We Tried to Sell Our Home by Owner

When you're planning out your housing needs, you might need to consult the experts to know how many bathrooms you need, among other real estate questions. Here are some of the answers to know before you look at houses for sale.

Bathrooms

The standard for building is that you need at least one bathroom for every two bedrooms. That is an ideal density so that you're not wasting money on too many bathrooms, but you're not fighting over access to the shower or toilet. If you are looking at real estate that doesn't follow this formula, know that it's fairly common to put bathroom additions or remodels on top of the list for your home makeover.

Chairs

Seating is another issue, both in the dining room and in the living room. And there is no set answer for this one. It's better to err on the side of caution and have more chairs than you need. Up to twice as many seats as you have people in the house can be a good idea if you tend to host a lot. And if you are worried about space, make sure to factor in some storage space in your garage or in a closet to store away extra seating when it's just the family for dinner.

Bedrooms

The number of bedrooms themselves can be a point of discussion for an ever-changing family. You've got one kid going off to college, and one that might be moving back home. Grandpa Bob is getting older. You have family members who love to visit and you'd like to provide a bedroom for them. It's always nice to have the leeway of a spare bedroom. If you find that you don't use the room enough to justify the added cost, you might just decide to take on a boarder and get some extra cash out of your spare room.

One thing to note: don't sacrifice quantity for quality. If you can't afford to buy twice as many nice chairs as you have family members, don't make the mistake of having everyone sit on less nice chairs on a daily basis. There is always room to grow into these purchases. Bedroom and bathroom additions are common. People remodel their dining rooms so that they can buy bigger dining room tables. When you're looking at real estate, be sure it's a home that you would love living in as it is, and think about how you might grow it in the future.