Why Backyards Are Overrated (And Basements Actually Win)

When your kids are little, all you want is a big backyard.  Room to run. Swing sets. Water tables.

You imagine sipping coffee while they frolic in the sun like golden retrievers.

But then they turn 11.

And suddenly that yard? Ghost town.  The only thing out there now is the raccoon who’s claimed your sandbox as his summer rental.

Your tween doesn’t want grass.  They want space. A door that shuts. A screen.

And preferably a place to rage at Fortnite without your face judging them from across the room.

So when you’re upsizing your home, you need to think ahead.  Because what feels “perfect” for your 6-year-old?  Will feel very small once they’re 13 and communicating exclusively in grunts from the top of the stairs.

That open-concept kitchen/family room you love now?  Turns into an acoustic nightmare once the Xbox turns on.

That “cute basement” with no bathroom, low ceilings, and “potential”?  Yeah… bad call.

Here’s the real hot take:  Backyards are overrated. Basements win.

Not the dark, unfinished kind where dreams go to die.  We’re talking about a real retreat:

• Finished basement
• Comfy sectional
• Fridge stocked with Gatorades and leftover pizza
• Bonus points for a full bath

It’s the space they want to hang out in, and the space you can retreat from.

Because here’s what most people get wrong when buying a family home:  They buy for the life they have.  Not the chaos they’re heading straight into.

Then, three years later, they call me saying: “We need more space. We weren’t thinking.”

No kidding.

So next time you’re house hunting, ask yourself:  “Where will they go when they stop talking to me?”

More importantly:  “Where will I go when I need to hide from them?”

Your future self will thank you.  Your teenager will still roll their eyes, but at least they’ll do it from the basement.

– Justin