Are you ready to start the house hunting process but the thought of house hunting with your kids in tow sounds too overwhelming?
I totally get it! I currently have two young kids myself and can relate to the overwhelm of house hunting with your kids tagging along. It is a challenge to find a balance between focusing on looking at the home while making sure your kids don’t destroy someone else’s house.
To help make the process a little easier, I am sharing 7 tips to help make house hunting with kids easier.
Tip 1: Know your kids limits
If you have a high energy child (like mine), then be sure to plan the day accordingly. If you have a long day of house tours planned, be sure to take some breaks throughout the day. Consider stopping at a park to let your kiddos burn some energy. If you have a younger child, be sure to schedule in their nap time.
Tip 2: Bring snacks and toys
Snacks and toys can be great distractions. Even better, make these something super special or new. Consider a snack that your kids love, but only receives on special occasions. This is a special occasion! New toys can also help entertain your kiddos during the process.
Tip 3: Involve your kids
Let your kids get involved in the house hunting process. Before the house hunting even starts, ask them what they are excited for in the new home. Maybe they want a bigger bedroom or their own bedroom if they are currently sharing with a sibling. Perhaps they would like a bathroom that is closer to their room.
Do recognize that this isn’t designed to set your kids expectations up to actually receive everything on their wishlist in the new home. But it is an opportunity to involve your children in the process and hear what they are looking for. You might be surprised what kinds of things they come up with!
Tip 4: Give them a task
During showings, give the kids a task. For example, have them count the number of bathrooms and bedrooms to make sure there are enough for everyone. Want to make it extra challenging for the older kids? Have them count all the windows in the house.
Tip 5: Get them excited
Point out all the great features of your top favorite homes. Does it have a big backyard with a playset? Get your child excited about the thought of that playset potentially becoming theirs someday.
Tip 6: Explore the community
If you are moving to a new location, get your kids excited about the community. Tour the local schools, parks, dance studio, baseball field, etc. Head out to some local events happening in the community. This will help reduce your child’s anxiety about the move by showing them all of the exciting new things they can experience.
Tip 7: Don’t bring the kids
This one is my favorite. If you can leave the kids behind, do it. Focus on bringing your kids for the second showings of your top favorite homes. Trying to bring your kids along to 14 showings can be overwhelming for not just you, but also them. By bringing them to just the top houses on the list, both your stress level and theirs will be diminished.
Now that you know how to make the house hunting process a little less stressful, I am sure you are wondering what features to look for in your home to make sure it meets your families needs.
If so, then you will want to check out my post on 8 Things to Look for When Buying a Home with Kids.