Five Tips for Parents Buying a Property
Are you a parent looking for the right property to buy, to create a place you and your family can call home? If so, here are some tips on how to find the perfect family home.
Look at spacious properties
If you have children or are planning to start or expand your family, think seriously about space. If it’s within your budget, buy a home with more space than you think you need. Your home will fill up with your family’s belongings quickly, and you don’t want to feel like you can’t find the space to take a few minutes to yourself. Look for a property with lots of built-in storage and spacious rooms.
In addition to considering space when buying a home, it’s also important to think about financing options. One option to consider is down payment assistance.
Down payment assistance programs are designed to help homebuyers afford the upfront costs of purchasing a home, such as the down payment and closing costs. These programs can provide grants or loans to cover all or part of the down payment, or they may offer low-interest loans that can be used to cover closing costs.
With Compass, you can find your dream home. One of their agents will help you find properties in many states across the US. Compass Real Estate has been operating as a brokerage since 2012. You can do some research to find out more about them, and whether they could help you.
Consider how you will make stairs safe
If you have a baby or toddler, stairs can be a hazard. When viewing a property, consider if the structure allows you to fit safety gates at the top and bottom of the staircase. You should also ensure there are no gaps, such as on the landing, where a child could squeeze through, and no way of them being able to climb over and fall.
Fence off your Yard
Fencing off your yard gives you privacy, but more importantly, it keeps your children safe while they are playing outside. It just takes a few seconds of looking away for a small child to wander out of an unsecure yard and into a nearby road. Fencing your yard off can help you relax and know your children are safe.
Childproof your bathroom
When viewing the property, try to see the possible hazards in the bathroom. Is it lacking safety rails? Are there any sharp corners on the fixtures and fittings? By anticipating potential dangers, you can deal with them before they ever become a problem. If you’re supervising your younger children at bath time, you will also need space for you to sit on a chair next to the bath.
Think about location
Location is important when you’re buying any property. As a parent, some of the things to look for are nearby schools with an excellent reputation (so you will be happy to enroll your children there), and somewhere with a low crime rate. Public transport links are another factor. You might drive, but when your children are old enough, they may need to catch the bus. Unless you want them to rely on you to drive them everywhere, living close to public transport is a must.
Giving your family a safe place to call home can involve some work and a lot of research. However, it’s worth it. With real estate companies such as Compass, their expert agents have sold properties to many different people, including parents. So, they should be able to offer you some advice.