Though similar, split-levels and bi-levels arent the same.
Learn what a bi-level home is, plus potential downsides every potential buyer or seller should know.
Youve likely heard ofsplit-leveland bi-level homes, but did you know they refer to completely different floor plans?
Credit: Emily Minton-Redfield
What’s the Difference Between a Split-Level and Bi-Level Home?
While both split-level homes and bi-level homes have multiple levels, a bi-level is limited to two levels.
It’s generally more compact than a split-level, which can have three or more levels.
But this house style is still out there and very livable.
What Is a Bi-Level House?
These levels are staggered, not stacked.
While a split-level is three or more levels, a bi-level is just two.
(A tri-level, a similar layout, is three levels.)
Off the kitchen going up is another staircase that leads to the bedrooms.
In a bi-level home, those rooms and levels would be condensed into an upper and a lower level.
These homes typically have a smaller footprint than more common layouts because of the way those levels are staggered.
The unique floorplan allows for different uses for the lower level.
There is a total of two floors plus the landing.
Think groceries, guests etc., Weinstein says.
This is the typical turnoff for a bi-level home.
They usually sell for less per square foot than a ranch, two-story, or split-level, Rosenberg says.
Even if your home has a lot of square footage, the floorplan can still be a turnoff.
Its not all bad news, though: Some buyers will love the unique layout a bi-level house offers.
A little separation between the spaces of a home can go a long way.
