Do Homes in Plano and Allen Have Attics?? (relocating, real estate)

[pianoteacher]

We will be relocating to Plano or Allen later this year. I have been looking up homes on Realtor.com and have not seen many attics! I know you don't have basements - so I'm wondering where do you store stuff like XMAS decorations, other odds and ends, etc.?? Do most homeowners have attics but just not list them in the real estate sites? Just curious!! Thanks in advance for any replies!!

[KBilly]

Yes, they have attics. It's not mentioned because it's not liveable space.

[pianoteacher]

KBilly - Thanks! Here in the suburbs of Washington, DC attic space is usually listed on the Realtor.com and other sites. So I'm very glad to hear that Plano and Allen homes have attics! (we have lots of attic-type stuff!)

[Debsi]

I have an attic but I've never been in it! It's just beams, not an old fashioned attic like my grandfather's house in Michigan had, that along with the basement made his "two story" house feel like a 4 story.

I store stuff in the garage.

[achtungpv]

Keep in mind that most attics in TX are not like what you may be used to. Access will be by a rickety pull-down ladder and there will will be minimal room to store stuff...since we don't have basements all the HVAC ducts are in the attic space along with (usually) blown insulation.

Garages are used for storage in TX.

[5stones]

we have 2 attic spaces. One over the garage that is "walk in" and partially floored. That's where most of our storage is. The other one is the ole pull down stairs type of attic, but it's big.
The thing that I found strange when moving here was that they put the H2O tanks in the Attic!! yikers when they leak. luckly ours is over the garage. The heatingunits are also in the attic.

So when moving form the North or east We needed attic space for storage...no basements. It was actually hard to find a "decent" attic here. LOTS of houses are so finished out that there is no storage in hte attic, just room for the heating and H2O. That's why Garages are called the "Texas Basement" most use them for storage.

[bookworm2768]

Attic's aren't listed on the house descriptions but it is fairly standard to have one. Whether it is floored or not or has an attic ladder or not is something that can vary by house. Its not so hard to put in a decent attic ladder (type that folds down) and add flooring to the attic space over the garage. I think plenty of people do use these areas as storage areas for seasonal items that can handle the heat. We just bought a 24 yr old house and the garage seems to be made with storage in mind with a set in area for shelving,etc beyond just the parkable section for the cars. Varies by home ,though.

[momof2dfw]

Yes, just about 99.9% of all homes in the DFW area have an attic. Many are accessible by a pulldown attic stair w/ most being located in either a hallway or the garage. Some builders have put the hot water tank in the attic but I've never had one there. Don't care for that design myself as most people don't even notice a leak when it is in a closet or the garage let alone in the atttic. Many of us DO use our attics for storage. We have two in our current home w/ one being above the 2nd story accessible thru the pull down stairs in a hallway. The other is in the garage. The a/c and heating units are in the one over the 2nd story and our storage for the most part is in the attic over the garage. Our ductwork here is run thru the attic w/ the vents being located in the ceilings or the top of the walls.

No, attics are normally not listed on the listings as they are pretty standard. Many are finished out w/ a plywood flooring nailed down. Pretty easy to do if you find a house that does not have a floored attic.

[GHJohn]

Originally Posted by momof2dfw

Yes, just about 99.9% of all homes in the DFW area have an attic. Many are accessible by a pulldown attic stair w/ most being located in either a hallway or the garage. Some builders have put the hot water tank in the attic but I've never had one there. Don't care for that design myself as most people don't even notice a leak when it is in a closet or the garage let alone in the atttic. Many of us DO use our attics for storage. We have two in our current home w/ one being above the 2nd story accessible thru the pull down stairs in a hallway. The other is in the garage. The a/c and heating units are in the one over the 2nd story and our storage for the most part is in the attic over the garage. Our ductwork here is run thru the attic w/ the vents being located in the ceilings or the top of the walls.

No, attics are normally not listed on the listings as they are pretty standard. Many are finished out w/ a plywood flooring nailed down. Pretty easy to do if you find a house that does not have a floored attic.

I'd think that having the hot water heater in the attic would allow it to get lot more attention than just sticking it in a closet in the garage. Especially since you have to go up there to swap out the filters on the AC.

[momof2dfw]

Originally Posted by GHJohn

I'd think that having the hot water heater in the attic would allow it to get lot more attention than just sticking it in a closet in the garage. Especially since you have to go up there to swap out the filters on the AC.

No, it is the opposite. Some people only go in their attic to get Christmas decorations down and put them back up. In the garage it is a LOT more accessible. You do NOT want it in the attic if it has a leak and no pan underneath it ! As for the filters, the air returns are located IN the house and not in the attic.