Fischer: What’s important dictates one’s home preferences
Photo supplied, Jen Fischer
Jen FischerA few days ago, while sitting at a stop light, I began to notice all the different makes and models of cars on the road. This was a particularly long light, so I knew I had plenty of time. For those of you familiar with the area, it is the one at the intersection separating Harrison and Washington in South Ogden. I decided to make it more interesting by attempting to identify each car make simply by looking at the logo (yes, I am easily entertained). The car in front of me was a Lexus, a slightly slanted “L” enclosed in an oval featuring smooth, flowing lines, an attempt to give off a vibe of sophistication and luxury. Coming in the opposite direction, from the parallel lanes turning toward me came a Volkswagen, a Ford, then a Mazda followed by a Kia. Next came the mid-century modern Tesla.
This is what happens. Every conversation that I have with myself, or anyone else for that matter, quickly morphs into the topic of real estate. I began to think of the parallels between the type of car someone drives and the style of home someone lives in. The last time I purchased a car, I assessed the things that were important to me. I am a practical person, with little use for conspicuous consumption or fanciness in a vehicle. Reliability, decent fuel efficiency, heated seats, notable visibility, standard all-wheel drive for weather mobility, high ground clearance (I’m a terrible driver and often hit potholes and take corners a little too sharply) and a sporty, rugged design were the most important features for me at this time and season of my life. I landed on a Subaru Crosstrek Sport model. I picked the color Alpine Green because it “reflects the serene hues of the great outdoors.” If Northern Utah were a car, this is what it would be. I have named her Helga.
My current home is a rambler style. This means there are two levels, a main floor and a basement. Since it is just the two of us, we don’t need a bunch of bedrooms or bathrooms. We have a primary bedroom with a full bath, a ½ bath off the hall, and a full guest bathroom in the office. Besides the kitchen and living room, that is everything we need for this stage of our lives. We rent the basement out to a young couple because I don’t want to be responsible for it. They keep it immaculate.
When I was younger and had three small children, I lived in the popular tri-level home. This style of home was very popular in the 1990s, just following the era of the split level. The tri-level was a bit more accessible. Rather than having to choose between the upstairs or downstairs upon entering, there is generally a living room, dining space and kitchen on the main floor with a family room a few steps down from the dining area. The bedrooms are upstairs and then there is a basement as well. This is a functional style until the family grows out of it and the old people are left to navigate the stairs every time they need to use the bathroom, which is frequently, the older we get.
I work with many clients who have transitioned into patio-style homes. These are homes that are built directly onto a concrete slab. These are one level and no basement, which makes each room in the home easy to access.
Much like a car, the style of home that someone chooses is based on a variety of factors. Whether it is a condo, townhouse, bungalow, cabin or even a trailer, our sense of style, individual needs and financial situations shift throughout our lives, and this is one reason I still have a job. Such are the thoughts of a Realtor at a stop light.
Jen Fischer is an associate broker and Realtor. She can be reached at 801-645-2134 or jen@jen-fischer.com.
