2 Story House

chance_encounters

Hello ladies.  My DH and I are looking at a house to buy.  Well for the first time we have found a 2 story house that we just love.  I would like to hear from people who live in a 2 story house.  Do you like it?  Do you dislike it?  Why?

Our main concern is we both have bad knees.  We are fine climbing up the stairs for now....but years from now is what we are concerned about.  Thoughts?

 Thanks ladies!!!!

Karen2905

How long do you hope to be staying in that house? Through retirement? 

I grew up in a two story house, so I'm kind of biased.  My husband is the one who wants a ranch - that'll be an adjustment for me.  To me, two story homes just feel bigger than one story homes, regardless of how the square footage compares.  I also think they're more interesting to look at from the outside.

On the downside, you'll need baby gates by the stairs, and some elderly guests may not be able to move around as freely.  

Did you take pictures?

jlk0219

We live in a 2 story townhome and I like it. Sometimes it's a pain running up and down the stairs, but not enough for me not to buy a 2 story home. Does it have a bath on each floor? It would be a major inconvenience if you only had bathroom access on one floor. If you plan on staying in this home forever and are worried about how your age will affect living in this home, then I would stay away from the 2 story.

munkii

We live in a 2 story TH as well; having grown up in a 1 story house, I can say I easily prefer 2 over 1.  Like pp said, it must have a bathroom on each level for me to want it, though.  Also, I've noticed when my knees are stiff or crackly, going up and down the stairs loosens them up.

arobertson62282

I've only ever lived in a 2 story home, but we've talked about eventually moving into a ranch home because it'll be easier on us and our elderly parents.

But yeah, how long do you plan on living there? I know very few people who plan to live in the home they buy now forever, but if you are planning to live there forever, then I guess you do have to think of that.

bethicacon

I grew up in a two story house but now DH and I live in a one story house. It is a 2 bedroom one bathroom that we are planning to build a major addition on to in the next few years.

Michle315

We have a 2 story house, I like it but then again I have always lived in a 2 story. Yea the stairs are a pain but I can get use to it with no problem, the one thing I love is that my laundry room is actually upstairs! Much better then lugging it down the stairs to the garage ect. When we plan on buying a house, I really want my master bedroom on the bottom floor and the kids all upstairs.

Fotophreak4c

I live in a 3 story house and i love it. I've lived in it since since I was 5 and it was always perfect when my dad worked nightshift because he would be sleeping on the top floor and the kids would not bother him down on the 1st floor. It can be kind of annoying if your laundry is in the garage like mine. My friend has laundry on the 2nd floor and its AWESOME!!

 I have lived in a 4 story house before and it was HORRIBLE because it was just too big and too many stairs (then again I was so young it was a pain because it seemed 10 times as big). The cool thing about that house though was it had a laundry shoot into the basement from one of the bathrooms at the top of the house. I loved that!! 

chance_encounters

It is a 4 bedroom 3 1/2 bathrooms with an office/den downstairs.  It has 1 1/2 bathrooms downstairs and is 2788 in square footage.  The laundry is also upstairs.  It has a dual furnace (for energy effeciency) and a hot water recycler (DH explained it to me said it is more efficent in a 2 story and you instantly have hot water and save alot of water that way).  It is at the border of our comfort in price (we will not go past our comfort level).  It is very pretty.  The only down side is my kids will now have to change schools, but we can get a variance for the rest of the year.....

mikesboo23

My family moved several times while I was growing up so I've lived in 3 1 story houses, a 1 story with a basement, a 2 story with a basement, and a tri-level. 

Pros of 2 story 
- layout is comfortable
- you can entertain while your bedrooms are messy if the bottom floor is clean

Cons of 2 story
- laundry is downstairs, bedrooms are upstairs
- stairs and clumsy people don't mix (if either of you are clumsy)
- small dogs shouldn't be allowed to go up and down by themselves (they fall trying to go down stairs)
- when you have small children you have to put ugly gates up

TheCatSaidQuack

We have a two story and love it...it's got two staircases when you include the steps down to the basement, both with 13 stairs. I think it feels more like a 'house' when it's two storied, but thats just my preference. I like having the privacy of having the master bedroom away from the living area, and having a sense of 'escaping' when the in-laws are over ;-)

lisast

I have lived in:

-1 story

-1 story with basement

-2 story with basement

I actually liked two story with a basement the best - it allowed for enough space for one person to sleep (important because my dad worked shifts) while others went about their business. We had the laundry in the basement, but wasn't a big deal if you come up with a good system.  Right now I live in a one story with a basement - and frankly wouldn't do it again. I can hear EVERYTHING when I'm trying to sleep, the dishwasher, the washing machine, etc  (the house is over 2000 sq ft and has sound dampening in the walls, but sound still carries more than in a multi level house). 

Also - I have had multiple major knee surgeries and am bad enough to need both knees and both hips replaced.  I have never had an issue with stairs due to knees, you just learn to make it work.  I really wouldn't let that deter you from a multi level (heck, my buddy is an above the knee amputee and lives in a tri-level with no issue)

Go with what you fall in love with - Good Luck!

Future.Mrs.Shawty

I think ranch houses tend to be more open which is really good for entertaining.   A smaller home that is a ranch will seem bigger than the same square footage as a 2 story.

My first home I built was a ranch (no basement) and it we loved it.  Our current house is a 2 story with a basement and I think I wouldn't mind a ranch (same or more total square feet) with the basement.  Stairs do become a pain, but I'm lazy.  I guess I should consider it good exercise??  LOL

 It sounds like you really love this house...you know what your knees are capable of.  Base your decision off of that.  It seems to be your only potential issue.