Location, price tag, and square footage are not the only factors that should influence your decision when buying a family home.
Apart from the design elements that are mandatory for your convenience and comfort, it is also important to think ahead and pinpoint the features that will ensure a quality lifestyle for you and your loved ones in the future. If you are hoping to grow your family in the coming years, you may want to take another look at your house-hunting checklist and reevaluate your non-negotiables and nice-to-haves.
If you already have a young one running around the house or are planning to start a family in five or so years, here are a few things you should take into account when narrowing down your search for an optimally functioning home.
Whether you are buying a house for the first time or planning to upgrade your residence to accommodate your growing family, here are the top features that you should look for.
Ideal Neighborhood
With or without children, the right neighborhood can make all the difference when buying a house. Needless to say, once you have a family, your lifestyle can change rather drastically. Therefore, you may want to live in a neighborhood that offers easy access to at least a few well-reputed schools. In addition, consider searching for gated communities with an abundance of parks and recreational spaces that will keep your family entertained and active. You may also want to live close to family and friends who can visit or help out when need be.
Logically, densely populated areas are generally more convenient as you are likely to find many amenities and facilities without having to travel too far. However, on the flip side, such neighborhoods tend to be rather loud and busy. You would probably also have to deal with traffic congestion and lack of public parking spaces while living in crowded areas. Some of the things that need to be kept in mind are low crime rates, easy access to playgrounds, low-speed limits, and a community-centric lifestyle.
Convenient layout
Children may be small in size, but they certainly require a lot of space.
If you are wondering what to look for in a family home, consider adding additional bedrooms to your checklist. As your kids grow, they will want their own space to study, play, and relax. Alternatively, you can look for a property that you can expand with time. For example, if you buy a single-story house, you can always construct a new portion on the rooftop in the future. However, please make sure to read the housing society’s bylaws before proceeding with such projects.
Another feature to keep in mind when buying a family home is an open kitchen and living room, which would allow you to keep an eye on your young ones as they play or watch television. Moreover, consider looking for a property with a small backyard or a garden where you can set up a set of swings or create a play area for your children.
Storage space
One of the most important things to do before buying a house is to determine if it has adequate storage space. Children’s clothes, toys, books, food, utensils, and other stuff take a lot more space than most people realize. Therefore, if you want to keep your space as clean and organized as possible at all times, you should consider purchasing a home that has an abundance of storage spaces.
Apart from closets, a family home should ideally have a pantry to store kitchen essentials, a separate storeroom, and built-in bookcases that can also make your place look sleek and visually appealing. From additional drawers and cabinets in the kitchen to extra shelves in the bathroom, you will need every bit of storage space in a home filled with kids.
Child-friendly staircase
Generally, single-story houses are ideal for small families. After all, who would want to climb an entire flight of stairs, several times a day, while holding their baby?
However, if you end up buying a one-unit or double-story house, please make sure to pay special attention to the width and height of the stairway. In addition, please determine if the railing is sturdy enough to hold a person’s weight if they were to lose their footing while trudging up the stairs.
Since one of the top things to look for in a family home is its safety features, homebuyers must ensure the staircases in their future home are wide enough to accommodate a baby gate. Please remember that winding and steep stairways flanked by spindled railings on both sides won’t allow you to install a baby gate. You should also properly secure carpets or runners to your stairs to avoid any accidents. Similarly, it may be a good idea to choose a house with a well-lit staircase.
Easy entrance
This is yet another thing people must keep in mind when buying a house for the first time.
If you are planning to start a family soon, please make sure to buy a home with a stroller-friendly entrance that doesn’t require you to climb a set of stairs to get inside. Although many may not realize it, pushing a stroller through stairs whenever you leave the house can become quite tiresome. Similarly, hauling it back inside while carrying a baby in your arms could be just as difficult.
Therefore, one of the top things to look for in a family home is if it has a wide enough door to accommodate your stroller. Moreover, it is a plus point if a property has additional storage space near the entrance where you can keep your stroller when it is not being used
