Downsize as children approach secondary

[ZingZang]

Has anyone downsized as the youngest gets to 8+? It will be going the opposite way compared to many who e.g. move out of city. We're considering some other changes and wondering how we'll fare with a smaller place, especially when we'll need to house 2 teenagers for the next decade, and the kids being accustomed to the space. We don't use our fairly large garden very much to be honest. What's the ideal minimum for you, for a comfortable lifestyle for a family of four?

We've done the opposite and upsized for when ours are teenagers. 2 kids but 4 bed with 2 reception rooms plus kitchen diner and office. The 4th room is a single and for the downstairs space we wanted we needed to look at 4 beds. I really wanted a second reception room as a second living room for gaming/hanging out (although mine are only 10 and 7 it's already their favourite room in the house!) Enables them to hang out together, game near us but leaves their bedrooms for privacy and quiet time.

Plus bedrooms big enough for a double bed and desk. Although babies and toddlers have lots of stuff to store, I've found having a flexible home with different areas to socialise or be solitary really beneficial already at this age and assume this will continue.

Oh yes and a family bathroom that has bath and separate shower so they aren't coming into our bedroom for a shower constantly!

(But we did also decide to move somewhere more urban so they had more freedom too coughs so I don't spend my life as a taxi driver)

Bear in mind they will probably bounce back a few times, they don't disappear at 18.

"It won't be that big house lifestyle where there's always a guest-ready spare room and crowds of teenagers can hang out in a dedicated den, but you know it takes 5 minutes to run the hoover round and its in a perfect location for amenities. You takes your choice, basically."

This ^^
There are pros and cons to a smaller house. I feel the general consensus is always 'bigger is better' and the positives of a smaller space are overlooked.

I would prioritise 3 bedrooms - all big enough for double beds. 2 downstairs reception rooms and a large entertaining size kitchen/diner so you can easily sit 10-12 adults around a table.

Also choose a garden big enough that a cabin can be added to the end and use that as a games room if a time comes when you want your teens to invite their friends over but you don't want to have to hear them in the house. Location is everything when it comes to how you will live your lives with teenagers.

Did I say they never go to bed?? LOL

Thank you i really appreciate all these invaluable tips for living with teenagers (and somewhat looking forward to it!!) you kind of think the primary school age goes on forever, don't you?

Yes I can see that maybe if you don't have the extra space the kids will mess up hang out at someone else's house

So far i've got

• double bedroom for each child ideally, that can accommodate desk
• extra bathroom upstairs, especially for the girl
• small garden fine for teens but large adds privacy
• walk or bus-able to park/sports clubs/town to avoid taxi driver life
• big dining table for adult sized children
• separate 2nd reception ideally, less toys more lounging space
• at least a box room/study to WFH (for DH & I - one of us use bedroom or the 2nd reception)
• soundproof garage or loft if there are drumkits!

I have been lurking on Rightmove and the semis housing stock in the catchment area are quite small, more akin to terrace floorplate (3 bed, 1 small-ish bedroom, ca 1400 sq feet). So I think we would look for a semi with a loft floor or convertible to one...

We've downsized to town near high school with teens and it's been great.
I think you need 3 decent sized beds ie not a box. At least 2 toilets but preferably 2 bathrooms. If you can stretch to it a good sized kitchen diner and 2 reception rooms so they have a separate TV/snug room.

Ours are 16 and 11, we've decided to stay in smallish 3 bed house that is walking distance to town rather than move to bigger house but have to drive everywhere. Works ok. Only one bathroom but have downstairs toilet which is fine although 2nd shower would be nice. Very glad we didn't go fully open plan downstairs so have two separate rooms downstairs. One of the things I hadn't considered when they were little is that they don't go to bed in the evening! Hard to get space sometimes. Oldest has tv in their room for same reason. Think it would be hard if you're used to a huge house though then downsize, we've never lived anywhere bigger!

I had no idea how much physical space teenage dc would take up!! We had an extension to accommodate hulking bodies, friends and to have more space around us. I am so glad we did!

We use more space rather than less inside the house

Kids need much more indoor space as teens- own quiet study space- ideally not in bedrooms/any room with a tv!

Plus room for sleepovers.

Then there’s the bathroom issue- you can’t have too few with teens in the house!

But yes you only need a garden big enough for a trampoline by that age.

They get big. When your boy child is shambling round the kitchen do not underestimate the amount of 'thereness' there is. Always in the way so a sizeable kitchen with tons of storage for the epic amounts of food to be consumed. I do agree tha t the big garden becomes a bit redundant because they never go outside! They need decent sized bedrooms.

Smaller property but the ability for teens to independently travel to school, activities and their friends seems a way more attractive offer than a bigger house rurally where they cannot do anything without a lift, both for you and them.

I can't imagine many teens faced with the opposite choice - to move more rurally to a bigger house - would take that over living more independently and being able to see their friends more easily.

So long as they have a bedroom each, the rest is fine. They'll have to share bathrooms with people when they go to university or live in a shared house in a big city.

A lot of the 3 bedroom "boxroom" type houses around here have had a downstairs extension giving a bigger family kitchen, cloakroom and study which makes them a lot more family friendly.
Don't forget your superfast broadband!