Montana residents, new and old, share one thing in common. They are all lucky enough to own a sliver of one of the world’s most beautiful, rugged, elegant, and culturally unique places.
If you are thinking of becoming one of the chosen few, or you are already fortunate enough to live in Montana, but you are looking for your next slice of Montana Heaven, here are a few distinct home features to consider.
Mudroom
Montana is gorgeous in every sense of the word, but it can also be dirty!! Mudrooms are a lifesaver for homes on acreage or in the country, newly constructed homes that do not yet have landscaping, or for busy families with younger kids.
A mudroom provides a necessary “letdown station” as soon as you come into the house. It’s where your family can kick off muddy shoes, throw coats on a hook, and kids can toss backpacks into an available corner.
Mudrooms can help keep the rest of your home free of the grit and grime that comes with living in Montana.
Pantries
Pantries can be your best friend in a Montana home. If you live in the country, stocking up will save trips to town every time you are hungry. Montana winters are unpredictable, and depending on where you live in Montana, getting snowed in for a day or two is always a possibility. Montanans take the Boy Scout motto, “Be prepared,” very seriously.
If the home of your dreams does not have designated pantry space, do not despair. It’s easy enough to convert a basement closet or a garage corner into a space for storing food.
HELP! I want to sell my house but it needs so much work!! >>>
Garages
Speaking of garages, they are a highly valued extension of your Montana home. Garages shelter your vehicles from Montana winters, and you might need the extra space for snow-blowers and recreation equipment.
The vast majority of Montanans live and stay in Montana because of the abundance of outdoor recreation. This means you might need cover for 4-wheelers, Side-by-Sides, Ski-Doos, Sea-Doos, motorcycles, motorboats, drift boats, and rafts – to speak nothing of your golf clubs and fly-fishing gear.
If you are looking at an older home that does not have a garage, there is likely another solution. Many Montana properties have shops, barns, and other outbuildings that can serve as garage space. Recreational vehicles and “toys” can also be stored at a nearby storage facility.
Home office
The ability to work remotely has opened the possibility of living in Montana to many. If this describes you, make sure that your new home has adequate office space or space that can be easily converted into office space. Be sure to ask your Glacier Sotheby’s Realtor about the home’s internet as well. Believe it or not, there are still places in Montana where internet and cell service are not a given.
Windows
Author William Hjortsberg said, “Of all the memorable views, the best have been framed by Montana windows.” Mr. Hjortsberg was right. If you are buying a Montana home, consider the quantity and placement of windows. This is extremely important, whether you are considering a neighborhood or a place with a view.
Also consider the orientation of the home’s windows. It’s not a secret that Montana winters can get cold. Ideally, your new Montana home should have a few southern exposure windows. This will let solar heat and sunshine into the home when it’s too cold outside.
Don’t be disappointed if the Montana home you’ve fallen in love with does not have all of these things. Get creative and work with your Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty professional to find solutions that work for your lifestyle and budget. The real gift in any Montana home is that it is in Montana. You can work around the rest.
** This is an excerpt from Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty’s premier magazine, LIVE Montana. Look for a copy in our Western and North Western Montana offices, or click here for the digital version.
Kat Hobza has lived in Montana since she was nine and was raised in the mountains west of Victor, Montana. There, she learned to hunt, fish, shoot competitively, chop and stack firewood, and drive on icy and muddy roads. Kat has over two decades of experience in professional writing, content, and digital marketing and is a marketing consultant for Glacier Sotheby’s International Realty. When she’s not working, she’s either hanging with her hilarious adult kids or soaking up the sun somewhere – a riverbank, a golf course, or her deck. You can contact Kat through her business website, Way Easy Marketing.
