Having to go on a house hunt can be exciting. You are opening a new chapter of your life or getting the chance for a new beginning in a new place. However, if you need to find the ideal home when starting or growing a family, things can get a bit complicated. Your priorities change, and so do your needs. If you could have lived happily in a two-room apartment, your expanding family would not feel as comfortable in the same space.
Therefore, you must consider your family’s needs and comfort. Also, it would be best if you thought of the future because this is the home in which your children will grow up. So, let us look at what factors you should consider while looking for the ideal home for a new or expanding family.
Think of your budget
We should be straightforward: you should only buy a house if you can afford it. And we aren’t just talking about the actual price of the property. Keep in mind that owning a home requires monthly payments. So, there is no point in going into debt to buy a large house that you cannot afford to support.
Think of the cost of heating and cooling, maintenance, and property taxes. Also, once your family grows, you will have further financial obligations. Such as paying for a babysitter or your children’s tuition fees. Furthermore, if you are expecting a child, you should recalculate your budget. If only one of the parents keeps working when the baby comes, your income will drop from two to one.
Find the best location
Location is a priority if you are looking for the ideal home for starting or growing a family. And there are many factors to consider depending on your family’s needs. For instance, you need to think if it’s better to live in the suburbs or the middle of the city. Or if you want to be closer to your office or the kid’s school. There are also additional amenities that you will need access to if you have children or are expecting.
For example, you will need a hospital nearby, playgrounds, parks, and shops. Also, you should seek neighborhoods that are safe and calm and are popular with young families. Finally, you must realize that a not-so-good home in a perfect location is better than a great home in a terrible location. After all, you can improve and organize a house to meet your needs, but you can’t move it.
Know what you need and you will find the ideal home when starting or growing a family
When you begin your search for a home, you should have a clear idea of what your family needs. If you know for sure that you will need a bathroom and a kitchen, you also need to know exactly how many bedrooms you should have. For example, if you have two children, one of whom is a newborn, you need a bedroom and a nursery.
The newborn can bother the older child’s sleep, so they shouldn’t share a room for the moment. Also, if you have more kids, you need more bathrooms. It’s hard for a large family to share only one bathroom on a busy morning, for instance. In addition, if you recently gave birth to a child, you can look for a move-in ready home. That will make it easier for you and your baby to move in fast, settle in and return to your daily routine immediately.
Look for kid-friendly features
When you have kids or thinking of expanding your family, you should look for a house that has kid-friendly features. It will be helpful for you as well as for your children. First, you will need an accessible laundry room. Having kids implies doing piles of laundry very often. You need to sort and wash clothes daily, iron them, and so on. As a result, you need to have a laundry room that is big enough and close enough. If you have the laundry room in the basement, for example, going up and down the stairs will quickly become tiresome.
Therefore, make sure that the laundry room is on the main floor but far enough from any bedrooms. You wouldn’t want the noise to disturb your child’s sleep.
Second, you should have enough storage space. Babies need lots of room for strollers, car seats, clothes, or toys. As a result, look for a house with lots of closets. Or for a home that gives you the possibility to create more storage space. A house with a garage, basement, or attic, for example, would be ideal. As your children grow, they will require additional storage space for items such as bikes and sports equipment.
Last, if you want to make sure that you find the ideal home for starting or growing a family, your home should have bathtubs. Kids love taking baths, especially if there are lots of bubbles involved. So, make sure that your new home will have at least one bathroom equipped with a bathtub.
Find the ideal layout
Now that you know exactly how many rooms your ideal home should have, you should look at their layout. Mainly because the way the rooms are laid out impacts the functionality of your home. A good example is the laundry room that we mentioned earlier. Another example is the placement of the nursery. Even if your baby sleeps in your bedroom for the first several months, you may later relocate the crib to the nursery.
Therefore, it’s a good idea if your bedroom and the nursery share a wall. Like this, you can hear the baby cry, and you can reach the nursery quickly. However, if you have bigger kids, your bedrooms should be separated for privacy reasons.
Additionally, the positioning of the kitchen is also essential. If you have toddlers, for example, you will want to keep an eye on them at all times. So, it might be a good idea to have a home with an open living area. That way, you can cook the meals for the family while having your kids in sight.
Your new home should be safe
Your family should feel safe in their own house at all times. Therefore, you should pay particular attention to some of the features of your future home. For example, you should check that the windows, doors, and fences are secured. Or, if the property has an alarm system, ensure it is in working condition. Also, you should make sure that your home is safe for the younger members of your family.
For example, if there is a pool, it should be surrounded by a safety fence. If there are stairs, you should have the option to install a safety gate.
In addition, you should call a home inspection before deciding to buy a property. You need to know if the heating, electric, and plumbing systems are in working condition or if they can cause hazards. Furthermore, a house inspector can tell you if the house is predisposed to floods or other natural disasters.
When to buy your ideal home?
Some couples choose to buy a home before they have children, others only when the one they have becomes too crowded. Of course, it all depends on the family’s needs and budget. However, we can tell you that couples that buy a bigger home before having kids will be more relaxed when they become parents.
For example, they won’t need to hurry up to find a new home because the baby is coming. Parents who have a newborn, on the other hand, are more aware of what to look for in their ideal family home. They are already familiar with the baby’s routine and needs. Yet, having to house hunt while caring for a newborn might be demanding. Ultimately, you are the only one who knows when it is best to take such a significant step in your family’s life.
Final words
As you can see, it’s not impossible to find the ideal home when starting or growing a family. It may take a lot of patience and research, but it will be worth it in the end. After all, as a parent, you want to ensure that your children grow up in the best possible house.
Metadata Description: If you want to find the ideal home when starting or growing a family, check out this article for some helpful advice.
