Having kids impacts our lives in more ways than one. When choosing a home to fit our families needs, there are a lot of things to consider. If you are looking to buy your next home and it has you wondering what features to consider before purchasing, then I have some great tips for you!
Here are 8 things to look for when buying a home with kids. Don’t miss the bonus tip at the end!
Tip 1: Research the local School Districts
Both the Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire School Districts have numerous elementary schools to choose from. And Eau Claire also has more than one high school. So be sure to research the schools that your child will be assigned to attend.
Many schools do allow for re-assignment if you wish to have your children attend a different school within the same district. But keep in mind that this is not always a guarantee and you have to apply for it on an annual basis.
Pro Tip: If your kids are elementary aged, don’t forget to look at the middle and high school ratings in that area as they will eventually be attending these schools as well.
Tip 2: Consider the size of the house
Make sure the square footage is large enough for your growing family. If you plan to have additional kids in the future, you will want to make sure that you are not going to quickly outgrow the space. Don’t forget to think about your family’s future needs and not just the present needs.
Tip 3: Identify must haves
What are your home must haves? It’s time to create a list of what you need in a new home followed by what you want. Some things to consider:
Do you need a lot of storage space for your children’s toys or sports equipment? Is a playroom an essential? Do you plan to spend a lot of time outside? A big backyard may be a must.
Tip 4: Consider the home layout
Make sure that you are okay with the location of all the bedrooms in the home. If you have young children, you may not want your bedroom on the main level while the kids bedrooms are on the second floor.
A lot of families are seeking open concept homesIs so they can watch your kiddos play in the living room while cooking dinner.
Tip 5: Number of bedrooms and bathrooms
How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need to accommodate your family? Many times we get hung up on just the number of bedrooms, but be sure to consider bathrooms as well. If you have a large family, one bathroom may not be adequate.
If you are adding additional children in the future, will you need more bedrooms?
Tip 6: Consider location
Not just in regards to school districts, but also the neighborhood as a whole. Is the home in a quiet cul-de-sac or on a high traffic road? If your kids spend a lot of time playing outside like mine, then being on a road with less traffic can be really important. Other things to consider include where the nearest amenities are. For example, the nearest hospital, grocery store, gas station etc.
Tip 7: Check the safety of the home
If you have small children, make sure that there aren’t any major safety concerns. For instance, a house with steep stairs that has upstairs bedrooms could be of concern. Or a property that is located on a lake or with a swimming pool. This could be a drowning hazard. You may need to add a fence to keep young children out of these spaces.
Tip 8: Identify where local recreational amenities are
For younger children, this could be a local park or playground. If your kids are active in sports or other extra curricular activities, consider the location of those activities to the house. If the baseball field that you have to go to 3 nights/week is 45 minutes from your home, it might not be the right house.
Bonus Tip: Check crime statistics in the neighborhood
Don’t miss this when you have kids.The quickest way to get this information is by calling the local police department. Give them the address of the home to find out if there is frequent crime in the neighborhood.
It can also be important to identify if any registered sex offenders live in the area. This information is available to the public and can be found online. Be warned, you will likely be shocked by the number of sex offenders that pop up.
Now that you know all the things to consider as you choose your next home for your family, it’s time to start the house hunting process! This is the funnest part of the home buying process. It is also a good time to start preparing your kids for the transition to a new home. Check out my post on “10 Tips to Easily Transition to a New Home With Kids.”