Five reasons why you should and five reasons why not !
The pros and cons of buying a bungalow
Bungalows are not purely for people that need easy access with no stairs ! Of course, the access and space benefits are great reasons why bungalows are a good investment and suit many people.
However, there are many other great things about bungalows that mean they can work for property buyers of all ages. There are also aspects of single storey living that do not work for everyone.
Historically, bungalows originated in Bengal, Asia and the word 'bungalow' is actually formed from the Hindi word 'bangala', which refers to single-storey homes in Bengal.
Pros of bungalows
1. Space, access and privacy
Most bungalows in the UK were built before the turn of the century, when the trend for fitting lots of properties on to plots of land became more prevalent.
That means bungalows generally come with more space.
In turn, those bigger plots mean more space between properties and so more privacy.
Large gardens are also usually a feature of bungalows and as most bungalows are surrounded by other bungalows, the single-storey nature of them means no overlooking.
Moreover, having no stairs means a bungalow can be a forever home in the truest sense of the phrase as it will be as suitable for you in later life as it is now.
2. Bungalows are great for kids
Stairs and young children don't generally mix well.
And if you have young kids, you'll know that you only need to turn your back for a second for an accident to occur.
Having a bungalow means you can keep an eye on the little ones more easily, while the large gardens associated with them are great for youngsters to explore and play in and stay safe at the same time.
3. Less maintenance
Another reason why older people often opt for bungalows is because they are done with the heavy maintenance demands of owning a larger house.
If you hate vacuuming the stairs as much as most people then you can leave that behind by owning a bungalow.
And as roofs and guttering is easier to access, routine maintenance of those areas of a bungalow is a breeze compared with a larger house.
4. Scope to extend and modify
Open plan living looks here to stay.
And if you own a bungalow, this style of interior design can be easier to achieve than in a two or three-storey house.
Firstly, there are fewer supporting walls in bungalows, meaning achieving that open plan feel is very achievable.
And if you need more space, extending into the large back garden to create a stunning open plan kitchen / diner is usually straightforward and won't use up all that lovely outdoor space, either.
5. Quiet neighbours
As bungalows usually attract older property buyers, the roads in which they sit are often quieter.
Space between properties also contributes to this, as does the fact that most bungalows are detached.
And with an older demographic usually living in roads dominated by bungalows, that usually means fewer cars, thus more space to park and less noise from vehicles.
Cons of bungalows
1. High demand, low supply
Bungalows are hugely popular.
But there are fewer and fewer being built.
So, finding one that suits your needs can be a tough ask and even if you do uncover your dream one-storey home, you might end up paying a premium for it to fend off rival buyers.
2. Lack of living / sleeping separation
Another thing some buyers dislike about bungalows is the lack of separation between the living area and bedrooms.
Those with children trying to sleep may find noise travelling through the house disturbs them.
This can also be an issue if family members wake earlier than others.
3. Renovation is often needed
Because bungalows are often lived in by older people, younger buyers often find a lot of decoration or modernisation is needed.
This doesn't always have to be perceived as a negative, of course, but it will mean that costs are incurred bringing a property up to scratch.
4. Security worries
Let's face it, most people like to sleep with a window open in the summer.
But this can cause security worries for those living in bungalows due to sleeping on the ground floor.
Some people don't like sleeping on the ground floor full stop - and if you feel that way, a bungalow is almost certainly not the right option for you.
5. Houses are usually better value
As we've already established, bungalows can command a premium due to a lack of supply compared with demand.
That means you could end up paying more per square foot than you would if you were to buy a house.
With some bungalows, you could end up paying the same price as you would for a house in terms of the plot of land it sits on, yet you'll be receiving far less square footage for your money.
So in conclusion there are positive ands negatives of buying a bungalow as there are for any type of property.
Bungalows will suit many people and there is an obvious increasing demand, so if you are looking for a bungalow click on the link below to see the selection of great bungalows we have available for sale and rent.
