Buying a home is already a complicated process with lots of moving pieces and factors to consider. When kids are in the picture, or may soon be, there are a few additional items you’ll need to look into as well.
Schools
Finding a home in a good school district is great for both educational purposes and resell value. There are a number of online tools available (https://www.greatschools.org/) to help you with this. You can also rely on a good realtor that knows the area and the schools.
Consider the location of preschools, elementary schools and high schools as your kids will likely be attending all of them and their proximity to your home can make your life that much easier when it comes to drop-offs, pickups, and after-school activities.
Location
Location matters a lot when to comes to finding a home for you and your family. You can decide if you want to live on a quiet street a cul-de-sac or by a busier road. Safety is a major concern here, but also the neighborhood. Cul-de-sacs tend to be in neighborhoods where families live, and they foster a sense of neighborly overwatch for children playing in the cul-de-sac.
Quiet streets may not be ideal for younger children, but the best way to find out is to drive around the neighborhood on a weekend a few hours before dinner time. Also, keep an eye out for signs encouraging sign-up for community youth sport leagues. This will give you some insight into the neighborhood as if has kids running around and playing or if there are bikes and toys in yards, you’ll know kids are abundant.
Location is about more than finding the perfect street or neighborhood, it’s also about the type of community you choose. Small towns offer closer proximity to nature and green spaces where a s a city will offer easier access to culture and arts.
Home Safety
If you have small children, then you’ll want to ensure the home is safe for them during their younger more vulnerable ages. If the home has stairs, are they able to be gated off? Are the railings wide enough for them to fit through? Are the counters high enough to stay out of their reach? The outside needs your consideration too. Are you close to an unsecured pond or waterway that could be a potential hazard to them? Is there is a pool and if so, does it have a gate? Is the yard fenced to prevent curious kids from wandering off and to keep animals out?
If you find an issue and there isn’t a simple and affordable way to remedy it, then it’s best to cross the home off your list and just move on.
Storage
Kids have a lot of stuff. And if the home you’re viewing doesn’t have ample storage space you could quickly end up with sports gear, bikes, toys, and shoes taking up valuable interior space. For example, lots of homeowners don’t have three vehicles, but they have a three-car garage. This extra space is perfect for muddy gear, larger toys, bikes, etc.
A mud room is an excellent alternative to extra garage space and provides a place to strip off snow gear or muddy shoes or whatever they’re covered in that you don’t want to be tracked through the rest of your house.
Local Services and Amenities
Having kids means frequent trips to the grocery store for food, visiting pediatricians, and shopping for school supplies. If your home is 20 to 30 minutes away these tasks can become rather inconvenient and require advanced planning. Distance to and from these amenities should be taken into consideration.
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