Historically, Australia has had the biggest houses in the world, it is only recently that we have become second to the United States in terms of square metres. According to research commissioned by CommSec new, freestanding homes built in 2015/2016 were, on average, 231square metres. This means you could live in a two storey house, with three to four bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a formal dining room… and still have extra room to play with. This is an interesting fact, considering the 2016 census reveals the average number of children is 1.8. Why are we obsessed with having such big homes? What does our love affair cost us in the end?
It seems that we are quite picky about how that 231 square metres are used. Too much space devoted to the kitchen/living area is a turn off to buyers according to Yarrum Designer Homes. Buyers are more interested in whether the property has a forth bedroom, rather than a butler’s pantry. Obviously four bedrooms is needed, when the census reveals the average number of people per house is only 2.6...
A pool for the kids, a study for the wife, a bedroom each, an entertaining area for friends… It seems that we build the ‘perfect home’ in our heads long before we actually buy it. This is our first mistake. In order to get all of the things on our wish list, it tends to mean moving out of the CBD and to the outer suburbs where, traditionally, blocks of land, and subsequently houses, are bigger. Great, now you have your man-cave and teenagers’ retreat, but it also adds time to your commute. A 2008 Scandinavian study found that “for most people, commuting is a mental and physical burden…” The added time means less time spent in our sought-after abode and more time stressed out on the commute to and from work. Is it worth it?
In Australia’s property market, most don’t have a choice about their commute time. A North Bondi 1920s’ shack just sold for $7.55 million dollars. The buyer plans to knock it down. How can the average Joe compete with that? They are forced to the outer suburbs. The United States offers a solution ‘the tiny house movement’.
Gaining traction across the globe, and popularised by TV shows such as Tiny House Nation and Tiny House Hunters, living small seems to be the antidote to our McMansion obsession. Much more than just a hipster movement, the idea of going small has many psychological benefits. Mainly it forces us to declutter. A 2016 study showed that by removing the clutter that “…collectively create chaotic and disorderly living spaces” our well-being improves.
So as you drive around the ‘burbs this weekend, scoping out the open houses, counting the bedrooms and wondering if there will be enough space for a media room, consider the cost to your mental health. A reduced commute time, less clutter and your overall happiness surely needs to outweigh the importance placed on the second bathroom.
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