I really do like the two story. We have a living area up and down so it is kind of nice that the kids can play upstairs and have their own space and that the downstairs still looks nice if someone just drops by.

When I clean I just set stuff that needs to go up on the stairs and the rule is that no one goes up empty handed if there is stuff on the stairs. Laundry is not that bad we just throw it over the ledge down the stairs and take it up one load at a time.

We live in McKinney and even with the hot crazy summers our electric is only $159 on equalized billing. We do have two A/C units and that seems to work out well for us.

I think you can get more house for your money with a two story house that is a huge perk!

I live in a two story home. When I had surgery on my feet and ankles, I had to crawl upstairs to get to the showers and to go to bed. For a few days, I had to sleep downstairs in the living room.

Upstairs is hotter. We only have one AC unit.

As kids, my Aunt had the master room downstairs and the kids were upstairs. We climbed out windows and pretty much did as we pleased and she didn't know. She never went up there.

We too are planning to move within a year and get a two story...I love them they have more room, but my only concerns are the stairs with my kids, and higher electric bill, and also having to go up and down all the time it can wear you out lol...But other than that I say go for it...we plan too...We could use the room thats for sure!!

My husband and I both grew up in homes with stairs and basements, but since we married, we had always been in a single level home until this past fall when we bought a 2 story home (still no basement, hmph!) Well, the first few weeks, my butt felt like it got a good workout! I did have a scare because that same month we moved, I went back to the doctor who treated me for pneumonia a year ago because my rib/lung still hurt and he told me it was arthritis!!!! I went to another doctor and no it is not arthritis, but that month I was really questioning our sanity buying a 2 story.... It's not arthritis and I am fine with the 2 story!

I like it because: it doesnt spread our home all over the yard, so we still have some decent yard space. I like the fact we have two AC units, so the upstairs one can be off/set high during the day when we are downstairs, and vice versa at night. We do have a bedroom and full bath downstairs, however it does not have room for guests (ie my parents) because of the other things we have in there, unfortunately. But if it ever got to the point where, if someone living with us could not go up the stairs long term, then that could be converted back to a bedroom. I LOVE the upstairs play area (my son is 7yo) so he can be up there and playing and have his train tracks and little animals all over the floor and I don't mind as much as if it were downstairs in the living room. Mostly though, I am just glad to be in a bigger house that's ours.
Your kids are still young at this point so they will still want to be near you all day long, so be prepared to spend some time up there when your kids are playing there, and have them around when you're downstairs. Soon enough they will be glad to play in a room separate from you though. Laundry upstairs or downstairs is another consideration (if you have the option).

Some of the downsides can also be upsides - ie, going up and down the stairs... more exercise!! Having kids farther away & having to go check on them ... their own space with their toys and noise away from you. etc. I totally agree kids bedrooms upstairs and master downstairs is best (ours is master, loft, and 2 other bedrooms upstairs, plus one more bedroom downstairs.)

Do you love the house? Does it still work if, say, you had a 3rd child? what if a 4th comes along? guests? Can you see yourself in it 7-10 yrs down the road? If yes, then do it. If you have serious doubts or concerns, or can only see yourself in it for a max of 5 yrs, then look around some more.

Ditto everyone else.

We live in a 2-story home.
My kids are 3.5 and 7 years old.
Be prepared..... to go up and down the stairs HUNDREDS of times per day.... as the kids call you, as you forget stuff, and you need stuff etc.
But hey, its exercise and good for toning your butt and thighs!
We have bedrooms one downstairs and upstairs on the main floor.
I really don't mind it.

But yes, if someone is hurt... you have to relocate that person.
My Mom lives with us... she is a senior citizen..... and her room is on the main floor. NOT downstairs. And, the home is designed so that if she were in a wheelchair, she could exist, just on that floor, since her room is there and the kitchen and the bathroom and a hook up for a washing machine etc.

Then, you might want to make sure, that you are okay with your kids being on a completely different floor than you, for sleeping. Since the master bedroom is downstairs. So that means the kids will be upstairs...

good luck!
Susan

I don't think you're ever past the point where you have to worry about somebody falling down the stairs.

Moving all your stuff upstairs really blows. Espeically if the staircase is curved!

My friends that have 2 story houses hate it. They have a basket at the top and one at the bottom for all the stuff they need to take up or down next time they go.

You have to drag the vacuum up and down and vacuum the stairs.

It may be a higher energy cost depending on the construction of the home.

It can sound like a herd of elephants when the kids run around upstairs.

But on the upside - they look really nice!

we have owned 2 story homes since my kids were two. now they're 5 and it's easier but i had to put carpet on steps because they were very slippery. even though my kids are 5 i still ask them to go up 'monkey style' meaning hand and feet, same thing coming down., slide on their behinds. it's just to put my mind at easy. my kids are also not allowed to play around the steps from fear of being pushed or slipping down. when they were little i had a gate installed to make sure they couldn't go down without me knowing.
also, locate your laundry room. if it is in the basement you'll be walking plenty. my legs are pretty toned now because the amount of times i go up and down.
so i don't see a downside to owning one as long as the kids are protected when it comes to stairs.

It's a personal choice and what is best for you.

The first home we built (92) was 2 story and the master was up. We were on same floor with daughter while she was a toddler.

I had 2 vac's, one up and one down.
Kept a basket at the bottom of the steps and took it up each time I went upstairs.

Fast forward....we built our current home 10 yrs ago.(2000) Master down (I LOVE MASTER DOWN). Daughter is 15 1/2 and the entire upstairs, about 2000 sq ft is hers (only child). Of course plenty of space for guests, teens etc. Our living area 2000+ is downstairs which includes a separate guest room as well.

I still keep a basket at the steps, down to 1 vac a very lightweight top of the line Oreck (although I still have the 2 Hoovers as backup). Steps are still a pain to vac.

We have an upgraded AC system with 2 units. We are NOT stingy on temp, we keep it comfy for us and it is cooler than most homes. Last year our bill was never over $400 but we do expect it to hit that this year since it is June 5 and 100 outside which is earlier for the hotter season. We were surprised last year that we didn't go over $400. We have a MUCH larger yard in a wooded area that takes a LOT of water. My most recent water bill was $200 and we are not in summer yet! Last Sept the water bill hit $425. We water on the schedule/the city rules. Also, with 2 stories, you probably have 2 water heaters, 2 garage doors, etc.

As for teens coming out the windows and me "not knowing"..... we do have the babysitter alarm for all windows and doors and if someone did try to go out they could very well die from the potential fall. YES, we have a fire escape plan.

Best wishes!

Hi C.,

My family moved to the States from England 22 months ago and we decided to buy a two storey home because it seemed more English to me and being from England I wanted something that felt a little more like home! Living in Arizona we were told that a 2 storey is more expensive to cool in the summer, but we have found that our bills are pretty good compared to others in 1 and 2 storey homes. I guess it all depends on how cool you like your home and how much you want to pay in bills! As most lot sizes are pretty much the same I have found that you get a bigger garden (yard to you American guys) with a 2 story as a 1 storey takes up more ground space. If you are looking to put in a pool then you may have more yard with a 2 storey. The only advantage I can see in a 1 storey home is if you are older and you find it difficult to get up stairs! We enjoy our 2 storey and I like the fact that all the bedrooms are on the upper level. I hope this helps in your decision making.

I have lived in both one and 2 floor homes and I must say, it isn't about the stairs - it is all about the flow of the house. I currently live in a 2 floor plus full basement. It is a home we built exactly the way we wanted and we love it.

I can't stand a home with a million walls and small rooms. I have seen claustrophobic single story homes and others that are open and sprawling. I have seen boxed in 2 stories and others with fabulous cat walks and beautiful open space.

Go for open flow, lots of windows, big farmer's porch, grand fireplaces, etc. Go for storage and savvy design. Think about how you cook, entertain, do laundry, bathe - everything. Whether you find it in a 2 story or 1 really doesn't matter (unless you have major mobility problems) just as long as you fall head over heels for it.

Have fun!