So you’ve decided to build a home but you’re unsure if you want a ranch home or a two-story home.

Many people believe that two story homes are more economical because they require less foundation and roof structure. There is also some savings on plumbing and electrical wiring in ranch homes because the location of all the rooms in the house are closer. However, two story homes generally require a second HVAC system for heating and cooling the second floor as well as stairs which can be expensive and eat up square footage inside the home. The difference in cost of a single story ranch versus a two-story home is generally a bit higher, but might not be enough to make a decision based solely on cost.

Let’s consider the advantages of a ranch home:

1. Safer for families with young children and better for older, especially if stairs is a problem.
2. No noise from stairs and second story traffic.
3. Fewer bathrooms needed.
4. Can combine mud room with laundry room.
5. Easier to access and clean gutters and roof.
6. Easier to evacuate in case of fire.
7. Less expensive to add on to the structure of the home.
8. Easier to resell. More popular with home buyers.

Ranch homes are easier to maintain because everything’s on the same level. You won’t be caught dragging the vacuum upstairs or hauling laundry to the second level.

Best advice is to anticipate your future needs. It’s real hard to build a ranch home and not have the space you need or to have too much space.  Think about not only what you need today but also what you will need in the future.