alittlebitsocial2 As any homebuyer who has kids will tell you, purchasing a home for your family is not as straightforward as it may seem. There are specific requirements your future home ought to fulfil for your kids to prosper in it. And considering moving to a new home can be quite an impactful change for your little ones, it pays to approach the home buying process with utmost care. For this reason, we have collected a few time-tested pointers on how to buy a kid-friendly home easily.
So, it can be a grave mistake to focus solely on the properties of the home itself. Of course, basic features such as the size of the house do matter. However, no matter how big or secure the home is, you also need to consider the specificities of the location. This is especially true if you are moving abroad or to another US state. Even moving to another city might disrupt your children by negatively influencing their self-esteem or studying habits. So, let’s take a look at the factors you might consider in your pursuit of the best kid-friendly home out there.
The size of the house should support all family members
This is a consideration that is of particular importance for young couples. So, think carefully about your plans and prospects. You might wish to extend your family at one point, so the home should be large enough to enable you to do so comfortably. It is not every day you purchase a home, so this might be a good time to discuss this with your partner.
This also applies to families with young children. At this point, it is probably alright for your kids to share a single room. While they are still little, this might help them build a strong connection and a tight, lifelong relationship. However, they will probably need personal space and privacy for play, learning, and hobbies as they grow up; therefore, if your budget allows it, factor in these considerations into your final decision.
Safety and Security
The second step to finding a perfect kid-friendly home is to assess the safety of the property. It just so happens that many parents tend to overlook the importance of obtaining a safe home. Of course, if the house is relatively recently built, it might not yet have the necessary security features such as a fence, an intercom, CCTV, and security alarms. You should, however, prioritise the listings that do have these features.
If you are moving long-distance, make sure you plan the relocation with your children in mind. The packing and moving process must not compromise the physical safety and the mental well-being of your kids. Also, keep in mind that in the first few weeks, you will have to pay extra attention to the safety of your little ones as their curiosity might instigate them to stray away from the property. So, please do your best to make the process easy on them by letting them know what exactly your relocation holds in store.
The layout of the home needs to be child-friendly
An open concept home counts as the most kid-friendly and versatile layout you can have. If the living room and kitchen are joined together, you will be able to supervise your little ones while preparing meals. An open concept also offers enough space for you to share family moments, organize family gatherings, birthday parties, do arts and crafts projects, etc.
Furthermore, if your kids are young, you might want to focus on homes where the bedrooms are positioned on the same floor. In this way, you won’t have to run up and down the stairs all the time to check on them.
Choose a home that is at a safe distance from traffic
The presence or absence of pavements and traffic in the neighbourhood is another thing that can help you shortlist the properties of interest. If your kids go to elementary school or kindergarten, finding a house positioned in a cul de sac would be ideal. Otherwise, make sure the house is at some distance from busy streets and motorways.
Consider what the neighbourhood has to offer
Naturally, it is not only the safety of the immediate surroundings you should factor in. Ideally, the neighbourhood should also have green spaces and parks where your kids can play with their peers. This is especially important if you intend to move to a gardenless house or a flat.
In addition, you should check out if the neighbourhood has other community spaces such as sports fields, playgrounds, libraries, etc. It is easy to forget this while house hunting, yet it is not just the house itself that makes up a home. It is also everything else that surrounds it.
Consider doing some legwork so that you can see for yourself what the neighbourhood has to offer. Sure, online testimonials and Google Maps are helpful for this as well. Yet, they cannot fully substitute the first-hand experience of the neighbourhood.
Ask yourself what you need to have in the vicinity of your home. How far is the nearest supermarket? Is there a pharmacy that works around the clock? If you have a toddler, you will probably go outside with a pushchair every day. Be sure to assess the terrain to see whether you will deal with the bumps and the hills.
Quality educational institutions in the vicinity
As much as 46% of homebuyers evaluated the suitability of the district based on the reputation of its educational institutions. And this makes perfect sense. Even if the home itself has some structural deficiencies, in the long run, these cannot compare to the damage that inadequate schooling might inflict on the future and well-being of your kids. This also ties in with the safety considerations we have mentioned. Naturally, quick and easy access to good schools should be one of the primary guidelines in the quest to buy a kid-friendly home.