When you find out that you’re expecting a baby or your family will soon be growing, moving to a larger home may be an item on the agenda. Finding the best home as a parent-to-be involves considering various factors that will support your growing family’s needs and well-being. Here are some tips to help you find the ideal home.
Future Planning: Consider your family’s needs down the line.
Even though you only expect one child now, how do you intend to increase your family size eventually? If you plan on having a large family, looking for a home that can accommodate your current and future needs may be wise. Due to variances in the real estate market, prices, and sales potential can change drastically over a few years. For example, prices over the last five years have risen by more than 50 percent in many areas. Therefore, buying with the distant future in mind is always a better idea.
Safety & Services: Prioritize safe neighborhoods and essential services.
Consider the neighborhood and the city or location and how it will serve your needs as a parent and your child’s future needs. Does the community have a good safety rating? Use some of the tools suggested by Safewise to gain insight. Look at services nearby, such as hospitals, dentists, and pediatricians. Also, consider the accessibility to grocery stores, shopping, and even restaurants.
Education & Community: Evaluate schools and family-friendly amenities.
Check out the schools that are available in the area. What school district is the home in, and would outlying options be available if your child needed to go to a different school? Also, look at the family-friendly amenities in the community. For example, does the community have a public park, a playground, a park district, or entertainment options like a movie theater or community pool?
Practical Considerations: Assess traffic, childproofing, and outdoor space.
Think about the home you want to buy from a practical point of view. For instance, how heavy is traffic in the neighborhood? Consider how difficult it would be for your child to have a safe space to play outdoors. Additionally, look at specific aspects of the house that can be highly important with a young child. A few things to evaluate could include:
- The locations of the bedrooms
- How many bathrooms the home has
- If there is room for an additional play area
- Whether the stairs have adequate railing and safety measures
- If you could easily childproof the home
Whether the home has certain features that could pose concerns for you as a parent is also something to consider; for example, you may be uncomfortable with large windows or multiple access points for security reasons. Or, you may be uncomfortable with an on-site pool or even a neighbor with large dogs.
Budget & Instincts: Factor in the costs and future growth, and trust your gut.
When determining your price range, consider how your budget will change as your baby arrives and your family grows. Parental instincts can kick in before you even become a parent. If something feels off about a particular home, consider examining other options more closely to find a home that makes you feel more confident.
Ready to Get Moving?
Moving can be a lot of work to navigate, especially at a time in life when you are already facing a significant change in your family dynamics. Make your transition easier by working with our team of professional movers. Contact us today for your free quote.
