Australian homes are the second biggest homes in the world, next to the United States. Today, the average size of a home in Melbourne and other Aussie cities is 186.3 square meters. This is the smallest since 25 years ago, but the country’s obsession with big-free standing houses continues.
While timber-flooring suppliers in Melbourne will be happy if you choose a large home because it means more profit, you might be making a not-so-smart financial decision. There are many reasons why a small dwelling will offer you significant benefits.
Lower energy bills and lesser ecological footprint
The total cost of cooling, heating, and lighting per square meter is over A$1,988. If you have a spare 10-square-meter room, it would cost you an additional $20,000. A smaller dwelling has less space to light, heat, and cool and has a lower carbon footprint. You will have huge savings from energy bills while causing less damage to the environment.
Less hassle and worry when traveling
When you go for a long holiday, your house needs a lot of security work. From double-locking the windows and doors to placing barriers to potential access points. You also need to monitor your exterior and interior lighting and trouble yourself about your vast lawn and the pipes. Downsizing your home can lessen this burden when traveling. You have lesser doors, windows, and lights, which means you need less time to secure them.
Less time for cleaning
One of the perks of living in a small house is that you don’t need much time for cleaning. It might only take you 30 minutes to vacuum the entire floor and clean the whole house. Imagine how much time will it take if you have to clean several bathrooms, toilets, and kitchens. If you’re busy doing a part-time job on the weekends, you need to pay an extra for a house cleaner.
Less repair and maintenance expenses
If you live in an enormous house, there’s a big chance that you will get frequent maintenance headaches. You have more windows, which means more potential for leaks. More wiring is more chances of having a fire hazard. And a bigger roof and carpet will cost you an expensive replacement.
Get your money’s worth
Most people buy big houses because of reasons that seem logical at first. They want extra space for their visitors, a large dining room for holiday dinners, or a big kitchen for Grandma’s birthday party.
However, you don’t hold parties every day. Usually, these unique spaces for special occasions are empty. So you’ve paid for something that you only utilize once a year. When you buy a small home with rooms that you use every day, you are getting your money’s worth.
Pay your mortgage faster
A small home means smaller repayments, which means you will not be tied up in your house mortgage for a long time.
Don’t be fooled by the mantra that a bigger house offers a happier home life. After all, it’s not the house that will create happiness. It’s the people living in it.