What Should I Look for in a Single-Level Home When I Downsize in the Greater Tulsa Area?

Look past the label. A home listed as one story isn't always one level all the way through. When you downsize to a single-level home, check how you enter it, whether the bedroom, bathroom, and laundry you'll use every day are all on the main floor, how much yard you'll keep up, and the age of the big systems like the roof, HVAC, and water heater.

Whether you're downsizing in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, or Catoosa, the same checklist applies.

I'm Christina Shortsleeve, a REALTOR® with REMAX Results, and I help downsizers across the Greater Tulsa Area plan their whole move before anything goes on the market.

Not always. A home can be listed as one story and still have steps you'll use every day. Look for:

• Steps at the entry. From the driveway to the front door, and from the garage into the house.
• Step-down rooms. A sunken living room or a step into the den.
• A room upstairs. Some homes have a bonus room or bedroom above the garage, reached by stairs.
• The patio or back door. A step down to the yard is easy to miss on a tour.

None of these have to rule a home out. They're worth noticing before you fall for the kitchen.

• Your bedroom and bathroom on the main floor. The ones you'll use every day.
• The shower. A walk-in shower or a tub, and which one fits how you want to live.
• Laundry on the main floor. Not in the garage or up a set of stairs.
• Hallways and doorways. Room to move furniture in and move through easily.
• Storage. Without an upstairs, closets and the garage carry more of the load.

My article on what size home to downsize to walks through the questions that shape how much space you need.

Think about how much yard you want to mow, water, and maintain every week, and whether a patio or a smaller yard fits you better. A yard that looks manageable on a tour can feel different every weekend.

If you'd rather hand off the exterior upkeep entirely, my article on whether a condo or 55-plus community is the right next move covers that option.

The point of downsizing is less upkeep, so look at the age and condition of the big items: the roof, the HVAC, the water heater, the windows, and the structure. Paint and decor are easy to change. A roof near the end of its life isn't.

A home inspection gives you a closer look once you're under contract. My article on what a home inspection covers in Oklahoma explains what the inspector checks.

• Trusting the listing label. Walk the entry, the garage door, and the back door yourself.
• Choosing by square footage alone. How the space is laid out matters more.
• Forgetting storage. Know what you're keeping before you choose the home.
• Overlooking the age of the systems. A newer roof or HVAC means less to take care of.
• Shopping before planning the sale. My article on whether to sell first or buy first walks through the timing.

What should I look for in a single-level home?

When you look at a single-level home, check the entry steps, whether your bedroom, bathroom, and laundry are on the main floor, the storage, how much yard you'll maintain, and the age of the roof, HVAC, and water heater.

Is a ranch-style home always one level?

A ranch-style home isn't always one level all the way through. Some have step-down rooms, steps at the entry or garage, or a room upstairs.

Do single-level homes have enough storage?

Storage in a single-level home depends on the closets and the garage, since there's no upstairs. Look at storage on every tour.

If you're thinking about downsizing, start with my page on downsizing in the Greater Tulsa Area, and when you're ready, send me a message. Through my Right-Size Transition System, I'll help you decide what your next home needs, starting with how you want it to live day to day, and map the whole move before anything goes on the market.

Christina Shortsleeve is a REALTOR® with REMAX Results in the Greater Tulsa Area, helping first-time buyers, homeowners ready to upgrade, and downsizers buy and sell with a clear plan. She has sold 127 homes since 2020.