When I have spoken to buyers in my line of work, one of the main concerns that I always hear is how much space a potential new home is going to offer. More so than a home's location, amenities and even its price, buyers want to know how much space a house is going to have. Does it offer enough room for storage? And will it have the scope for an extension? It is hardly surprising that home buyers are worried about space; the size of houses have grown smaller and smaller since the 1970s according to research by LABC Warranty. Meanwhile, homeowners have more stuff than ever before.
However, what I always tell home buyers when they view a property is that there are always storage solutions available to them, even if the house they are looking at seems too small to hold all their belongings at first glance. That is not to excuse houses which are built too small, but there are creative ways in which homeowners can organise their house to ensure they don't have to discard any of their beloved possessions. But what exactly are the things that home buyers should consider when space is a major concern?
Surprisingly, some of the hardest things that new home owners will find room to store are small items. From batteries to first aid supplies, from spare light bulbs to stationary — every household has its fair share of little stuff that can become overwhelming if it is not efficiently organised. Closets and drawers can quickly descend into chaos if these kinds of items, which tend to come in all sorts of odd shapes and sizes, are not properly organised. Having small storage boxes that can contain these is essential, and allows room for the bigger, more important things you want to bring with you.
When you need to keep all of your clutter hidden from view, home owners can also invest in what Rapid Racking refers to as "hidden storage" in its ebook “How To Organise Your Home, Room By Room”. In the kitchen, islands are available with integrated storage which allow you to find extra room for hiding all manner of essentials—pans, utensils, even cookbooks. You can also purchase storage seating for your dining area so that place mats, table clothes and other practical items don't clog up your kitchen cupboards. In other rooms, there are coffee tables, footrests or seats can be a useful addition that similarly double-up as storage.
Don’t forget about your walls either. It is an often neglected part of the home when it comes to storage. Wall-mounted floating shelves in a house’s living room are a perfect way for home owners to display everything from books to precious ornaments and sentimental trinkets. There are also hanging racks for kitchens and hallways that can keep your tools, clothing, etc. safe. All of these options are highly affordable too—you won’t exactly have to break the bank to ensure you have useful storage.
I meet home buyers all the time. When I show them properties, many of them have very valid concerns about how much space the house will have. However, I hope these tips provide some advice for buyers who are about to embark on their exciting journey to become homeowners. These are just some of the ways in which you can conserve space in a home that might not initially seem adequately sized.
