Around a half of a million new home buyers purchase their new home excitedly each year. If you’re one of this year’s first time home buyers, the options can be confusing when you’re looking for a family home.
If you aren’t sure what you should look for when you’re on your house hunt, we’re here to help. Continue reading this article to learn more about choosing a house for your family.
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What’s Your Lifestyle Like
Before we hop into features, there are a few things you should think about. One of those things is your unique family and your lifestyle.
Not every house is going to work well for every family. Some families are large, others are small, some people have older children, and some have all little ones.
A home might work for you now, and it won’t work for you later, so keep that in mind when you purchase.
Research the Market and Know Your Budget
Researching the market and looking at family homes within your budget can give you some ideas about what’s available in your area.
Don’t let that discourage you, though, because the perfect house might not have hit the market yet.
Keep looking at homes that are for sale, but also use our list before you buy to see if there is anything that is non-negotiable for you.
1.Open Floor Plan
Having an open floor plan promotes family togetherness. It’s easy to get blocked off in one area of the house or another, but with an open floor plan, it is easier for everyone to stick together.
Most homes these days have an open floor plan so people can easily see from the living room and the kitchen areas. This is especially helpful if you have young children that you need to keep an eye on.
2.Plenty of Storage
As your children grow, you’ll need to change out beds and other furniture from their rooms. You might not have anyone to give it to or anyone to sell it to, so you’ll need to store it until you’re ready to get rid of it.
Your family might also have sports equipment or a lot of holiday decor that you want to keep year-round. With good storage space, you’ll be able to do that without giving up your closet.
3.A Nice Outdoor Space
Having plenty of space for your kids to run and play will help them get their energy out. It’s also a good way for you to be able to go out and relax while you watch them play.
A house that doesn’t have any outdoor area doesn’t promote healthy outdoor time, so make sure you don’t compromise on this point.
4.Enough Bedrooms
Depending on how many kids you have and who wants to have their own rooms, you may need more or fewer bedrooms. Some children like to sleep in rooms with their siblings, and others want their own space.
Figure this out before you move in because it’s a huge undertaking to try to change rooms into bedrooms if someone changes their mind.
5.Convenient Location of Bedrooms
Keep in mind the age of your children and where the bedrooms are located. If your kids are younger, you want their bedrooms to be closeby.
On the other hand, if you have teenagers, you might want them farther away since they are likely to be loud during the time you want to sleep.
If your kids are almost out of the stage when they will need you during the night, you might opt for a home that is going to serve you in the upcoming years and make the trek to their rooms.
6.Enough Bathrooms and an On-Suite
Having enough bedrooms, so people aren’t waiting in long lines at the bathroom door makes things much less stressful.
The on-suite might be a nice optional feature but think of it as a bonus for you as a reward for finding a great home.
Most people agree that having too few bathrooms is a major issue in their homes, so don’t make that mistake.
7.Good Place to Study
Whether you homeschool your children or they go to public school, they will need a good place to study. There’s always some sort of homework to do.
Setting up a desk for their homework and possibly putting a computer there for research can make it a research and schooling oasis.
8.Playroom
Yes, kids can play in their rooms, but that doesn’t always work if the bedrooms are upstairs out of sight.
Having a playroom that is easy for parents to get to when they are downstairs cooking and cleaning or relaxing will make it easier for everyone.
Even if you have a single floor home, it is helpful to have a designated play area so you can make sure their room is always tidy.
9.Adult Area
If you think you can share your living room with the kids, keep in mind that the separate adult area might be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed. It makes a big difference when you have people over to visit. A flex room may be a good option to keep an eye on your kids whilst having your own space to relax. Designing your flex room is fairly quick and easy to set up and can be changed throughout the years to meet your various needs.
If you think you can share your living room with the kids, keep in mind that the separate adult area might be the upgrade you didn’t know you needed. It makes a big difference when you have people over to visit.
10.Easy Parking
Having easy access to parking makes all the difference. That’s especially true if you will have a teen driver soon. You want them to be able to get in your driveway without hitting any other vehicles.
If you have small kids, you want the parking to be close enough that it’s not hard to get them in and out of the car.
Picking the Perfect Family Home
Now you know more about what to look for in a family home. With the information above, you’ll be confident that you’ve looked over the most important aspects of buying a home for your family.
Do you want more info about home ownership and other topics? Continue through our blog.
