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Quad Level Homes in Wichita, KS - What's a Quad?

Sheree Wilkerson: Real Estate Agent in Wichita, KS

Previous Articles:

Bi-levels

Tri-levels

Previously, we discussed the style of house known as a Bi-Level and Tri-Level. Next up in our Split-level series is the Quad home.



This means that there are four (quatro) distinct living areas. The easiest way to explain a Quad - It's a Tri-level with an extra basement under the main level. Generally speaking, you walk in the front door onto a main ground level floor. The main area generally holds the kitchen, living, and dining just like a Tri. At the back or sides of this level, you have stairs up to the upper story - generally the main bedrooms. You also have stairs down to the 3rd level, which is half below ground. There is typically a family room, bedroom, bath/laundry, just like a tri. The Quad comes into play when you have stairs from the 3rd level, down into a 4th level (underneath the main floor). This level is basement quality - totally underground. Many times this level is unfinished, but when finished it generally holds a rec room/game room, office, or some other similar hideaway. The garage can generally be accessed from the main level, but can also be found occasionally on the 3rd level.

  • Pros: Privacy - In addition to the separation of beds/entertainment areas like a tri, you get the additional hideaway of the basement. Lots of hidey holes in a Quad. It's a good style to lose the family in for a while.
  • Like a tri, you get a bright View-Out on the lower level.
  • You get the benefits of a totally underground basement level for storm shelter and storage.
  • The stair-running keeps you in shape, right?! It is at least, less stairs at one time than a Bi.
  • Compared to a bi-level, you can at least come home with groceries and go in the door without having to go upstairs.
  • Cons: The areas are more broken up - you have to go up to sleep, down to eat, and further down to do laundry, then back up to eat, etc.
  • The level that is fully under ground is just as susceptible as normal basements to pressure, shifting, cracking, leaking, etc. Just like a regular ranch basement.
  • Generally more stress cracking than a ranch as the different levels and different weights on each side will settle differently, causing cracks around the stairwells, like the other types of splits.
  • In the event of a physical handicap or injury, the stairs could limit movement (although unlike a bi, you can at least sleep in the living room!). For this reason, any split level limits the pool of buyers to physically capable folks.
  • Quads are typically older homes as they are rarely built anymore. Many were done in the late 50's-early 80's.


How to tell a Quad home from the outside:
This can be tricky. Any that look like a Tri-level, could in fact be a quad because of a basement under the main part. What you'll need to look for - basement windows (those itty bitty dirty ones at the top of many basement walls) underneath the portion of the home where the front door is. Some may not have windows in their 4th level, so look to see if the main level is raised a step or so. Since there's a basement underneath, the main floor level should not look like you could just roll right into it, as in it shouldn't be on a slab at ground level. There should be a step raising it up.

See, many look like tri-level homes. Note the step to the door. could mean just a crawl space, but could mean a basement - 4th level - hence a quad!

See, looks like a Tri!

Okay Sherlock, here's another Quad, front and back: Is it a Tri or a Quad?

Back of a quad home


Here's a rough idea of the different levels, seen from front view on one style, and side view on another style.

Quad style level layout

This would look like a ranch in front

For a list of Quad Homes currently for sale, look below, or Email me with the specific area you'd like to find a Quad!

That's Mod, let's Buy a Quad!

Here's the full series!

Bis, Tris, and Quads!

More split level info is at www.splitlevel.net

Sheree Wilkerson

Allegiant GMAC Realty

316.461.0575

sheree@ksgreathomes.com

Tri-Level Homes in Wichita, KS - What's a Tri-Level?

Sheree Wilkerson: Real Estate Agent in Wichita, KS

Bi-Level Information here!

Previously, we discussed the style of house known as a Bi-Level. Next up in our Split-level series is the Tri-level home.

This means that there are three (tri) distinct living areas. Typically, you walk in the door onto a main living area at ground level that contains the kitchen, dining, and living room area. Either in the rear of this level or off to one side, will be stairs going both up and down, a half flight each.

Upstairs is usually the main bedrooms, and downstairs generally has a family room, possibly another bedroom/office, laundry and/or bath. The bottom level is usually half below ground level - like a view-out basement. The garage is accessed off the main level in some and the bottom level in others.

  • Pros: Privacy for the lower level - Works well for someone living separately on the lower level, and also works great for separating a home office, or keeping the overflowing toy/family room from being seen by guests.
  • The lower level generally has view-out or daylight windows as it is raised up higher than a finished basement on a traditional ranch. So it is more of a bright living space similar to being totally above-ground.
  • Like bi-levels, the lowest level is only part below ground so the ground pressure against the basement-type walls is usually less.
  • The stair-running keeps you in shape, right?! It is at least, less stairs at one time than a Bi.
  • Compared to a bi-level, you can at least come home with groceries and go in the door without having to go upstairs.
  • Cons: The areas are more broken up - you have to go up to sleep, down to eat, and further down to do laundry, then back up to eat, etc. A bi-level at least once your upstairs everything's up there!
  • The main portion of the home may be on a slab foundation, leaving that portion more susceptible to flooring problems and cracking.
  • Generally more stress cracking where the home goes from a 1 story to a 2 story (around the stairwells).
  • In the event of a physical handicap or injury, the stairs could limit movement (although unlike a bi, you can at least sleep in the living room!). For this reason, any split level limits the pool of buyers to physically capable folks.
  • Tri-levels are typically older homes as they are rarely built anymore. Many were done in the late 50's-early 80's.


How to tell a tri-level home from the outside:
If one side of the house appears to be bi-secting the other part. Forms a T on its side, so to speak. You'll see two rows of windows on one side of the door, and 1 row on the other side. Others look like ranches from the front, but you'll notice the roof peak goes way up, and from the side you may see a staggered window arrangement like the one below:

Tri-level Home

A deceiving Tri- looks like a ranch in the front but you can tell from the rear shot that it's a tri:

Back-split tri Aha - it's a tri-level!

Here's a rough idea of the different levels, seen from front view on one style, and side view on another style.

Tri-level layoutBack Split Tri layout

For a list of Tri-Level Homes currently for sale, look below, or Email me with the specific area you'd like to find a Tri!

Buy a Tri! Click Here!

And to learn about Quad level homes, continue the series by clicking here!

More split level home info can be found at www.splitlevel.net

Sheree Wilkerson

Allegiant GMAC Realty

316.461.0575

sheree@ksgreathomes.com

My first home was a tri-level.... :)

Bi-Level, Tri-Level, Quads in Wichita, KS - What's the difference?

Sheree Wilkerson: Real Estate Agent in Wichita, KS

Bi, Tri, and Quads are more than just modes of transportation (Okay, that was a stretch - bicycle, tricycle, um... quadroped?)



They happen to be distinct styles of Split-Level Homes! All are available in the Wichita, KS and surrounding areas marketplace and each brings its unique features! Many people when buying their first home have been confused as to the difference and unsure about whether they would like or not like the various styles. So I thought it'd be a neat exercise to go over the 3 splits and how they lay-out and how to recognize them from the exterior!

The most common is a Bi-Level home. This means that there are two distinct living areas and both are accessed by stairways. When you walk in the front door, you typically have the option of going up, or down. The front door area generally has a small landing area, and sometimes a coat closet or garage access as well. Typically the main living areas are upstairs - the kitchen, dining, living room, and main bedrooms. The lower level generally includes, if finished, a family room, maybe another bedroom, bath, etc.

  • Pros: Privacy for the lower level - great for the teen who wants to come home and head straight downstairs and not see the rest of the family, for roomies, or to keep guests into entertainment areas without them having to pass thru the main living areas (then you can leave dishes in the sink and noone will know!)
  • The lower level generally has view-out or daylight windows as it is raised up higher than a finished basement on a traditional ranch. So it is more of a bright living space similar to being totally above-ground.
  • Bi-levels often have a lower number of basement issues as there is less of a below ground aspect compared to a traditional basement. Only 4-5 feet of the room is under ground level, so there's less ground pressure and generally more stability.
  • The stair-running keeps you in shape, right?!
  • Cons: Get home with a full load of groceries and you gotta go up with them all. Same thing after a long day of work, up you go!
  • The view into the home front the front door = stairwell (except in some sideways bi's).
  • Generally more stress cracking as the back half of the house is twice as heavy as the front home, so you'll tend to see signs of drywall cracks around the stair areas.
  • In the event of a physical handicap or injury, the stairs could possibly leave you sleeping in the garage. For this reason, bi's are sometimes hard to sell as it limits the buyers to those who are more physically capable and don't mind their own personal stairmaster.


How to tell a bi-level home from the outside:
If you look at the home and the front door appears to be in between the two levels - that's a clue! Here's a typical Bi-level style home. Note that due to the position of the windows, the front door appears to be set in between two levels of the home.

Bi-Level HomeAnother bi-level styleAnd One More Bi-level


Here's a rough idea of the different levels, seen from a side view:

Bi-level style layout



For a list of Bi-Level Homes currently for sale, look below, or Email me with the specific area you'd like to find a Bi!

Wanna Buy a Bi-level?? Click Here!

And to learn about Tri-levels, continue the series by clicking here!

More Split Level Info can be found here - The Split-Level Home Network

Sheree Wilkerson

Allegiant GMAC Realty

316.461.0575

sheree@ksgreathomes.com

Homes for Sale Wichita-Does Home Staging Really Work?

Laurie Huhman, Realtor: Real Estate Agent in Wichita, KS

Homes for Sale Wichita-Does Home Staging Really Work?

These days, you have to work hard to make your home for sale in Wichita stand out, or it might sit on the market for months. If you're selling, you want to captivate Wichita buyers so you can sell quickly and for as much money as possible. But there's a lot to do to get a home for sale in Wichita ready for the market.

When you have a home for sell in Wichita, you have to think like a Home BUYER. When your Buyer walks into your home for sale, it's my job as a Wichita Realtor to manage the experience that Buyer will have. I have the skills to stage your home so that it will appeal to the broadest range of Wichita Home BUYERS. You may wonder though, if I have a home for sale in Wichita, does staging really make a difference? Consider this:

The average days on the market for a home that has been Staged is HALF that of a home that is not staged. Your home will only get one chance in this Wichita Real Estate Market to make a first impression-make it count and your Wichita Home for Sale will do just that-Sell!!!!

Before Staging

After Staging

Olathe Homes For Sale - Start Your Search

Olathe Real Estate Agent -  Brad Papa: Real Estate Agent in Olathe, KS

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