Laundry facilities in the basement was a deciding factor in my mom's move to a home all on one floor. Granted, she was in her 80s, but the stairs became a major obstacle. She was able to continue living independently for another 9 years after moving until a major stroke changed everything.

The same happened with dh's parents. In their case it was even worse because their bedroom was on the second floor and the laundry in the basement. They refused to consider moving and both ended up in nursing homes. That was very sad.

If you really are looking for lock it and leave it maybe you should consider a condo. A townhouse is no more secure than a SF home if it has direct access from the street. And a condo would most likely be one level...no worry about stairs either way.

I don't know how old you are or your lifestyle, but having the family room on a different level from the kitchen would not work for me...going up and down stairs for snacks and/or drinks all evening would be a pain. And dragging laundry up and down from the third floor to the first floor doesn't sound like fun either, especially the older you get. My DH is active and fit and he doesn't like carrying the laundry up and down one level. I woukd not be interested in the house you've described, but only you and Your DH can determine what suits you best. Good luck....it's a big decision and lots to consider.

Interesting perspectives - thank-you. We're not concerned about security. By lock and leave I mean no yard care or snow removal responsibilities. We're 58 and no problem with stairs yet. We live quite nicely now with two levels. Our garage is on the lower level now so townhome would be an improvement in that regard. Aside from the laundry we could live on the main floor of the place we're looking at. The master bedroom is there and we'd live in the living room rather than the family room.

If guess if I live another 15-20 years and become so decrepit I have to move that would be okay. DHs most fit and long lived relatives did three levels well into their 80s.

Lots to consider....

Is there potential to move the laundry upstairs, maybe a stacking washer and dryer? If you're that feeble in the future would household help be an option?

Personally I would hold out for laundry on main. I also think it's a more desirable house feature for resale, especially in bungalow townhouses aimed at empty nesters.

We stayed in a home with a beautiful laundry room on the second floor by the bedrooms - I hated it. When we remodeled our kitchen in our current home the contractor wanted to move the laundry room to the basement so that it would be larger. I didn't want it there. I prefer to have it right where it is - off the kitchen with a door to the outside.

It's not a matter of carrying the laundry up and down the stairs either. I spend most of my time on the first floor - in the kitchen or watching TV in the family room or outside on the deck and I don't want to have to run upstairs (or downstairs) to change a load. I find it more convenient for my lifestyle to have it on the first floor.

Could the washer and dryer be moved upstairs if you decided to?

My laundry room is in the basement. I live in a 50's split, so never more that 6 steps at a time. I agree Gibby, that if you can't do the stairs, You would be having bigger issues and can always send my laundry out.

If you are in love with this home and it checks off all the boxes, laundry in the basement should not be a deal breaker for you.

I think I would be concerned with the flight up to the bedrooms. Chair lifts are very expensive if they have to make turns. If you are planning on this home as a last move, then I would consider one level living as Joanie suggested.

We now have our laundry on the main level and love the convenience. I'd really think seriously before I had it again on a different level. While the exercise is good for you, even if you aren't "decrepit" you can be injured or temporarily disabled in which case it can become a real issue.

In our case there's no flight up to bedrooms so we're good there. It's more of a walkout rambler with the "extra" rooms on the lower level other than laundry isn't extra. I think I will further investigate the feasibity of turning the kitchen dining area into laundry if we felt the need to do that some day. It has a dining room plus a small sunroom with great views that we would use as our informal dining space.

I'm pretty sure we will not find a "perfect" place in the location we want for the price we're willing to pay so we'll have to compromise on something. Every more "aging friendly" place we've looked at has been too small and the neighbors generally appear to be at least 20 years older than we are. We really want to be in a neighborhood with people more our age and activity level. The differentiator seems to be whether or not the home has a flight of stairs.

Thanks again for your input - very helpful!

Good luck Gibby! You have to choose what you feel is best for you. When we built our home 20 years ago we were both in our very early 30's. We first lived in a house for 3 years in the same area, but realized we wanted to get in a different county and a little more rural. Because we found land in the area we wanted and like so well, we built our house as if it will be our last. It might be, and it might not be. We built all one level with a basement that is not accessed by stairs. It is mainly storage, lawn equipment, etc. Hot water heater, air compressor and things like that are there. We do have an oversized garage with a workshop for hubby on the main level. I like knowing that if we were unable to manage stairs, etc. we would stay in this house. There are two steps to the front porch and one step from the sunroom to the back patio. Coming in through the garage, no steps. In the years since we built, that has already been so convenient for times my grandmother and now my dad (has had hip replacement and still has back issues) to enter. We do not have children and the house is a split bedroom design, so in the rare event we have overnight guests, we are separated. In our very early years we had a laundry downstairs, and I really did not like that. I love having everything on one level. My grandparents were once in your situation and they intended to stay in their home till the very end. My grandfather is no longer living and my grandmother (98) is in assisted living. Several years back, they were able to add a stacking laundry unit in a large closet in their master bathroom. So what you are considering is probably a good option!

I'm with Maire-cate. Out laundry is off the kitchen with a door to the garage. While it is a pain to carry it up and down steps, doing it is easier because I am on the main level all day and can do load after load with ease. I'd hate to run up or down steps to change loads. DH does most of the carrying and now he says he looks forward to eventually living on one level so he won't have to trudge up and down with the laundry.

Gibby...if you love this house you can always do what my friend does but in reverse when/if the stairs get to be too much. Her laundry is upstairs with the bedrooms. She has a loft up there where she reads and cross stitches so that is what she does while the laundry is going. You will have a family room in your basement so you can just plan to read or watch TV on that level when you do laundry.