Tell me about your split level home...

[DVCJones]

What do you like about living in a split level (raised ranch) home?

What are your dislikes?

Would you buy another one?

We are thinking of buying one. It has everything we want and the location and neighborhood is awesome. I just never imagined myself liking one. And I know we will have to get creative with storage issues.

Talk to me!!!

 

[Bob NC]

Are you talking about a "raised ranch", where you walk in the front door and are confronted with stairs to choose whether to go up or down. Or, a "split level", where one portion of the house is one story and butts up against a portion of the house that is two story? In a split level the stairs are not typically right inside the front door, but rather somewhere in the interior of the house.

 

[DVCJones]

A house that when you walk in the front door you face a set of stairs that you choose to go down to a family room or up to the main living area.

 

[#1hoosierfan]

Yes, we lived in one. No, I did not like it.

I like having a foyer. Ours was just a "landing."

I hated carrying in groceries.... Always had to go up a flight up steps.

The lower level seemed dark because the windows were small.

We had a harder time selling because lots of people wouldn't even look at our split level.

Sent from my iPad using DISBoards

 

[Disneychix]

Reasons I loved my raised ranch
1: basement/living room area stayed cool in the summer.
2: laundry wasn't technically in the basement

Reasons I disliked my raised ranch:
1: I hated hated hated the entryway. Never enough room when it's winter and you have boots/shoes. Never enough room if you have a baby/kids with you. Never enough room when carrying anything in/out or up/down (ie. laundry! groceries!)
2: The stairs are always a pain. Always a pain.
3: Depending on where the bedrooms are located they can be noisy if above the living room.

 

[Poohbug]

I have one and I love it.

Some of the things people don't like is being confronted with a choice of going up or down right away. They also do not like having to climb stairs all the time.

Is it a lot of stairs? Yep. At least I get a little exercise every day. I can see how it would not be good for older or disabled people but for everyone else, it really is no problem.

I never really understood the hatred of making a choice to go up or down at the front entryway. If visitors are coming to my home, I will be escorting them to the appropriate place. Friends and family always come in the back. I actually do not use the front door much at all.

I really like having the lower level half above ground. I use every inch of my basement for living space. I have bedrooms a bathroom and a family room on the lower level as well as storage and laundry/utility room. I hate having a full basement and not being able to use it much because it is dark and damp. I have windows in all the lower level rooms and it does not feel like a basement at all.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I loved mine & would buy another in a heartbeat. We had no issue selling & sold for over listing price with in 5 days. I prefer that style entry since you don't drag dirt through the house.

 

[NFLDERS]

I have one and I love it.

Some of the things people don't like is being confronted with a choice of going up or down right away. They also do not like having to climb stairs all the time.

Is it a lot of stairs? Yep. At least I get a little exercise every day. I can see how it would not be good for older or disabled people but for everyone else, it really is no problem.

I never really understood the hatred of making a choice to go up or down at the front entryway. If visitors are coming to my home, I will be escorting them to the appropriate place. Friends and family always come in the back. I actually do not use the front door much at all.

I really like having the lower level half above ground. I use every inch of my basement for living space. I have bedrooms a bathroom and a family room on the lower level as well as storage and laundry/utility room. I hate having a full basement and not being able to use it much because it is dark and damp. I have windows in all the lower level rooms and it does not feel like a basement at all.

This!

However, in our day there were no mud rooms, elaborate entrance halls etc.
Most of the other homes were bungalows, to me they were boring!

 

[pumba]

we are an older couple...and we sold our former home..it was an apt bld with three floors...decided that we dont rent out to others so we got rid of that and looked at MANY MANY homes ...we chose this split foyer...we walk into a little area to take off our boots or whatever...and then walk up to the main living quarters or go down to the family room, the computer room, another full bathroom, and a large area that comes in from the pool...plus a laundry room ...yes TO MUCH SPACE for two ...we went from a 1250 sq footage to 2400 sq foot home...I LOVE IT...I love everything about this place...I love the rooms ...main floor has living room, dining room, kitchen full bath and three bedrooms and it is so spacious...
I dont like the area when we come into the house...if more then two at a time come in ...makes for a collision course..that is the only thing I dont like. I could see making another entrance maybe from another part of the house..just thinking

 

[DVCJones]

Reasons I loved my raised ranch
1: basement/living room area stayed cool in the summer.
2: laundry wasn't technically in the basement

Reasons I disliked my raised ranch:
1: I hated hated hated the entryway. Never enough room when it's winter and you have boots/shoes. Never enough room if you have a baby/kids with you. Never enough room when carrying anything in/out or up/down (ie. laundry! groceries!)
2: The stairs are always a pain. Always a pain.
3: Depending on where the bedrooms are located they can be noisy if above the living room.

Thanks for sharing.

I picture us using the garage entrance as our everyday entrance. That is where the coat closet and mud area and bathroom/ laundry area is. I love the idea of the lower level family room for the kids and their stuff and being able to keep the upper level neat and tidy. This house also has an absolutely beautiful 4 season room off the kitchen. I love it!!! I also like that the kitchen living room and dining room flows nicely for entertaining. The double attached garage offers lots of storage and there is also a very large pull-down attic space. The best part is, I'm only 20 minutes to work!!!

I'm looking for ideas on how you use your storage space. We currently have a full basement that we use for storage. This won't be an option in the new house.

 

[mjantz]

I have some family members who have one. These issues may be specific to their house but I don't like it for these reasons:

-Ceilings are low
-Rooms are small
-No way to live on one level as they age (& this is becoming an issue)

I wouldn't buy a split level even if it was the cheapest option in the best area. Too many negatives IMO.

 

[BellePrincessBelle]

I have some family members who have one. These issues may be specific to their house but I don't like it for these reasons:

-Ceilings are low
-Rooms are small
-No way to live on one level as they age (& this is becoming an issue)

I wouldn't buy a split level even if it was the cheapest option in the best area. Too many negatives IMO.

My ceilings weren't low, infact some were vaulted. My lower level had 8.5 ft ceilings. My rooms were also quite spacious and the main ones were open & flowed nicely. Mine could have lived as a one level using the back entrance.

 

[DznyCrzy11]

I have some family members who have one. These issues may be specific to their house but I don't like it for these reasons:

-Ceilings are low
-Rooms are small
-No way to live on one level as they age (& this is becoming an issue)

I wouldn't buy a split level even if it was the cheapest option in the best area. Too many negatives IMO.

That's an older split level. You can buy much nicer, newer split levels that are not as you described. My sister lives in a 4 yr old split level house. The ceilings are very high, they are vaulted ceilings and tge rooms are a decent size.

You can also find 2 story or ranch homes with small rooms. It all depends on the floor plan and sq ft.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Thanks for sharing.

I picture us using the garage entrance as our everyday entrance. That is where the coat closet and mud area and bathroom/ laundry area is. I love the idea of the lower level family room for the kids and their stuff and being able to keep the upper level neat and tidy. This house also has an absolutely beautiful 4 season room off the kitchen. I love it!!! I also like that the kitchen living room and dining room flows nicely for entertaining. The double attached garage offers lots of storage and there is also a very large pull-down attic space. The best part is, I'm only 20 minutes to work!!!

I'm looking for ideas on how you use your storage space. We currently have a full basement that we use for storage. This won't be an option in the new house.

This sounds awesome. It is much like my house but ours is a tri-level. We added an In-Law addition with a full basement, a sunroom and a front porch, part of which is screened in. Although small-ish compared to some of today's homes, we have a lot of living space, including outdoors, and all of it is used. I love it. It is fairly easy to clean, but you do have to stay on top of clutter in a smaller home with little storage space.

You are correct - the lower level is great for kids and stays relatively cool. Depending on your decorating and creative lighting, it doesn't have to be "dark" (although I'm sure some are). Ours is light and cozy, and will be even more so after our upcoming renovations on that level. It is the perfect spot for my kids and their friends - plenty of space, a bathroom (and laundry), and a storage room with a fridge for drinks and snacks. (In the tri-level this room is down 8 stairs just off the kitchen so I can see and hear everything, and I do a lot of laundry, lol.) I think these types of "split level" houses are great for active families. It's probably the last thing on your mind now, too, but if need be, the bottom level, or part of it, can easily be turned into a separate, perhaps even rentable, living space.

Good luck with your decision. IME people either love or hate these types of homes. Around here they are common so I have a lot of friends who have them and it's interesting to see how creative people can be with the spaces. I've seen people make the living rooms into dining rooms, then blow out the back for a huge kitchen/(adult) family room combination (still leaving the "kids" family room, or Man Cave, or whatever, downstairs). I've also seen people add on a small entryway, giving cover and a mudroom/place for shoes and backpacks, etc. Many older split level homes are being scooped up by younger buyers and being completely redone. Once you live in it for a while you see what may be lacking (if anything, which can happen in any house), and you may be able to add it at some point if necessary. I would much rather buy a house I was really excited about than one I had to talk myself into regardless of what anyone else thinks. Your the one who has to live there - be sure you love it.

 

[RadioNate]

My uncle & cousin both have them so I grew up around & continue to visit them.

I'm not a fan.

For my cousins, if she brings in groceries from the garage she has to go through the basement & up 2 flights of stairs. Or she goes in through the front door and up the stairs which is difficult in the winter.

My uncles is better that the garage is under the main living room so closer to the front stairs, kitchen & you don't have to walk through the entire house.

As a guest I hate that on the upper level the only bathroom is a full bathroom the kids use or the one in the master. I like having a guest bathroom (powder room.) I don't know why, I just don't like all the bath toys, toothbrushes, make up, etc it feels like I'm invading their personal space. Yet going up & down 2 flights of stairs to use the bathroom can be annoying.

My cousins kids are little so they have stuff up & down. At her house, the downstairs is one huge play space so there is no where for food, snacks...when the kids go to bed & we are up in the kitchen you have to be quite etc because they are right there. No sending the kids upstairs to bed while the adults handout on the main level.

At my uncles, now that everyone is grown no one ever uses the lower level.

I'm a big fan of closing off the personal space. For example I like all the bedrooms upstairs & then no guests go upstairs. That is impossible in a raised ranch. That is also a personal hang up.

I also know there were some issues w/the stairs when my cousins grandmother was wheelchair bound & as my aunt was dying.

 

[bellarella]

Are you in an area with a hot real estate market? If so, I would be very wary. When demand is high and supply is low, people become less picky and the delta between prices of homes with desirable and undesirable features will shrink. If the market cools, the value of the undesirable homes tends to fall much faster and harder than the more desirable ones. So, if the price of the raised ranch is $300,000 and a traditional floor plan is $350,000 in a hot market, in a flat market, you could easily see the raised ranch only sell for $200,000 while the traditional floor plan sell for $300,000.

Personally, I would not buy a raised ranch unless (a) I "had" to (no other options in my price range in acceptable locations) and (b) the chances I would need to sell the house were very small.

 

[Bob NC]

For my cousins, if she brings in groceries from the garage she has to go through the basement & up 2 flights of stairs. Or she goes in through the front door and up the stairs which is difficult in the winter.

My uncles is better that the garage is under the main living room so closer to the front stairs, kitchen & you don't have to walk through the entire house.

As a guest I hate that on the upper level the only bathroom is a full bathroom the kids use or the one in the master. I like having a guest bathroom (powder room.) I don't know why, I just don't like all the bath toys, toothbrushes, make up, etc it feels like I'm invading their personal space. Yet going up & down 2 flights of stairs to use the bathroom can be annoying.

Yeah, but it's not really 2 'flights' of stairs, because it's still just a 2 story house. It's 2 SETS of stairs, of maybe 6 steps each. Where 2 flights of stairs would normally be 2 sets of maybe 14 stairs.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

when the kids go to bed & we are up in the kitchen you have to be quite etc because they are right there. No sending the kids upstairs to bed while the adults handout on the main level.

That is a consideration, but for my friends who have them, I've never heard them complain about it or seen it as a problem when I've been there at night. Some are quite large, so bedrooms are a ways away. Our house, being a Tri, has bedrooms on a separate, upper level as well. I once went into an Open House that was a Quad level and it was amazing (to me, lol). Our lower level family room space had a woodstove in it which we removed when our kids were little. We're about to put it back with our next transformation because it was a great space for us on cold winter nights. It's also a good space for guests as they have all the comforts of home there in what is easily a private area. One really has to see this from all angles. What works for one family really greatly, may not work at all for the next.

People we know with a raised ranch were recently in foreclosure. They didn't realize until it was too late that they could have fairly easily turned part of their lower level into a legally rentable space. Instead they moved to a much smaller, older house to save about half their monthly mortgage amount, when if they'd just been able to pull it off, they could've accomplished practically the same thing without having to move. In a way, to me, it's a form of security to keep that in the back of your mind knowing you have the space to do that if you suddenly need the income, especially if you're not using the space.

 

[DVCJones]

Are you in an area with a hot real estate market? If so, I would be very wary. When demand is high and supply is low, people become less picky and the delta between prices of homes with desirable and undesirable features will shrink. If the market cools, the value of the undesirable homes tends to fall much faster and harder than the more desirable ones. So, if the price of the raised ranch is $300,000 and a traditional floor plan is $350,000 in a hot market, in a flat market, you could easily see the raised ranch only sell for $200,000 while the traditional floor plan sell for $300,000.

Personally, I would not buy a raised ranch unless (a) I "had" to (no other options in my price range in acceptable locations) and (b) the chances I would need to sell the house were very small.

The market is hot where I live right now. However a there is a house two lots down under agreement for 40k more. Same sq ft but house is a colonial.... So I do see what your saying. I think the split is priced lower for the reason you mentioned. Also, we don't plan on moving for a very long time if ever.

 

[DVCJones]

I did think it may be a problem with it being too loud if the kids were sleeping and we were up entertaining... But with this house the down stairs family room is not under the BRs and there is an addition 4 season room off the back of the house that is far away from the BRs.

The whole groceries and stairs will probably be a pain. But that's what the kids are for. right?

I like everyone's comments. They are giving me a lot to think about.