Big house versus small house
May 25, 2015
The size of a house can be looked at from so many angles or aspects. It is usually looked at in terms of area the house covers both on the ground and vertically. However, the size can also be looked at from an economic point of view.
By Umar Nsubuga
The size of a house can be looked at from so many angles or aspects. It is usually looked at in terms of area the house covers both on the ground and vertically. However, the size can also be looked at from an economic point of view.
They are a number of facilities that come into play. For example, a three bedroomed house will be considered a bigger house than a two bedroomed house even if the two cover the same outer square meters . In other words, the size of a house can also be looked at in terms of the budget for the house.
A number of times people battle with the decision on whether to build a big house or not. For arguments' sake, we shall consider a house exceeding 250 square meters as big and anything less as small.
Big or small, houses come in an unlimited number of room configurations as may be desired by the developer. Whatever the configuration each category presents different advantages and challenges to its occupants or owners.
David Kireli a civil engineer with the Ministry of Education says a big house and small house have nothing in common for example, a big house has more facilities, a big compound, different in maintenance for example bills on water and power will be different and in case you get workers, a big house may more than two, and an overall bigger outer square meters. While a small house has fewer facilities, smaller compound, will differ on maintenance and small outer square meters.
The size of land available, coupled with the planning regulations of the area is also very important. It is also important to discuss this matter with your Architect exhaustively before finalizing the designs.
Class of people and what they want
A person who lives a life of hosting and entertaining guests or visitors will likely build a big house compared to a reserved or conservative person.
Life style of the developer also plays a part to determine the size.
Social or political status of the developer also drives people to the size of houses to build.
Kireli says the age bracket of the developer coupled with the ages of family members' children or dependants' younger people or couples can afford or usually like big houses where they can raise the children compared to old people, most of who have married off most of the children hence empty or redundant rooms.
Big houses
Abdu –Wahab Nyanzi an architect at JR consultants says when arguing for the big house it is the abundance of space that comes top of the list. The house being your safe haven, should not limit you on what you can do especially as regards movement and amenities.
"A big house offers a lot of space to cater for most of the people's needs. It is common to have at least one of these facilities like a gym, TV/entertainment room, play room, in-door swimming pool, basketball half-court, and a self catering guest wing in a big house", he says.
With big houses privacy is much easier to achieve. It is easy to tuck a private section away from the rest of the facilities in the house. For example the master bedroom can be located on a separate wing away from other facilities.
Playing space for children is an important facility that could easily be achieved with a big house. Whereas young children love to play outdoors, many times parents want to have good view of how and where they are playing from. The solution to this is a play room visible from the kitchen or living room so that the parent can keep an eye on them.
In many African cultures, the size of your house depicts your status in society financially. It also says something about your rank in society. Everyone would like to present him or her as successful and high up the social ladder. This fact influences a lot of people's decision to build big houses.
Big houses come with some challenges which the developer needs to be aware of before starting the project. Key in this area is the running cost for the house. A big house generally comes with high operations bill in respect to power, water and cleaning.
Many people who have big houses usually get high bills of electricity and water. Have many dependants like the maids, gardeners among others.
"A big house requires a big plot. The plot should be enough for the house foot print and for a sizeable compound. Developers with limited resources might find this a challenge especially in the current times when land is so expensive", says Nyanzi.
Having a big house can result into unmanageable space. In early years developers put up big houses with their kids in mind. But when kids start going to boarding school, the space in the house becomes too empty and sometimes scary. It gets worse if one of the parents spends some nights away. When the kids are completely out of the picture, the rooms that are not used regularly might be left to deteriorate completely.
Small house
"Small houses are the preference of many developers mainly because they come at a lower budget and can be delivered in a relatively shorter time all factors kept constant", says Nyanzi.
Small houses feel cozy and offer more intimate feeling to the owner. The space is not a lot and so the occupants feel well in control of the space and are aware of all happening around them.
Low maintenance and operational costs
Small houses are really limiting as regards amount of usable space. Whereas the basic function might be met, any extras can come with a lot of inconveniences.
They are also not suitable for extended families if the architect did not provide for this function from the start. The number of users can easily over shoot the capacity of facilities provided leading to high maintenance costs.
Advantages of a small house
It is easy, quicker and cheaper to construct.
Low maintenance costs
Marketable in case of renting out
In case of an estate, it enables you accommodate more families on a given piece of land.
Disadvantages
Usually untidy due to fewer or smaller accommodation options
Smaller returns in case of sale, compensation, rent or loan applications
Less prestigious as far as social standing is concerned
Advantages of a big house
Because of more facilities it gives you more accommodation options
They are usually neat because you have several spaces to accommodate people and property
Enhances someone's social status
Bigger returns in case of sale rent and can fetch you a bigger loan from a financial institution
Big houses provide bigger furnishing options, enabling you enjoy spaces and good environment.
Disadvantages
Costly both in construction and maintenance for example Utility bills, structural and cleaning bills
Hard to secure against burglary given its size and size of compound
Usually scaring with few occupants and empty rooms
Difficult to market in case of renting out unless in good locations like Kololo, Naguru, Bugolobi, Nakasero among other areas
Wastage of land in case you are to develop an estate
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