When you are living alone or with a roommate, you can opt for a small house in an unappealing neighborhood. However, once you have kids, it will be difficult to raise them in such an environment. Not only do kids need a quiet place to sleep at night, but also a safe place to play. If you are shopping around for a home to start a family in, here are some tips that will prove useful:Size MattersSize is very important when purchasing a house. Although past generations of parents managed to raise kids in cramped spaces, they are not optimal today. Children are noisy by nature and like to run around when they play. If you live in a small space, kids might drive you insane.Conversely, if your home has a large living room, you can set up a play area for the kids to keep them away from dangerous areas. Even if you cannot afford a house with a playroom, you should ensure that you choose rooms that are big enough.SafetyYou will not worry that much about your children if you can be sure of their safety both indoors and outdoors. In the home, you should make sure that you have the right furniture, layout, and fixtures. Here are some important questions that you can ask:Do built-in cupboards and closets need assessment to ensure that your children are not trapped inside?Do shelves and countertops have sharp edges that can hurt the kids?Do you need a house with an open floor plan to supervise the kids while you are in the kitchen? If your kids are young, will an open floor plan make it harder to childproof your home?Are the sockets and wiring out of reach of children? If they are within their reach, is it possible to childproof them?Will the stairs make it hard for toddlers to get around?Safety concerns usually extend beyond your house walls. You need to check the crime rates in the area you are moving to and check online to see whether any offenders live nearby. You also need to figure out how long it would take to get to the nearest hospital in case of an emergency. Your key concerns here include:Is traffic moderated or do vehicles ignore traffic rules?Are there hospitals and police stations nearby?Are the streets safe to cross?Is the neighborhood friendly enough to raise a family?Location
Your home’s location matters once you have kids. Even if you find out the area has low crime rates, your child still has to attend school. Are there schools nearby that meet your requirements? You should look for houses located near good schools. When looking for houses like these, you should hire a qualified real estate agent.PracticalityAside from choosing the right size of house, you also need to consider the size of your budding family. Here are some things that you could ask yourself:Do you like spending time outdoors? Can a house with a pool, large patio, or yard help you to make use of the outdoors more?Is everybody in your household on the same schedule? Consider houses with a dining room that is large enough to accommodate your growing family and several guests.Is the laundry room large enough to fit a big washing machine? You need a big laundry room because the kids will be getting their clothes dirty regularly.Are there enough wall sockets for all your appliances?Are the closets large enough to accommodate all your things?
I’m a 20-something stay-at-home mother and wife. I have an amazing husband, a beautiful daughter, two loving dogs, and a lazy cat. I wouldn’t change my life for anything! I love to read, listen to music, cook and blog!
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