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9 Things to Look For In a New Family Home

Deciding to pack up and move is not an easy decision to make, particularly if you have a busy work schedule, children, or both! Shopping for a new home can be stressful and overwhelming; such an expensive and long-term commitment will do that.

You must make sure that you and your family will be satisfied and happy in the new place, which means that you need to plan your next purchase carefully. There are several factors that you will need to consider before purchasing a new family home. This article will highlight nine of the most important ones.

  1. Size

The size of your next home will be determined by two things; money and location. If you are adamant about living in a premium neighborhood with great schools, then be prepared to pay more for less.

Consider buying a bigger house in an area adjacent to the premium ones – these can often cost much less and offer so much more. Be clear about your size requirements to your real estate agent. There is no point in viewing houses that are too big or small.

  1. Yard Type

When you have a family, your needs and priorities will change seemingly overnight. When hunting for your next home, be sure to look at yard size and type. The size of your yard is vital if your children like to play there for hours each day; or if you have pets that need the extra space to run around.

If you are a busy parent, you should be looking for homes that have easy-to-maintain yards. Look for ones with plants, shrubs, and trees that will just about look after themselves.

  1. The Exterior

A sturdy exterior is one of the most important things to look for in a house. The only way to buy a home without a deteriorating exterior is by conducting an all-important home inspection. That will stop you from being saddled with a home that you cannot afford to fix.

Ask your estate agent to keep an eye out for red flags too, their years of experience in the housing market will prove to be invaluable to you.

Some of the main exterior elements to inspect include;

  1. The Roof

A new roof can cost thousands of dollars so you want to avoid having to bear that cost as the new owner. Before making an offer on the house, find out how old the roof is and whether or not there are any problems with it.

  1. The Foundation

Foundation issues create huge bills and can cause a lot of heartaches. To spot problems with a house’s foundation, look for cracks in the walls around doorways and windows. Doors that jam shut or are sticky to open should also be a foundation red flag.

  1. Number of Bedrooms

Your next home needs to have the right number of bedrooms to suit your family’s needs. Families with small children might want to make sure that the bedrooms are all within proximity to one another.

Make a note of home many rooms you require and let your estate agent know when you’re looking for new homes in Arizona, even if your children are young and still sharing a room for now – a lot can change in a few short years.

  1. Bathrooms

When inspecting a potential new home, check to make sure that the bathrooms are in working order. Flush the toilets, run the taps, turn on the showers or bath taps. Look under the sink, around the toilet, and behind the cupboards for signs of water damage and mold.

Bathroom renovations can be costly so make sure that you’re happy with the state of the bathrooms and the plumbing.

  1. Features

Extra features to look for in a new home for your family include a swimming pool for those hot summer days, an outdoor patio area, a tree-house (or an established tree to use), and a safe park nearby for your children to play in.

These added features will come at a price, but they will be more than worth it in the long run.

  1. Curb Appeal

When looking for your next home, don’t overlook or underestimate its curb appeal. Check the walls, external paint, driveways, and gutters. All of these elements combine to form the curb appeal of your home. That is what will help you to get the best price for the place if you ever decide to sell it.

Take your time when choosing your next home – it is not a decision that should be made overnight. Take a few days or even a couple of weeks to make sure that you’re making the right decision.

Jeff Campbell