Ranch or two-story, what’s right for you?

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Posted: July 31, 2020 - Homebuyer's Blog

One-story versus two-story home: Which is better? Hartz Homes know that the answer isn’t as simple as you might think. The number of floors in a home affects not just the way it looks, but also how easy it is to navigate and maintain, heat and cool, and much more. Here’s a brief look at the pros and cons of one-story versus two-story homes.

One-story homes: Pros and cons

Here are some of the advantages:

One-story homes are easier to maintain because everything’s on the same level. On a daily basis, that means no dragging a vacuum cleaner or loads of laundry up two flights of stairs. From an exterior point of view, everything from power-washing to window washing to painting stays easy and, on the ground, with no scaffolding necessary.

They’re safer to navigate. Have toddlers or an elderly parent living with you who might not be able to safely handle stairs? A one-story home means fewer risks of falls and accidents. It also means that once you get old, you can safely age in place.

They’re easier to evacuate. In case of a fire, you’ll be able to open any ground-floor window and crawl out to safety.

Now for the potential drawbacks of single-story homes:

Building and adding on can be costly. When building a home from the ground up, a larger footprint requires more land. A one-story house also requires more materials such as for the foundation, roofing, and windows.

There’s less privacy. Not everybody likes the letter carrier passing right by their bedroom window to drop off packages. While it’s true that not every single-story house means you’re all that exposed, second stories tend to be more secluded.

Two-story homes: Pros and cons

Here are some of the perks you get with a two-level house.

Extra privacy: A second floor makes for an easier separation of public and private spaces. If you’ve ever had guests over and sent your kids upstairs to watch a movie—or your in-laws are crashing in the guest room downstairs and you need to get away in your master suite—well, you know what we mean.

Lower risk of burglary. You have a lower risk of a break-in if you accidentally leave a window open on the second floor, rather than one on the first. A thief is unlikely to shimmy up your drainpipe just to check out your goods, and far less likely to shimmy down it with your flat-screen TV.

Potential views: If you live in a picturesque area, this advantage speaks for itself. Who doesn’t love the view from a second-floor window or balcony?

That said, two-story homes aren’t perfect. Here are the downsides.

Greater risk of accidents: Stairs can present a potential danger for young children and can be cumbersome for anyone with mobility issues. You’ll need to deploy baby-proof gates or figure out a way to make your staircase accessible to any loved ones whose movement is limited.

Adjusting heating and cooling: Heat rises; cold air drops. As a result, your upstairs may run hot, your downstairs cold, and you’ll have to adjust your heating and AC accordingly.

Potential for higher noise level: If not designed well, a multilevel home can have you covering your ears. For example, if your bedroom opens directly onto a great room balcony or the floor isn’t properly designed for acoustics, you’ll hear people walking and talking above you.

Whether you are looking for a ranch or two-story home, the team at Hartz Homes is ready to help you find the perfect home for your family.

Please check out these new home communities from Hartz Homes:

Armitage Pointe of Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bella Vista Townhomes of Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Blue Bell Ridge of Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new construction)
Lago Vista of Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Leigh Creek of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Marquis Pointe of Montgomery, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Nantucket Lakes of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Park West of Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Playa Vista of Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Shannon Estates of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Sky Harbor of New Lenox, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Whisper Creek of Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)

Hartz Homes has new home communities in:
Addison, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Aurora, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Bolingbrook, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Lockport, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
New Lenox (Chicago area new home construction)
Manteno, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Mokena, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)
Plainfield, Illinois (Chicago area new home construction)