If you’ve started a family, or you’re thinking of starting one in the near future, then you’ll probably have spent some time thinking about the home that you’re going to raise your children in and make their childhood home.
This is the building in which your children will develop some of the fondest and most memorable moments of their lives. On a more practical note, it’s also one that will have a profound on you. Your family home needs to work for you and there are somet things that can influence your stress levels, especially if it lacks the features you need to make day-to-day life work. No home comes ready made for you, so it might take a while for you to get your own stamp on it but let’s take a look at some of the wider criteria by which you might judge a prospective property.
Location & Community Suitability
Location, location, location. We hear it all the time. It matters. If you want to be able to easily access a good school, or you don’t feel comfortable allowing them out in high traffic areas, then you’re likely to regret potentially not moving somewhere with a more village style offering. The same applies to things like your commute to work, and the distance to the nearest supermarket.
It’s worth noting that changes in the local area might influence the value of your property in the future. A development of new-build homes might help to make a given area more desirable, or cater to local spikes in housing demand. You can always scout any potential plans online, or speak to the current owner of the property to see if they’ve been approached about new properties being built in the area.
Home layout, space and future-proofing
You’ll also need to think about what’s actually inside the house. How many bedrooms does it have, and are those bedrooms going to be large enough to accommodate your family as it grows? If you have wider family and friends that you often like to host, consider whether you’d be able to accommodate them when they’re visiting.
It could also include thinking about whether you have space for a home office if you work from home. It’s all down to the little details. Writing a list of preferences, and in order of priority, can really help narrow down the search.
Think about what you’re willing to compromise on in terms of space and what is an absolute minimum for you as a family.
Budget, affordability and extra costs
The amount of money you have to spend will always put a limit on how much bricks and mortar you can get. It’s therefore worth working out your budget before you decide to start looking at houses. How large a deposit are you going to be able to muster, and how much money will you have available for living, once the monthly cost of mortgages, maintenance, council tax, and energy is factored in?
If you spend too far beyond your means, then your purchase might be a source of stress and regret in the future. Make sure that you have a firm grasp of your finances. If you’ve had problems with debt in the past, it might be a good idea to find out what your credit score looks like, and take action to improve it.
Timing, market trends and buying process readiness
If you have all of your documents, mortgage offers, and solicitors in place before you find a property, then you’ll be able to move quickly when a suitable property becomes available. Generally speaking, the breadth of choice is slightly greater in spring, and the bargains are to be found in winter. But don’t feel that you have to wait around for the best deal – house price inflation actually makes it expensive to wait!