3 Things to Consider When Buying a Family Home

Finding the Right Home For Your Family

One of the first steps of the home buying process is determining your housing wants and needs so that you know what to look for when it’s time to choose “the one”. An important factor to consider when buying a home is whether or not you plan to have children. While most people leave it at that and choose not to dive deeper into the effects that having children has on homeownership, we want to give you some peace of mind if you’re currently in this situation or ever change your mind. Here are three important factors to consider when buying a single-family home if you are a parent or plan to be one.

Space

The first aspect to consider is also the most obvious: space. Adding another person to the household requires enough space to accommodate them, so knowing the number of rooms that you’ll need is crucial. Families can easily underestimate how important privacy can be, so make sure that your master suite can function as a place to relax and get some alone time.

In addition to bedrooms, the number and size of bathrooms should be near the top of the priorities list. Think about whether or not the main children’s bathroom is large enough to accommodate two children getting ready at the same time since this can prevent future scuffles.

Play space is also an important consideration. If possible, shop for a home that has a large living room area or even a den/spare room that can be used for a play area. Evaluate the front yard for location and orientation to cars and main roads. Backyard space can also be used as a central area where children can participate in outdoor activities. Think about whether or not the backyard is visible from the inside of the house so that you can supervise the children while finishing chores or other indoor tasks.

Caring for a child means more laundry, so a laundry room that can fit a large washer and dryer without affecting ease of access can be a lifesaver. The location of the laundry room can also make a very big difference in your home life. A basement or garage laundry area may be out of the way and quieter, but it can also be more inconvenient than a laundry room on the first floor since you have to make longer trips.

Lastly, you should think about how much space you will need for your family’s belongings. This includes built-in storage like shelves, closets, pantry, and cupboards. However, one aspect of storage that is often ignored is entry storage. Entry storage is the built-in storage at the entryway of a home that can be used to set down or store car seats, backpacks, groceries, and other items upon coming into the house. Many parents don’t realize just how beneficial entry storage can be until it’s too late.

Safety

Safety is a far higher priority for parents than for those without children. While most prefer areas with low crime rates and structurally sound homes, parents must take additional steps for their children’s safety.

There are virtually no homes that are 100% childproof. When viewing homes, both parents and expecting parents should think about safety in terms of how much work it would take to make areas of the home childproof. If the home has stairs, how difficult would it be to block them off from toddlers? A narrow staircase with a few openings on the railing can easily be blocked off with a couple of baby gates.

Homes with pools suggest that a safety fence is necessary to prevent accidental drownings. Since pool fences go for around $1000 dollars, you may want to budget ahead if you end up finding your dream home with an unfenced pool. The traffic near the home is also very important. Consider how safe it is to cross the street, the volume of traffic, and how well-regulated traffic is in the home’s area. These are many reasons why cul-de-sacs are so sought after.

Our last safety item to consider is how the home’s design plays into your supervision abilities. For example, an open floor plan can allow you to cook dinner in the kitchen while the children play in the living room without losing sight of them. New parents can benefit from bedrooms that are close together. However, if you’re planning on living in your home for a long time, you should think about how well that arrangement will work when your children become teenagers.

Location and Other Factors

Location is vital to both your personal housing needs and future parental needs.

Review what kind of neighborhood you’ll be moving into. Are the sidewalks in good condition and is the home in a family-oriented area where you’ll be among other families? To get an idea of what a neighborhood’s atmosphere is like, visit the area at different times of the day and on different days of the week (at least one weekday visit and at least one weekend visit). The difference between a neighborhood during the day and that same neighborhood during the night can be massive. Some might call it a “night and day” difference.

Beyond neighborhood culture, it is also important to think about your proximity to emergency services and hospitals. A long police response time or trip to the emergency room can be a matter of life and death, so don’t let this element of your home’s location fall off of your radar.

Schooling is central to raising a child and local school systems are one of the better-known facets of buying a home as a parent. So when buying a home, ask yourself how far away local schools are and whether or not they meet your standards. If the schools aren’t close by, is the commute manageable for your family?

In addition to school commutes, you should consider what your work commute would be since a shorter commute means can mean more time at home with the family. For when you aren’t able to watch your children, you should also pay attention to how close childcare services are to the home and how well that works into your commute.

Lastly, examine other common attractions such as grocery stores, parks, and other local businesses in the area since you will most likely be visiting them often.

One Step Closer To Your Dream Home…

Buying a home for the first time can be a stressful pursuit and we know that firsthand. Even when you’re a parent or soon-to-be one, there’s more to consider this early in the process! Now that you made it this far, there’s no slowing you down from finding the perfect single-family home. You’re more confident in your housing wants and needs, educated on what factors to look out for, and ready to move one step closer to your dream home.

Contact us for more information about your next steps and qualifying for financing options that may greatly improve your purchasing power for the home you desire. Happy home shopping!