Here\u2019s how to find a house your growing family will love for years to come.<\/p>\n
Unless you\u2019re planning on doing your own version of Fixer Upper, the general home-buying rule of thumb is to look for a place you\u2019ll be able to live in for five years or more. So if you have kids (or are about to), you\u2019ll need to look not just at the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, but also consider how a house will work for a crawling baby, curious toddler, rambunctious preschooler and beyond\u2014not to mention multiple children, if that\u2019s your plan. Talk to your Coldwell Banker Real Estate professional about your needs and ask these nine questions to help you narrow in on the perfect home for your growing family.<\/p>\n
1. Are the neighbors close in age?<\/strong> One of the greatest benefits of buying a home is getting to know your neighbors and having a true sense of community. But while neighbors of any age may be lovely people, having other young families on the block will go a long way toward creating a kid-friendly environment. (Think: company at the future bus stop, community activities like organized trick-or-treating and safety features like a slower speed limit.)<\/p>\n 2. Is there ample outdoor space?<\/strong> It\u2019s easy to overlook the yard if you\u2019re childless or baby is still in diapers, but having an outdoor area that\u2019s safe for supervised play is a major win. It\u2019s important to consider the flip side, though\u2014the time and cost of maintaining it\u2014and make sure you\u2019re up for the task. If not, look for a home with less outdoor space, like a condominium or townhouse, that\u2019s within walking distance of a playground or park. (Not sure what the difference is between a condo and townhouse? Coldwell Banker Real Estate explains that here.) A house with a smaller yard on a quiet street or cul-de-sac could also be a good choice, since you might be able to use the street as an extension of your front yard.<\/p>\n 3. How are the schools?<\/strong> Your first instinct may be to look into the quality of the public school district\u2014and you definitely should!\u2014but if your kids are preschool age or younger, don\u2019t forget to research nanny and day care options in the area. Once you\u2019ve checked those boxes, find out about school transportation (not all homes qualify for bus service), including where the bus stop is, or what the walking path and\/or driving route will be.<\/p>\n 4. Is it equipped with \u201cSmart Home\u201d technology?<\/strong> It wasn\u2019t long ago that having network-connected products to control entertainment, security, temperature, lighting and safety seemed out of reach, except for in the most high-end houses. But these \u201c smart home\u201d features have quickly gone mainstream as they\u2019ve become more affordable and easy to set up in existing houses. They\u2019re particularly great for families with young children\u2014having the ability to control night-lights, lighting and window treatments from your phone can help make naptime easier, for example. Consider which features are most important to you, and search for Coldwell Banker Real Estate listings that are classified as \u201csmart homes.\u201d<\/p>\n 5. Is the kitchen large enough to accommodate the entire family?<\/strong> It\u2019s often said the kitchen is the heart of the home, and for good reason. After all, you\u2019ll be spending countless hours there over the years, whether you\u2019re cooking and baking together, grabbing quick bowls of cereal in the morning, or working on school projects. A kitchen with an eat-in dining area, an island\/peninsula for bar stools, or even a desk area for homework time will give you plenty of room to do all of the above (sometimes simultaneously).<\/p>\n 6. Is there a separate room for playtime?<\/strong> Yes, an open floor plan makes it easier to keep an eye on kids while you\u2019re in the kitchen, but a designated playroom off the living room or a finished basement can be a sanity-saver. You\u2019ll still probably end up stepping on Legos, but having a dedicated room to store all those toys can help you keep the mess under control (or at least hide it).<\/p>\n 7. Is there a convenient entrance with storage?<\/strong> Kids of every age come with a whole lot of gear\u2014from strollers and diaper bags during the baby stage to sports equipment when they get a little older. That\u2019s why a mudroom or a large laundry room is ideal\u2014bonus points if it has its own outside entrance so older kids can drop off their stuff on the way in. If not, a foyer with storage space is a good alternative.<\/p>\n 8. How\u2019s the commute to work?<\/strong> Even the most perfect house isn\u2019t perfect if you spend so much time getting to and from work you can\u2019t help your kids get ready for school or see them before bedtime. Do a test run from any potential house to your workplace during rush hour, whether you plan to drive, bike, or take public transportation.<\/p>\n 9. Are there shops nearby?<\/strong> No matter how good you are at stocking your pantry and medicine cabinet, it\u2019s inevitable that at some point, you\u2019ll run out of diapers at the worst possible time or need to pick up medicine if baby spikes a fever. Having a grocery store or pharmacy a short drive or walk away will save you time and stress\u2014especially if it\u2019s open late.<\/p>\n