General Chat

Front page of today's Daily Mail mentions older people downsizing.

I don't know about others but the older bungalows in our suburb are not well-designed. Most are two-bedroomed and have barely enough dining space in kitchen or lounge. Some have been extended to provide better living accommodation so if occupiers have done this they may be willing to pay slightly more for slightly more indoor space.

Do house-builders and architects not know that the elderly often have grandchildren etc staying so three bedrooms are necessary as well as space for dining table and at least four chairs (preferably more so family and visitors can be accommodated). A kitchen where one can carry hot pans from stove to sink without crossing the floor is a necessity (I have seen two friends with Parkinson's attempt to do this in badly-designed bungalows).

Although families sometimes occupy bungalows, in the main the occupants are older so a smaller garden is fine.

In this area so-called family homes are being built with narrow roads causing parking problems when dad, mum and one or more teenagers have cars, and small gardens - no space to swing a cat springs to mind - certainly not designed for children to play in.

Sorry everyone, got that bugbear off my chest.

Elderly people often have walking aids and wheelchairs which require space, not a little kroom where you can't put your zimmer while you have your dinner.

Agreed Sharron.

Its probably down to cost. A larger bunglaow will sell for more than a house with the same floor space, simply because it needs more land. (edit - footprint)

Friends down sized to a 3 bed bungalow....which cost more than their 4 bed house :-S
We've been thinking about it, but have decided we can probably convert the loo into wet-room and live downstairs.

We are not prepared to sell our four bed house. The two smallest bedrooms are 1)my craft room and in the evening his TV room (sport lover that he is)
2) his computer office/workshop for rebuilding mobile phones.
These two rooms are what keeps us active.
We have one spare double room and my craft room has a sofa bed in it for very occasional stays of children.

Our house is paid for, no mortgage, why should we downsize to a bungalowwhich would likely cost us more than we could sell this one for?

Good idea, Tec. OH says we could convert garage to bedroom if necessary as there is already plumbing at the back for a bathroom. He's not keen on moving.

A three-bed bungalow and small garden may have a similar footprint to a 4- or 5-bed house with a family-sized garden though.

I'm thinking of floor space of new-build family homes around here - lounge, huge kitchen-diner, downstairs loo, staircase, utility room. To my mind, converting the space to represent a bungalow, this would mean staircase and downstairs loo = 1 bedroom, utility room= 1 bedroom, leaving space to be found for a third bedroom which could be accommodated by having a smaller garden than that of a family home as one would expect. Roofing costs would be more but plumbing and inter-floor construction would be less (no downstairs loo and the washer in kitchen or bathroom).

I have a feeling that those who want a bungalow (usually the elderly) are being conned. I can see that a bungalow could sometimes cost as much as a house but I can't see why it should cost more.

Sorry, I'm letting off steam about this but I do feel strongly about the design of functional space.

If you need three bedrooms then live in a three bed property. What's the problem?

Equally, not all older people are coupled and many older couples don't have a stream of grandchildren to accomodate in which cases a two bed house/bungalow would suit.

Something and nothing from the Daily Wail. :-\

In my area, there are 40+ 2 bedroom houses for sale but well over 100, 3 beds

Island, stairs can become a problem for some because of age or illness.

I agree with you, however, that a 2-bedder would be sufficient for some - always a room for a carer for those who may need one in later years.

If I ever need a carer then I'm going into a home!

We looked at bungalows but they were either too small or too expensive.

So we moved areas and bought a bigger house overall but designed differently which suits us better. Even though we swapped detached for terraced we are much happier.

Old house ground floor: hallway, stairs to 1st floor, small sitting room and large dining/kitchen

New house ground floor: front porch, huge hallway, storage area, sitting/dining room open plan to kitchen, utility room, stairs to 1st floor.

Old house 1st floor: master bedroom, second bedroom and tiny bathroom

New house 1st floor: massive master bedroom, walk in dressing area, bathroom, second bedroom with access to our first level outside seating area.

Old House 2nd floor: large 3rd bedroom, vivarium and office area

New house no 2nd floor :-)

For us it wasn't a case of downsizing but simply finding a house that fitted with our now selfish -(no kids at home) wish to use the space the way we wanted lolol

I think I need to go away and consider how to respond to being patronised! :-S

In the meantime I'll sit on my hands.

:-0

Island, I hope you don't think I was being patronising because I certainly did not mean to be.

I think stairs can become a problem for some people. Having said that my OH's second suggestion was a stairlift. Can you get a stairlift in your new home, Super, if necessary?

I think I'm getting old!

I'll re-phrase that. I know I'm getting old.

We live in a three bedroom bungalow, the main bedroom is ours, the second one is for guests, and the third is OH's man cave. So, no need to downsize.

The only thing that would make us want to move is that we live in a small village with no amenities. That's fine while we can drive, but might have to rethink in future.

I would only move into a retirement apartment as a last resort. My parents lived in one, and the bitchiness of some of the fellow residents was off putting. :-(

Coming back to the original point – some 2 bed or even 1 bed bungalows have kitchens far too small for mobility aids. There seems to be a need between properties suitable for aging couples and those for, perhaps singletons, who only want a small living/dining room and enough space to reheat wheels-on-meals.

Sounds ideal LynG and I can see what you mean by amenities in future.

I can see why a retirement apartment would be a last resort too.

Well obviously I did JoyLouise.

Do you think I am not aware that stairs can be a problem with persons of all ages who have mobility problems?

Perhaps a change of snoozepaper?

Have just moved house.

Last home in a small village without shop, pub, street lights, mains drainage or bus service - very peaceful, beautiful views and good neighbours. Two sitting rooms, dining room, kitchen, conservatory, utility and office downstairs - four double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a dressingroom upstairs. Garage large enough for 3 - 4 cars. Probably a little big for the two of us and had to go everywhere in a car.

New home in the very centre of a county town. Still very quiet - eye of the storm, masses of good shops, restaurants, pubs, a theatre, cinema, county archives and lots of societies to join - new neighbours very pleasant. After a total redesign the house has the following:- ground floor - hall, cloakroom, kitchen/diner/garden room, office and utility room. First floor - sitting room, bedroom with en suite. Second floor - very large bedroom with en suite. We have a south facing courtyard, a garage and parking for three cars.

We decided on use it or lose it and having three floor both exercises the body and the mind. If you forget anything its a long way up or down!

Too early to know if we will settle but they say a change is as good as a rest and there is certainly lots to look forward to.

Have just moved house.

Last home in a small village without shop, pub, street lights, mains drainage or bus service - very peaceful, beautiful views and good neighbours. Two sitting rooms, dining room, kitchen, conservatory, utility and office downstairs - four double bedrooms, three bathrooms and a dressingroom upstairs. Garage large enough for 3 - 4 cars. Probably a little big for the two of us and had to go everywhere in a car.

New home in the very centre of a county town. Still very quiet - eye of the storm, masses of good shops, restaurants, pubs, a theatre, cinema, county archives and lots of societies to join - new neighbours very pleasant. After a total redesign the house has the following:- ground floor - hall, cloakroom, kitchen/diner/garden room, office and utility room. First floor - sitting room, bedroom with en suite. Second floor - very large bedroom with en suite. We have a south facing courtyard, a garage and parking for three cars.

We decided on use it or lose it and having three floor both exercises the body and the mind. If you forget anything its a long way up or down!

Too early to know if we will settle but they say a change is as good as a rest and there is certainly lots to look forward to.

I'll consider myself chastized.

Snoozepaper will stay the same though as it's one of two I read regularly (three if you count the local freebie).

OH likes the other one better but I think reading both does us good.

Tec, I entirely agree with you having recently visiting a friend where I had to make coffee and carry it through to the lounge because there was no room for a walker and a table and chair in the kitchen. This was a bungalow designed for the elderly where, as I previously mentioned, the stove was across the floor from the sink - dire for those whose hands shook.