New Home Shopping – Weighing in on Closet Space

When looking to purchase a new home, the decision making process can be grueling. First there’s the stage of determining what features make a home a fit for you and your lifestyle. Then there is the time spent pondering what features you can and cannot live without when it comes to the inevitable tradeoff among wants, needs and budget rationality. One issue that often comes to the forefront of concern for home seekers is the availability of storage space in each of the homes being considered. More specifically, is there enough?

Home storage space comes in several varieties—basements, attics, garages and of course, closets. Each can be a valuable asset to a home seeker. But simply having an attic or basement is not sufficient for most households; the need for functional, accessible storage in the form of closets cannot be overlooked. While basements, attics and garages make excellent long term storage areas, closet storage provides immediate accessibility to items that are frequently used, such as clothing, shoes and linens.

How should a home seeker approach the subject of storage in a new home? Ensuring that you purchase a home with adequate overall storage space involves making an assessment of your current possessions and storage situation. How much storage space do you have now, and is it sufficient? Have you already acquired a majority of the items you intend to own, or are you just starting out? Would you benefit from more closet space, or would additional long term storage such as a basement be more fitting? Storage requirements vary widely among different people, making it important that you select a home tailored to the needs of your daily life. A motorcycle enthusiast would likely seek a large garage above all, while a fashion model may place more importance on having a large walk-in closet. Assessing how your current storage situation affects your lifestyle can give you a good idea of the mix of short and long term storage capacity that suits you or your family.

As with most major purchases, buying a home usually brings with it the need to make tradeoffs. Consider yourself extremely lucky if you find the perfect home in the desired location that embodies every feature you seek in a home—at the ideal price (but that doesn’t mean you can’t try!). Storage is just one of the aspects that home seekers consider in the quest for a new home, albeit an important one. Selecting a home with a suitable mix of short and long term storage that allows room for growth may prevent you from embarking on another home search in the too near future!

About the Author: Stephen Nickse is the founder of Closet Solutions, a leading provider of quality Boston closets, strategically headquartered in the nation’s design capitol, Boston, Ma. For more information, please visit www.closet-solutions.com.