Brit Reacts to European vs American Homes - 12 differences

[@BobSmithintuit]

Thanks!

[@L3WGReacts]

ur amazing thank you so much!

[@tomhalla426]

American houses are a lot more likely to have multiple bathrooms/toilets, so the issue of having the toilet and the bath/shower in the same room is less of an issue.

[@kylieblokzyl8728]

A kitchen aisle is also called a kitchen island. Where I'm from in the USA, It's called a Kitchen island.

[@Kim-427]

You asked the question don’t Americans like privacy? Some do but the idea in American neighborhoods is the ability to talk to your neighbor so things like fences are usually kept to the backyards. We sit on our porches in the front and talk to our neighbors sometimes. Not everyone and every area of the US but it is done by many. Another thing we do in America is lookout for one another. If you know your neighbor you can usually notice if there is something unusual going on at your neighbors house you could be of some help to your neighbors at a crucial time.

[@NeuroJ12]

I was just coming here to type this but you said it better than I could have. I love that about our area and even in 2024 my neighbors let me know if something is going on at my house or if they’ll be out of town etc. I hope we can stay that way though I know not everywhere in the US is like that.

[@strix.1]

I think that depends on where you live. A LOT of people do not want to see, hear or interact with their neighbors. Traditionally, older people like to socialize with their neighbors, but younger people like to keep to themselves. I have NEVER seen anyone in ANY of the neighborhoods I have lived in sitting on their front porches...it sounds like a great idea, but can also be a bit "Mrs KravitzY." Thus backyard fences in most urban and suburban areas are so you do not have to see neighbors but also to keep pets and kids tRaPpEd in. I have seen many areas of the country that actually have no fences anywhere...My aunts house in MO is like that and she always said she wish they had a fence because neighbor kids come running in her yard or pets poop in her yard. Rude neighbors. I like fences all around, keep the unwanted out and keep Mrs Kravitz from getting too nosey!😂✌

[@garyporterfield7165]

Door knobs don't get wet because the porch is covered, the door itself doesn't even get wet

[@jefferyklein6980]

You say you would only like to have a house with 2 floors, but think about this, if you have a house with only 1 floor you don't have to deal with going up and down stairs as you get older and older....

[@catseye1009]

Exactly what I was thinking. I owned a 3-level home and now live on one level. Amazing! Much easier on the knees.

[@garyi.1360]

There's a zillion types of mailboxes in the US. They also come in all materials; not just plastic. I was thinking of going to France but, gee I don't know. If the door knobs are different that changes everything. In the US the toilet comes both ways. If you want it in it's own closet then get the house with it that way. It's all available. I haven't been to Nottingham but I heard the sheriff is a bad guy.

[@KS-ip5xn]

Also it sounds like her French houses have only 1 bathroom. 2-3 is most common in the U.S. but can bemore.

[@jordanparker5949]

I heard Robin put him in his place. :)

[@jaimemicelotti8539]

You are correct about AC and Heater units being combined. Most homes, the AC and heating is all in one. You just switch it over to either AC / cool or Heat/warm mode, set your desired temperature and switch it to auto mode, not to ON mode. Heater mode is if the temperature drops below your desired setting, the heat will automatically kick on to maintain the set/desired temperature. The same is true for the AC/cool part. You set/program your desired temperature. If the air temperature gets above the setting you have it at, the AC will automatically turn on to cool the room and keep it at that setting.

[@rocky8758]

I have lived in many homes with shutters and none had shutters that actually worked, most homes have them just for decoration.

[@denniss5505]

Unfortunately you’re right, most shutters on American houses are fake and not correct architectural scale. European shuttters are functional as well as aesthetic, they effectively cover window protecting house from direct sunlight, aids in security, helps hold in heat loss on cold winter nights. Practical

[@joy7363]

The only working shutters I’ve ever seen is in a vacation home in Florida and they were for hurricane protection

[@selina9091]

​@joy7363 I was going to say that. I grew up in New Orleans and our shutters were functional for hurricanes.

[@mmccracken8478]

Most of the shutters I've seen have been for decoration only, the window glass itself is commonly treated with a coating to prevent direct sunlight from coming in and/or for keeping people from being able to look into your windows...it looks like a mirror from the outside but from inside it's like a normal window not tinted or anything like that.

[@Tylermaddox1911]

Back in the day in Georgia that's all that was used at least that's what my grandparents have told me 70+ years old.

[@Spring-hs2ud]

Some houses have fences in the front yards, but most areas only allow for 4 ft fences or hedges in the front, but allow 6 ft fences in the backyard. As for mail boxes a lot of newer housing tracks as well as apartments and condos have boxes in a group that you open with your own key in the front and the mail person has a key that opens the back side of the boxes. You can still send mail out as well as receive mail.

[@pacmon5285]

Actually a lot of people in the US will know Nottingham because of the story of Robin Hood.

[@kathleenhayes9320]

Love wood floors. Have them throughout and area rugs in the living room and bedrooms

[@bluflaam777]

We have tile and wood downstairs. Carpet in the living room and one bedroom. The other bed rooms have wood floors with rugs.

[@kathybouziane5269]

We have ceramic tile and carpeting in the walk out basement. Otherwise we have carpeting in the bedrms and wood floors otherwise. Wisconsin winters make floors cold so carpeting feels better. If we lived in the south hardwood would probably be better in humid areas..

[@lyndabrown3402]

Most USA houses have open front but fenced in back yard, typically wood or chainlink.

[@garycamara9955]

Sometimes a short pucket fence in front.

[@garycamara9955]

Picket!

[@garycamara9955]

You don't have door knobs in Europe dayam, REALLY.

[@garycamara9955]

Every house I have ever been in has hardwood floors throughout the house. Rugs can go on top. I doesn't get that cold here, most anywhere. Maybe Alaska.

[@garycamara9955]

Where do you have your toilets? In the backyard?

[@semperaugustus661]

In the house I moved into recently, there was a ton of carpet. I found out that it had been laid over hardwood floors. So I immediately ripped all the carpet up. Not sure why they would hide the beautiful hardwood floors, but glad I found out before I moved everything in.

[@carolynwoodrow3092]

hard wood floors were the way to go back in the 50's & 60's , if you could afford them. a lot of homes had linoleum , then the rage was carpet so they covered up the beautiful wood floors. Now everyone rip the carpet out.

[@jadeh2699]

Yes, better to have a hard surface floor that is easy to clean and then put down rugs for the softness and warmth for feet.

[@OneGeekStudios]

taking mail is a federal crime. So yeah they could take your mail, but most people don't want to go to jail.

[@jadeh2699]

Agree. Especially now that a lot of people have outdoor security cameras.

[@deliarealtor]

Most don’t want to go to jail, yes but we had mail stolen three times in one month. After the third time all but one of us put up a locking mailbox.

[@jadeh2699]

@@deliarealtor Oh, how awful. Glad you got a locking box!

[@ask21900]

That's not true. It is a common misconception. It is a federal crime to steal, destroy, etc mail while it is in USPS control. Once it gets put in the mailbox it is considered delivered and is no different than any other property belonging to another. You could theoretically be charged with theft but those statutes usually require to show an actual loss. If the value of the mail is determined to be $0 then it's generally not theft either.

[@chancemeyers8502]

They actually motly fall under the same law. Its jut seperated on paper because stealing a letter from someones mail box carrys less time than stealing a package from a mail truck. But you are also correct. ​@ask21900

[@jeremywhittington7605]

Having been to France… we definitely keep our toilets cleaner than you guys do, so toilets in the bathroom aren’t really an issue here lol!

[@SharonCollins-x1f]

If the toilet is in a separate room is there a sink to wash your hands 🤢 ?

[@mattsims7530]

​@@SharonCollins-x1fI hear they may not worry about it

[@jeremywhittington7605]

@@SharonCollins-x1f there were sinks, but I think you had to flush the toilet to get the water out of the faucet lol… that’s a joke!

[@ArolzStreams]

So they don’t wash their hands after they’re using the toilet until they open the door and walk to the washroom?! That’s gross! Having a sink after u poop to use is way more civilized lmao

[@brianormonde2175]

I had that same thought 😂

[@jessicayoung9670]

The bath/shower is in a seperate room. The toilet and the sink are still together in a room (US half bath).

[@laguzl]

@@jessicayoung9670 there are older homes in France that do not have a sink in the toilette. You'd have to use the restroom open the door travel to to the other side of the house to wash your hands in the bathroom or salle de bain. I'd prefer everything in one place but at the very least a sink with the toilet.

[@johnniekight1879]

You can buy expandable screens. They come in various heights but the sides extend out in both directions for a perfect fit.

[@garyporterfield7165]

In the US you can have any type of door knob you choose, including both styles you are showing here, remember, we have a multitude of choices, including door handles

[@JIMBEARRI]

Large American home will have two or more bathrooms. The "Master Bedroom" normally has its own "Master bathroom". There will be at least one other full bathroom near the bedrooms, and possibly a half bath [with toilet and sink] next to the kitchen or front hallway. When my brother and his wife were building their home on a mountain in New Hampshire, they lived in an 80 foot mobile home that had a "Master Suite", plus two bedrooms with a full bath between them. Even a trailer had two full bathrooms.

[@dreamcrone]

Most American houses have at least 2 entrances. (Many have more) The side door often leads into a “mud room”. The floor in a mud room will be easy to clean. There will be a place to hang coats and put shoes and boots. Often you will have a bench to sit on to put on shoes or remove them. Washing machines and dryers are also sometimes in the mud room so you can take off your dirty clothes and throw them in the washer.

[@irakopilow9223]

As far as air conditioning, we have another option in the arid west. In Colorado, many times our humidity is in the single digits. We think 30% is muggy! Since we have such low humidity, many take advantage of that with evaporative cooling, or "swamp coolers." A metal box sits on the roof or oustide a window, with straw pads that have water dripping on them. Inside the box there is a fan that draws the air in from the outside, which runs over the wet pads and cools the air inside by evaporating the air running past the pads. It cools for pennies on the dollar on electricity costs and cuts down on the static electricity so you don't get shocked any tine your hand touches metal (door knob or light switch).

[@StevenTyree-sl2nx]

People that have never lived in a dry climate don't understand the degree of static electricity generated. You shock yourself all the time, especially in winter. Great point. Grew up in southern Colorado and yes it got really hot, but cooled off at night. Didn't use the swamp cooler much at night. When I moved to a humid area the AC ran all day and night because the temp didn't vary much from high to low, only about 10 degrees.

[@WolfsDE]

Nottingham is a very famous city here in the USA. (The Sherrif of Nottingham - Robin Hood). So, your home town is very well known here. Birmingham is also pretty well known as well. In part because we have cities and towns with the name Birmingham as well.

[@Kim-427]

I live in Pittsburgh,Pa in an area where there are streets by the name of Liverpool,Sheffield which I live on. And we have a bridge named the Birmingham Bridge.

[@binxbolling]

Famous among educated people mostly.

[@pageribe2399]

I live in Birmingham, Alabama.

[@karlsmith2570]

3:28 Those types of mailboxes that you're talking about are typically used in apartments, Lewis. The one that's shown in the picture doesn't have a locking mechanism on it

[@margiemachado4951]

That could have been my mailbox! 😂 of course mine has my house number on both sides. But we live rural and mail is delivered by a mail truck. Love my little red flag. 👍

[@n7y8c7]

And they don't lock to give the mailman quick and easy access.

[@RandyDonna11]

We have a 4 bedroom house with: 1full bathroom, (toilet, sink, and tub with shower), 2 "3/4 bathrooms" (toilet, sink and shower) one in the master suite, one in another bedroom, and a "powder room", (with a simple sink and toilet), off the lower living room. People almost never have to wait to use the facilities because someone is bathing or showering.

[@withlov]

In the neighborhoods that I grew up in, the backyards are fenced in while the front yards are not. The metal chainlink fence is common but so are vinyl and or wooden fences. In 2016 my mom bought a house on 97 acres and the only fencing that still stands on the property are very old farm fences. Also, yes people can steal your mail but it's a federal offense which would be a felony so I'd assume that would deter people. The kitchen Isle is known to me as an island lol If you've watched Home Alone then you should know about our knob door handles. An experienced electrician had already commented on another video of yours about how the voltage is important not just the adapter.

[@carlchiles1047]

We had this house in my home town…I could have bought for $68,000… and I thought long and hard about it…looking back…that thing would have been a nightmare to keep clean…all brick…three stories…with stairs for the upper floors when you come in…and back in the kitchen area…there was another set of stairs for servants to use to go up and down…to deliver food to the bedrooms…the thing was,pretty, but can you imagine the heating and cooling bills?…

[@carlchiles1047]

The last thing is…she said the shutters were good for keeping the house cool…here…two things will do that…double pane window glass and heavy curtains…

[@carlchiles1047]

When I was 15…we rented this one house,from the,Catholic Church which was across the street…big two story with fireplace and mantle…and the left front room…maybe a study or library?had sliding doors,that slid out from inside the walls…someone,said,they were French doors…but I don’t really know…I slept in one upstairs bedroom that had a little added room like a,castle…with windows all around…it was really cool for a fifteen year old…but those,doors…so cool…close ‘em…slide them out from the wall…they just rolled,in and out…

[@DevilDogDaddy7769]

@@carlchiles1047 I know she said that and I'm like how thin is your glass and just get blinds or curtains also we have AC.

[@carlchiles1047]

Whatever she was saying…We have what we call an ISLAND…the sink and counter built in the middle area of the kitchen..sometimes with stools so we can eat at the counter..some,don’t…some do..maybe a high back bar stool..

[@bob_._.]

Privacy fences are a thing but not everyone has them. We have many different types of mailboxes; the iconic one with the flag is mostly for rural areas where the carriers drive the route, so they can work from behind the wheel. In urban neighborhoods the postman's on foot and mailboxes are usually mounted on the wall next to the front door or a slot in the door. Apartment buildings generally have a bank of boxes which have individual locks and the carrier has a common key.

[@nightfrost1891]

i have a metal fence around our home but it's because we have a dog so that way the dog can do whatever most might have a fence in the back but not the front, we have a fence all the way around

[@doingstuffwithrus6574]

In my two acre yard, I had to put up a split rail fence, because the neighbors were tearing it up with their ATVs. I also planted almost 300 trees.

[@misslora3896]

Years ago (late 80's) we had to put split rail in our front yard. We were living in military housing in Cape Cod, Mass. We lived in the end unit of a 4 plex of townhouses closest to the shared carport. Instead of walking over to the sidewalk that ran in front of the units, everyone would cut kitti corner across our front yard and would almost always look in through our living room window when they did. Thankfully, housing permitted residents to put up fencing while living there (but had to be removed and holes filled in before final inspection when you moved). They allowed 4 ft white picket for backyards and split rail in front. Putting up the split rail worked like a charm and made our unit look really nice and put together to boot. I've loved the look of split rail ever since.

[@garycamara9955]

Hahahaha yeah and in France you just piss in the street!

[@deliarealtor]

@@misslora3896and it was ok with the housing agency that you put up fence?

[@frankisfunny2007]

Some older homes here in the US DO gave storm shutters around the homes. Those that do have them almost never were used. There is 1 house near me that was built in the 1780s that still has its usable storm shutters. When it was built, there was the treats of Britian attacking still, and Native Americans attacking, as well.

[@fsujavi16]

In Florida, the hurricane shutters get LOTS of use.

[@TimpossibleOne]

That's not the only type of mailbox we have for our homes. Those big boxes on the curbside are for the mail carriers who stay in their vehicle. We have other smaller boxes next to or in the front door for mail carriers who walk from house to house. We also have yards with fences (wood and metal), hedges and nothing. Our homes usually have 1 or 2 floors. Single floor homes can have a basement or not.

[@klycan33]

I think the mailbox thing is interesting because where I live, its been over 2 decades since we got mailbox kiosks where live the whole block is in one location centrally and all the boxes are locked with key entry. But in another part of town the mail carriers walk mostly still because the boxes are attached to the houses. So its a mix. Its honestly packages that get stollen for the porch most in my experience, and even then its rare. Not so much letters out the boxes. Glad to have amazon garage delivery and a tucked away house. Also, we have a chain link fence now, but we have had a wood fence and others in my neighborhood have wood fences for the backyard. Not the front though. Those are largely just open.

[@carlchiles1047]

What we call a finished basement…there’s drywall covering the cement block construction…it could be half finished…but a lot f us either make a smother bedroom down there plus a bathroom..big enough for toilet and shower…and maybe a playroom or man cave…with huge tv..the single story home is ranch style…and it is more spread out…and most garages are attached..and it’s also nice to have a full attic…that you can stand up and walk around in…for storage or another room…the fences we,do have in the back yard are probably lay 6 feet tall with latching door…most are fenced..keeps dogs out and adds security…

[@ukaly1]

We have door handles too, not just knobs. Whatever style you want. Knobs are actually harder for a small child to turn instead of just pushing a handle down. We have all types of flooring...carpet, wood, tile and vinyl. High end houses usually don't have much carpet.

[@deliarealtor]

When in Turkey, we had handles. I told my husband that when we bought a home we would have handles instead on knobs. If you have arthritis, you understand.

[@anotherbluenova6358]

Usually if a US home has a fenced yard its just the back yard. We do have mail theives but Amazon porch pirates are more prevalent today The ranch style is very popular and its 1 story. Sometimes with a basement Most shutters in the us are decorative and dont work Mosquitoes would eat you alive without screens A/C is a must. 100 degrees and high humidity sucks The round is a proper "knob" But we have many designs We call the keyed latch with no knob a Deadbolt. We have wood carpet tile linoleum floors. We do half baths ...toilet and sink and full baths toilet sink shower/tub. My home has 2 fu ll baths. We call them a kitchen island eye land .

[@mbourque]

2:41 the main reason for the differences in mailboxes is because most European mail carriers are on foot while delivering mail whereas U.S. mail carriers are in special vehicles. so they just lean out and put the mail in the box. and ours are very close to the road for this reason. we do have some that walk, but they are only in Major cities. People CAN take your mail as the box doesn't have locks (those within buildings do, but not those on the road), BUT it's a Federal Crime (with prison time) to do so and people are arrested whenever they are found to be doing this. It's a larger problem with people stealing packages from porches. but there are crates that can attach to your porch that delivery people can place packages inside and they will then lock and they can't be moved from your porch anymore. you can get the packages out because you'll know the code.

[@joshuahallett6235]

So, in the area where I grew up, Carpet was in Bedrooms, offices, and basements-wood in living rooms, dining rooms, and family rooms with rugs. Finally, kitchens & bathrooms are tile. If you have a garage or a workshop, unfinished basements tend to have concrete floors.

[@winterman63]

Here in America, we have fences of all sizes made of all different materials.. geez. If you want a fence, you can get a fence. We are not some 3rd world country.

[@monicapegues4008]

He didn't mean it like that, calm down 😂

[@ohmightywez]

Where I grew up in Arizona our house was in a neighborhood of horse property, so we had open fencing around our yards and field. Our cows and horses would hang out with their cow and horse buddies in our neighbors' fields along our mutual fence line. Here in California we have an open front yard and our back yard has a pretty tall brick walls.

[@csailer2353]

You can’t always have a fence. Some neighborhoods don’t allow it. Mostly in more expensive neighborhoods, where homes are built around goof courses.

[@karenmaurer9993]

She's talking about a kitchen " island". Not in every house, but very common! The need for screens and screen doors is high not only due to Flys and mosquitos but also bees/wasps! I can't imagine windows without them! I have the dual heating/cooling system, but seperate systems are common as well. Electric baseboard heat is often found, which can get expensive, especially with an open floor plan. Shutters on most American houses are usually decorative only. I'm in PA; I missed what area she visited? Interesting looking at the differences!

[@shakwon619]

We are some 3rd world country. 😂😂

[@DevilDogDaddy7769]

I live in north Texas the average temp in the Summer is in the 90s and easily gets into the 100s. The inside of my house year around is 68. Lots of have central heat and air to simplify heating and cooling. Condenser coil is outside heater is inside attached to the blower/fan inside which distributes the hot/cold air through the ducts to all the rooms. There are now smaller units that are attached to an exterior wall for smaller places.

[@Northanteus]

I am American and always grew up with seeing toilets in the bath or shower rooms but I think it's logical to separate them to prevent hassle of someone having to use the toilet while another is taking a shower. That is if they only have one bathroom. Many homes in the US do have two+ toilet or bathrooms. Depends on the type. Usually more expensive homes have 2 to 3. Fenced in homes can be found in big cities but usually suburbs further from cities have open grass yards, not much fencing. Depends on the State and how far from a city the home is, usually, imo.

[@TheUselessbuthappy]

Our ac generally comes from an HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system, so it heats and cools the house. I haven't lived in a place with out an hvac since i was a kid since I grew up relatively poor and we used window acs and kerosene heaters. Also line dried clothes and had a gas stove with a tank behind the house. The house used to have a furnice (and thus had a furnice room) but it didnt work as long as i lived there.

[@TheUselessbuthappy]

Also, I live in a nice home now but I only included the state of my childhood home because he generally watches videos about nice houses and neighborhoods, and the poor live vastly differently.

[@bluflaam777]

Front lawns near cities are often open but the rear lawns are fenced. They are also much larger than most European garden/lawn. some places like town houses may not have a front lawn at all but the rear lawn (if there is one) will be fenced. Our mailbox is attached to the house on the front porch. No one messes with our mail. 1, 2 or sometimes 3 stories are the norm depending on where and when it was built. Storm shutters are less common on newer homes other than for decoration. Older homes used them to protect against storms. Some electronics have regulators, but many electronics don't. each electronic will say on the device what voltage is can handle. I would just buy an adaptor with a regulator built in. Voltage can destroy the appliance or cause a fire. Our house has a mix of flooring. The downstairs has tile and hardwood, upstairs living room has carpet. One bedroom has carpet the others have hardwood with area rugs. I've been in some larger or more modern houses in the US where the toilet has its own space but separated in the bathroom. Like a stall. I've been in one house that had a toilet adjacent to the bathroom but had 2 doors. One to enter from the main room and another that led to the bathroom. Island in the kitchen can be common. Especially renovated or modern homes with larger kitchens.

[@Autumn_Forest_]

Stealing from a mailbox is a federal offense for which you can go to federal prison for a long time. People generally have no issues with mailbox theft in private homes. We’re taught not to mess with other people’s mailboxes from a very young age. I have taught my little boy that when we’re taking a walk, he is not supposed to be in other people’s yards or driveways, and he is not to touch anyone’s mailbox. I’ve told him people “can get into BIG trouble” for messing with other people’s mailboxes. He never even notices them now, except if one is accidentally left open or something.

[@donnahong5998]

The separate room for just the toilet is called a water closet and you will see this in the USA inside the master bathroom. If you have a have bath where there is a toilet and sink this is called a powder room and is generally in an area more common in the house like near a hall or living room, it is so guest don't have to go to the more private areas of the home to use it.

[@mmatosac]

No one in the U.S. calls the bathroom a water closet.

[@wargame2play]

It depends on fashion if we have carpets. I remember shag carpets ! Great for the “ Reck Room “ ( shorthand for Recreation Room ) usually in the basement and the hardest and coldest floors in your house. Bathrooms and kitchen NEVER had carpeting because of spills and water. So we usually made do with rugs and “ throw rugs” ( small rugs that you could simply throw down anywhere) on top of wood . Also , with central heating as well as central air conditioning our floors stayed warmer. In fact REALLY nice homes now have HEATED floors ! Either electrical or hot water tubes or even forced air BUILT INDIDE the floor itself!

[@pacmon5285]

ACs don't heat the home. They are strictly for cooling. We have a furnace for heating. AC sits outside. Furnace is inside (typically a basement).

[@jdgower1]

Actually in the southern US, a lot of AC units are heat pumps that are used to cool in the summer and heat in the winter. The northern states are predominately split systems with a separate furnace and air conditioner, but down here in Georgia, that's not usually the case. It really depends on the average temp year round as to what makes the most sense over the long haul.

[@chrishebert5672]

The AC and furnace use the same ducting. They're located right next to each other in the attic. Only the condenser is outside.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@jdgower1 in the north, with a central system, there is often a heat pump, with either a gas or electric booster heater, in case it gets too cold for the heat pump to be efficient.

[@jdgower1]

@@kenbrown2808 Same down here. My system has electric heat strips for 'Emergency Heat' in case the compressor trips out (most common reason), or when it sometimes gets too cold for the heat pump to keep up (or even work at all due to the low delta T). All that being said, I was just correcting the OP of this overlying comment as to the issue of "AC's don't heat the home". with a heat pump system, that's pretty much where the majority of the heat for the home comes from on a regular basis, so yeah - AC's pretty much do heat the homes with those systems, and those systems are hella more common in some places than others.

[@amystreasuresdesign]

Depends on the building. Our condo is built that we have an AC furnace combo unit and it's actually "outside". We have a door (that locks) on our porch that goes to a storage room, but that's also where the furnace ac unit is. There's one run that goes into the unit, that runs along the floor of that storage closet. You have to take a big step up to get inside. It's not very deep so we're limited on what we put inside. Right now I just kind of semi unorganized. I put the three blown plastic light up angels in there (they're about 3 feet tall) along with the cushions for the two patio chairs and the table top slab. As well as a couple other things in there. The previous owner left an old, rusted metal shelving unit in there. We may or may not keep it, I personally think we should keep it to save money. I can clean it up and cover the shelves inexpensively to cover up the rust. Or spray paint it. It will be cheaper than buying a new one.

[@christinascheu2342]

Alot of people have been taking their carpet up and just have wood floors because carpet holds alot of dirt and dust so having just wood floors helps with allergies

[@mbourque]

11:04 tip for travelers: instead of bring a bunch of adapters, just bring one or two and also bring a power strip from home that your plugs will fit. that way you have several outlet plugs that are open for your plugs and you only needed one adaptor to plug the strip into the wall.

[@paulayala4816]

"A great idea, especially if you have kids with a lot of devices". I live here in the US but I typically bring along a couple of power strips while on vacation as some hotel rooms only have one or two power outlets hidden behind headboards or TV amoires. It's great you mentioned this for him!

[@toastythabrave9927]

depends on the doors to every home, but here in the states we do have A LOT of different type of door handles/ knobs. some back/porch/deck doors could have the kind of handle she is used too, but most back doors that go onto a deck or big patio would be a big sliding glass door (with a screen door as well).

[@mbourque]

14:18 the floors in the U.S can come in nearly anything. carpet (not in rooms that have water access: kitchen, bathrooms), wood, tile, concrete, packed dirt, foam, ect... if you can think it, someone will have it. the most common are carpet, wood, and tile.... Parents of young children prefer wood or tile or concrete as messes are easier to clean. and you can put rugs on those floors.

[@KS-ip5xn]

I have heated floors in my home. So nice on a chilly day.

[@janfitzgerald3615]

We have six foot high cedar fences in our neighborhood, but they’re only around the backyard, some people have chain link fences and some have white vinyl. Taking mail is a federal offense. Some neighborhoods have a single large mailbox that has multiple individual boxes on each block that you have a key to access it and there are package boxes for large mail, plus an outgoing slot. Shutters that can’t be opened from the outside could be a big problem if your house is on fire. Yes, we have window screens, the mesh is so fine that they’re almost invisible and we do have screen doors, in front of the actual door. Wood floors are common here too, and like your house Lewis, many homes have both. All you need is a good vacuum and periodic steam cleaning. We also have homes where the toilet is in its own room within the bathroom.

[@AndreaMorris-eh4wc]

Some yards have fences and some don't. I don't think there are more of one over the other.

[@diva8717]

The majority of American homes have at least 1.5 to 2 bathrooms with a lot having more, and within those bathrooms the toilet can have its own separate room with a possible locking door, often times referred to as a water closet, but still in the same bathroom so that when you are doing using the toilet you can wash your hands immediately. Most bathrooms also have exhaust fans that help get rid of any lingering smell. As far as doorknobs go, American homes can have round knobs, twisting handles, push latches, sliding door and etc. Americans like the variety to choose.

[@mbourque]

17:05 it's common for toilets to be in the room with the bath/shower and sink. some houses will have a wall around the toilet to separate it from the rest of the room, but that's not common (but not very rare either). Also we have 1/2 baths with a sink and toilet (you call them water closets). but the toilets are always *Part* of the bathroom, not some separate location.

[@jeanettes2170]

I know you can get a screen for your window that is sliding and adjustable to fit in the window that will be cheaper than ordering them to fit exactly in the window. Also you can get those window fans that pull air out of the room or pull air from the outside in the room, that’ll help with the heat. Yes we have what’s called a heat pump that has a combo heat/ac for the central air of the house. My dad explained to me that the direction of coolant over the coils determines whether you have heat or a/c produced.

[@christinecharlton629]

For the average person, we generally have one, two or three level homes in the US. Depends on what area/subdivision you are buying in. Or what kind of home you want or can afford. And it depends on the state too. I live in Florida and a lot of homes are one-story. They are easier to keep cool and more economical.

[@knowledgeseeker-yy1ix]

in my little Midwest village...Bath illinois..pop 200...our little post office has individual locked boxes ..a wall of them...and each person has a key to their mailbox...many apartment complexes have this too...now rural mail boxes in the countryside don't have locks...although they usually have a hasp that can be locked with a padlock..but then you have to give the mail carrier a key to your box.

[@paulagreen427]

Amazon sells portable/removable window screens!

[@jillollipop2978]

Fence or no fence, it really varies from place to place. Wood, metal, vinyl, chain, rustic. Where housing is more dense there will be fences or barriers between back yards, and often front. In the suburbs sometimes back yards are fenced, but not front. We personally don't have any fencing, but our neighbor to one side does, which they put up because their dog kept escaping. Our neighbors to the other side like that we don't have a fence between us because they like the unobstructed view of the live oak, and so do we. We visit a lot when we're out at the same time and talk about the wildlife we see and what interesting thing we recently planted.

[@nightfrost1891]

since a lot of homes have basements just as big and a lot of times furnished just like the first level, that really counts as two levels in my opinion it's just the 'upstairs' is the main level and yes, screens are amazing especially if you have indoor cats since you can let them go 'outside' on the porch without the dangers

[@kaluca]

They have screen doors for your garages now too!!!

[@revgurley]

For another option than wood, carpet, or tile, have you heard of cork floors? They're squares of cork, usually with a finish so they don't rip up very easily. They're very kind to the feet - not jarring like on tile or even wood. Only problem (again, with a dog) is that long-nailed animals can dig little bits of cork up. My parents have them in their Florida home.

[@jameseddy7485]

Yes, we have knobes. Levers are becoming more popular to help the handicap. The average home is one floor. Some are two. We dont include the basement as a floor. Carpet was more popular in the 1970s and 1980s. Wood is back on flooring. In the yard, most fences are in the backyard. But my whole yard is fenced in. I think the owner before me had a dog.

[@PM-oe5mk]

Lewis, most modern American homes have many bathrooms. For example, my house (~3400 sq. ft.) has 3 full baths (bathtub/shower + sink + toilet) and a half-bath (toilet + sink). Never had to wait to use a bathroom, not even with a large party going on. Older homes will most likely have only one full bath, and some might have an additional half-bath too.

[@EricLovesthe80s]

only time the toilet is not in the bathroom it is called an outhouse . the toilet is outside lol

[@BurntFrenchToast106]

That or if you got an apartment or house that has 1/2 bathroom meaning you only have a toilet and sink. Of course places with half bathroom would also come with a full bath, or just regular bathrooms

[@andimproud]

Or what are those toilets in Pittsburgh called? They're just randomly placed in a basement so coal miners could clean up first.

[@grobble8954]

Most decent size US houses have more than 1 bathroom. Most semi modern homes usually have 1 less or even equal bathrooms to bedrooms..ie.. 5 bedrooms 4 baths and often 1/2 bath(toilet & sink) near the common area for guests

[@LondonWater]

A kitchen island? What’s a kitchen aisle? 🤷‍♂️

[@deborahryan8452]

I was going to ask the same thing. I often wish I could speak up and correct someone while watching the video.

[@scottwyatt2614]

Kitchen isle as in island, not Kitchen aisle. Took me awhile to figure that one out.

[@PM-oe5mk]

She said isle, not aisle. Isle is another word for island. So her isle kitchen is our island kitchen.

[@judylaughlin9867]

The French word isle (pronounced like aisle) means island. So, while it may sound wrong, it is a correct use of the word.

[@Autumn_Forest_]

American here - I’ve only ever heard “island.”

[@sbk4me]

Bathrooms near the toilets are essential to keep the plumbing together, not to mention you are closer to the sink for washing up afterwards.

[@feralon9570]

Touching someone's mail here is a federal crime. Not to many people mess with the mail here.

[@shakykneezz]

People do steal mail, its usually kids though.😋

[@alisong826]

Stealing a package is different than stealing USPS, the latter of which is the federal crime

[@teresabillings8378]

The older mailboxes have embossed on the box, even though you purchased it, "Property of the US Postmaster". Federal Property, Federal offense, not that it's enforceable.

[@PriscillaV1964]

Oh, it is enforced.

[@SherriLyle80s]

My husband is a mail carrier for USPS and they have their own police. Yes. USPS has their own police force.

[@franciet99]

American houses are varied in so many ways. You will see some houses with basements, some without. Some houses with wall to wall carpeting, some without. Bathrooms with toilets in the same room, some separate. Some houses are built to represent what other countries have done. Some houses have A/C, some without. We have houses with 1 story and some with multiple stories. Some houses have fences, some don’t. The fences can be built with all types of material. The only thing that might be generalized is having a door handle. The lock can be on the handle or not. There can be multiple locks as well

[@Hummer1332]

Fine up to $250,000 if your caught stealing mail.

[@kriscroy959]

We have lots of high wood fences in the backyards of Northern California, but when I visit Michigan, I’ve seen a mix of low fences at my grandparents old house, and no fences at my aunt’s house.

[@victoralex6569]

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[@yummig]

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[@victoralex6569]

It's the Handwork of God through Mrs Renee Marie

[@victoralex6569]

She's helped countless individuals transform their financial situations.

[@albirt-bs9qi]

I do know Renee M. Harrison, I also have even become successful....

[@rogergray-hu2hz]

Absolutely! I've heard stories of people who started with little to no knowledge but made it out victoriously thanks to Renee Marie Harrison.

[@mscharlie]

it is a personal preference to have your yard fenced in or shrubbed in.. most are open.. our yard is open on the front and wooded on the back (trees and bushes) ... most mailboxes are not locked.. some houses can have up to 4 levels.. older homes usually have more levels.. our home has 2 levels and a basement ... our house was built in the 1800s and it did have shutters but they were taken off years ago..

[@MegaLokopo]

America is big, each state is as different as each country is in europe.

[@microchip470]

Fencing/Privacy: • Some houses have large fences/hedges for privacy; mostly in wealthy areas • Many houses with fences, fence the backyard as many Americans spend time in their backyards; • Front yards are more for show/curb appeal, but some Americans do use them. • There are also gated communities that have large fences around the neighborhood and gated entrances with a guarded main entrance. Inside, it resembles a normal subdivision • Some neighborhoods have fences around them, but they lack a gated entrance so anyone can get in. Mailboxes: • There are a variety of mailboxes in the US: ⁃ The standard rectangle ones with a flag (could be metal, plastic, or wood/composite) or slight variations ⁃ Square or rectangular ones on the side of the house (usually metal and may or may not have a flag) ⁃ Mail slots in the door (less common) ⁃ Cluster boxes (communal where each house is assigned a box with key or combination access). These have a separate slot (usually one per cluster) to drop outgoing mail so no flag. ⁃ P.O. Boxes (similar to cluster boxes, but at a Post Office branch) • Yes, mail could be taken from unsecured mailboxes as well as random objects inserted Floors: • Many American homes are two stories (may or may not have a basement depending on location), however, there are some places where one floor is common or where multiple floors (3+) are common (usual in cities). 3+ Story houses (excluding the basement) in suburban areas are generally reserved for the wealthy. Shutters: • Some houses have shutters, but they’re more common as decorations (non-functional). People tend to use blinds or curtains to block the sun/privacy. Some houses, in sunnier areas, use exterior blinds to help block the intense sun. In bad neighborhoods, people will put bars on their doors and windows for security. Air Conditioning/Heat: • In the US, many people have HVAC systems that combine heating and air conditioning. These are controlled by a thermostat where you set the desired temperature and the system heats or cools to get the desired temperature. There is also zoned HVAC, which lets you set different temperatures for different parts of the house. Outlets/Power: • For the power adapters, it depends on the adapter. Many modern adapters are designed so that they can work in a variety of voltages and frequencies (Hz) and you just need the right outlet adapter to plug in. Other adapters will not work with the voltage and/or frequency so you need to have a converter as well as an outlet adapter. Door Handles: • There are lever-style door knobs in the US and they are just as common as the round-style. Many front doors have a fixed handle with a thumb latch. Flooring: • Many American houses have a mixture of carpet, wood, and tile. It’s becoming more common to replace carpets with wood or tile. However, in many of those rooms, people will put rugs down to add a bit of plushness and to protect the floors. In wealthier areas, the floors may be heated during cold weather.

[@EricLovesthe80s]

no we have fences and bushes and private fences . , and Lew never ask us if we understand you . i think we all can . this girl sounds like she has something in her mouth when she talks lol

[@karenwhaley8635]

In American kitchens we have an Island. Typically it has cabinets and some have drawers. Its really a preperation surface and some have stools for people to sit at to eat. And cabinets for storage. We also have a bathroom on first floor with a sink and toilet, referred to as a powder room. Most bathrooms and kichens are directly above or below each other to tie into the water lines.we have one floor, called Ranch style, bi level and tri level homes and not all homes have basements. Also many homes have attached garages.😊

[@dbrice71]

Our home in Miami, we have 20 ft. Tall Callusia plants surrounding our home plus a wooden fence enclosing the large backyard for our dog and privacy.

[@FourFish47]

Besides being a felony, who wants other people's mail? Keep those bills and junk mail to yourself lol

[@mbourque]

5:31 the look of a home is determined by who built it or had it built. IF it was a developer, they use a 'modern' look and make a lot of houses in a large area that all look similar. if a person designs and has someone build their house, it could look like anything. EVERY style and culture of homes can be found in the U.S. and many homes in an area will usually have looks depending on the history of the area. for instance, homes in the New England and East Coast areas will have 'old English' styles while those in CA or AZ will have Mexican or Spanish styles. BUT you can find Tudor homes in CA and Spanish style in NY. so it depends on who built it.

[@fermisparadox01]

I wish someone would start stealing some of this junk mail from me. Sadly, nobody wants it.

[@pacmon5285]

Plenty of homes have fences. Not as many in the front yard as the back though. There are areas where there are a lot of six foot privacy fences around the backyard. A lot are just open as well. Kind of depends on the area.

[@JIMBEARRI]

There's a reason for separating toilets and bathrooms. In many older homes, especially apartment building in New York, for example, the bath tub was in the kitchen. Why ? For the very good reason that there was no plumbing for "Hot" water. If someone want to take a hot bath, the water had to be heated on the stove. Even single family homes did the same thing. There is a large 2 1/2 story home directly across the street from my apartment building. It was built in 1920 with a huge coal fired hot air furnace in the basement which did NOT heat hot water. Originally, there was a hot water tank built into the coal stove in the kitchen. The main bathroom for the house was on the first floor next to the kitchen with a hot water pipe running from the stove. Upstairs on the second floor with the four bedrooms was a small room with a toilet and cold water sink.

[@Lisa-dn2gx]

A lot of American homes have the toilet inside the bathroom but it's in sort of like a closet, it's a separate space that's closed off by a door, that way others can still use the sink/tub/shower if needed. Also there's bathrooms that have the toilet in with the tub & a door slides to close off that area so the sink can still be accessible. Those sliding doors are called pocket doors & they slide into a space inside the wall. The door is on a track & is hidden inside the wall, which are in a lot of homes but in different areas other than just the bathroom. And then there's the "Jack & Jill" bathrooms which are between 2 bedrooms & a door in each bedroom can access the same bathroom & typically in this setup the toilet is shut off from the rest in the "toilet closet". These aren't as typical but are usually found in custom built homes. That's another subject the "custom built vs the standard built" homes.

[@leannsmarie]

I bought a 20 year old house a couple years ago and only the primary bedroom has wall-to-wall carpet. Two other bedrooms and the hall have vinyl flooring, the living room and dining room have oak hardwood floors but the rest of the house (kitchen, laundry room and two bathrooms) have ceramic tiles. I look forward to removing the carpet because I have allergies and the carpet doesn't fit my color scheme so it looks out of place. I use large rugs in the rooms with hardwood flooring and that's what I will use when I remove the wall-to-wall carpeting.

[@lauraulnye6857]

We do have tall wooden privacy fences especially in the back yard. We do have hedges too. Its different for everyone.

[@tomlevi2106]

Believe it or not, older door knobs are highly collectable. A lot were made of solid glass cut in an ornate style. Brass knobs are collectable too I think. I have levers in my house.

[@texast2595]

Most common number of levels in US is 2, but you will regularly find 3 and 4 level houses especially in the areas where basements are common. As for AC, yes it cools and heats the house. The full name is actually hvac (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) it's just much easier to say ac, which implies heating as well, because it "conditions" the air to whatever temperature you select in the app. So of course you'll choose heat in the winter and cool fresh air in the summers. I live in Utah so we use both extensively

[@jackiemikolaski4833]

The door knobs were popular in the 1940s and earlier. My house was built in the 1940 s and every doors had the round door knobs and they were the first to go when we moved in two decades ago.

[@tomhalla426]

Areas with frost heave issues have basements, as the foundation has to be that deep. There are also a few in areas with tornado or adobe soil problems. Slab foundations are more common in areas without frost heave.

[@EskimoUlu]

In the Midwest not uncommon for houses to have a storm door. Similar to screen door, but it has two panes glass. One slides over the other with a screen behind it so you can still get airflow when needed, and keep bugs out.

[@denyce49]

Most homes have 2 levels - 2nd level is usually sleeping quarters. But we have a basements (finished/unfinished) and an attic. An attic can be finished off or used for storage. Mailboxes are not locked unless you purchase a fancy box yourself. Mail is a federal thing so people don’t bother other peoples mail. The red flag on mailboxes are usually found in rural areas, but you can give or leave mail for the mailman to take to the post office. Fences are optional, mostly used to contain a dog. A/C is either portable or throughout your house called Central Air (operates through heating system) with a thermostat. The thermostat will send heat or a/c depending on what you choose. Wooden floors are preferred but carpeting is still used in colder climate or a rug. It’s not isle it’s called kitchen island usually in newer homes.

[@allensanders5535]

heat pump - it heats or cools and with the right thermostat you can set it on 1 temperature and leave it year round it will automatically change from heating to cooling which ever it needs to do to keep the set temp. other thermostats will just have a little switch to move from heat or cool and it will keep the temp but up north you still have to have a furnace with the heat pump.

[@bittergeek]

Houses are usually one or two floors. If you have the space, a single floor is particularly helpful for residents or guests with mobility issues - no stairs. I know a lot of folks who went from a 2+ floor home to a single floor when they got older. (Unless they had the resources to put in an elevator, then it didn't matter. Some houses are built with large closets on multiple floors in a column, so that you can put in an elevator later.)

[@anonuser5852]

Front yards are often unfenced, back yards often do have fences. This is because we often let our children and pets play in the backyard, whereas the front yard is more for appearance.

[@hkandm4s23]

I think it's important to mention that private property laws are extremely strict in the us compared to the uk. Walking across private lands here can get you shot and is legal for the property owner to do so in many places. Thus most people are fairly respectful of private property. In the suburbs, most homeowners associations don't allow fencing in the front yard or limit fence height so that the neighborhood maintains a certain look. Most suburban homes have backyards that are fenced in so it's the spaces are used differently. Front yards are typically for landscaping, decor etc while backyards are where kids play and people set up pools, play areas or patios for lounging. I miss having front porches though.

[@nicolebizybe7796]

Most homes that have fenced in back yards is because they have pets. And yes, touching others mail is a federal offense. And the mail boxes that have locks are mostly in apartment buildings or a community that has a central location where the mail is dropped of with individual front openings. Otherwise there’s a mailbox 📫 in front of each home and most people have cameras pointing at their front porch or doors.

[@FlyOverZone]

In most American bathrooms new construction, the toilet is in the bathroom, however it's in a closet, like a private poop room, separated from the sink and shower/tub.

[@wargame2play]

We solve the Toilet/ bathroom problem by having multiple bathrooms! I live in an average ( new) two story home without a basement but we have THREE bathrooms and toilets ! One downstairs and two upstairs ( one of which is part of a “ Master Suite” - big bedroom, full bathroom and toilet and a big walk-in closet.

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

My house has a big wooden fence, but I live in a more tightly packed community than most.

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

Single level houses are great for elderly and disabled people, no need to worry about stairs ❤

[@ScribbleScrabbless]

Window screens are great for cats too 🐈 😻