When trying to find the perfect home, you need to look out for specific things if you will be raising a family, often different than if you are just living on your own or as a couple. Here are some things you'll want to keep in mind while doing your search.
Buying a family home can mean looking for different things, compared to buying a home just for yourself and your partner. Here are some things you should consider.
Lots of storage space
If you have a family, you will know how quickly belongings accumulate. If you don’t have adequate space, your home will become cluttered. Nobody wants to live in a cluttered home. That’s why it’s important to check the storage space before buying a property.
With Compass, you can search for properties by type, amenities, and square footage, so you should be able to get an idea of the space available before viewing the property in person. This will save you time viewing unsuitable properties.
Safe areas for your children to play
It’s important for children to be able to play safely. However closely you watch them, you can’t be everywhere at once. So if you have more than one child playing in different parts of the house, or the garden, you need to know they will be safe. If there are any potentially unsafe parts of the property, you could use this to negotiate the price, as you will have to fix these before moving in.
You also want to ensure the local area is safe for older children to play outside with their friends. So, make several visits, not just to view the house, but to look around and get to know the area.
A spacious kitchen
As a family, the kitchen can be the place where everyone gathers most often, and important conversations take place during food preparation. To avoid accidents, and your family getting in each other’s way, a spacious kitchen is a must-have. People tend to feel happier around food, and this can help your family share anything that is on their mind.
Nearby schools
Making sure there are schools nearby can seem obvious, but it’s also important to visit these schools to ensure they provide the support your children need. They may be struggling in certain subjects, or have a strong interest in sports. So if the school has a strong focus on the subject they are struggling with, this could benefit them. Or a sports team your child can try out for could help them settle in at their new school.
Good public transport
Even if you and your partner are car drivers, you may not always be able to drive your children everywhere. So, they could need to take public transport sometimes. That’s why you should ensure the local area has good public transport links to anywhere you and your family may need to travel to. This also means that if your car needs to be repaired, you won’t be left feeling stranded, or have to pay out for cabs, which can quickly become costly.
Making sure a property has everything you and your family need could make all the difference between buying a house that isn’t suitable and buying a family home where you can create happy memories.