In many people’s minds, starting a family often includes purchasing your own house. And this is understandable; you need a safe environment to raise your family. A place where you can feel comfortable since it will be the place where you’ll spend the most time with them. A house is a major decision, especially when you have a family to think of.
A couple with no child and no intentions of having one would have different priorities to an expecting couple, and an expecting couple would have different priorities to families with toddlers or teenagers. The choosing process for buying a house isn’t as clear-cut as one might assume, as there are many factors that you need to consider.
Today, we’re going to talk about some considerations you need to think of before purchasing a house, especially if you’re buying for a family. The differences can be quite significant, and you might be surprised by some of the differences in priorities.
General Size of the Property
When we talk about the size of the property, this doesn’t simply mean the total livable floor space. This also includes the lot the house is built on. This is important as this dictates whether you have space for any developments down the line- perhaps you want to build a shed, or a prop up a pool, or even a small garage. Take into consideration the intended general purpose of your home. The floor space matters too, as you need to have a house big enough for all the members of your family to stay in. While recent trends have proven so that you don’t need a mini-mansion to live comfortably, going for a medium-sized house will always be a better choice than a smaller-sized house, most especially in a case of a growing family.
Location, Location, Location
Given that you’ll be starting a family, one of the most important things to consider is the proximity of the house you’re buying to establishments such as schools, hospitals, churches, the city, etc. Making sure that the house is situated near an accessible road will help you avoid the hassle of going through long routes just to acquire basic necessities or an unbearably time-consuming commute. While the location may affect the price, the money you’ll be saving on gas and public transportation over a long period of time may make up for it.
Number of Rooms
You need to know how many rooms you’ll be needing as you don’t want to incur extra expenses of separating a big room to create two smaller ones. Some houses may be large in size but lacking in the number of the room. Most families would need at least two bedrooms, one for the parents and another for their child, and if the more people there are in the family, the more this number increases.
Consider the number of bathrooms as well, since waiting half an hour for someone to finish before you can use the bathroom is not a pleasant experience. An extra room can also function as a study or an office, and during these work and study at home times, it has stopped becoming a luxury and more of a necessity.
Layout and Design
While you can go ahead and re-design the entire house, it might be more cost-efficient to look for one that suits your needs. Is the kitchen big enough to make cooking for a large family convenient? Are the stair railings high enough to protect younger children? Are there hanging areas that can be a danger for those with bad mobility? Consider factors such as door frame and kitchen counter height. Is it compatible with the general height of your family? These aspects might seem small and insignificant, but they’re important in keeping not just the convenience, but the safety of your family.
Age of the House
For previously-occupied houses, the age of the structure also comes into question. Even though the chances of purchasing a house that’s too old is rather slim, you would still want to make sure that the age of the building hasn’t compromised its safety or adherence to code. Make sure that the materials that they used for the construction itself are safe and free of toxins, or other now-banned building materials. You can hire a home inspector to make sure that everything is up to code, and doing so will make you feel confident in your family’s safety.
Price
Of course, no matter how good a house is, you still need to factor in the price. While you can get a home loan from a mortgage broker, it’s still important to weigh in the cost. You will be living in that property, and your experience will justify or negate the cost. Think well and think of all the considerations before signing the deal.
