As a new family with small children, it might seem daunting to get into the process of buying a home. Regardless of whether you have been renting for the previous year, owned a home that might be too small now or lived with your father-in-law, the process can increase the stress levels in your family. Just packing all of your belongings and moving somewhere else might cause some tension within your family and your little bundle of joy might sense that as well. It doesn’t necessarily need to do so, however.
Moving, on its own, can be stressful, but you can ensure a stressless move for you, your family, including your small children. There are a few simple steps that you can take so that the actual move with everything that it entails does not affect your family emotionally.
Stressless guide to the perfect home for new parents
When you start looking for your dream home always keep in mind what your family’s needs and wants are. For new parents, this can be even more complex because, while teenagers are more independent and are capable of taking care of themselves to a certain degree, babies or toddlers have other needs that have to be met. We’ll take a look at what it means to start hunting for the perfect place where your children get access to everything they need in a risk-free setting.
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Make a list of child-friendly amenities
There are some things that will make your life with small children easier. From day-care centers to child-friendly parks and, later on, schools that you should pay close attention to. Make up a list of these things and keep it close when you meet up with your realtor. The last thing that you need is to realize that there are no other families with small children around the block, or that the park close to the property is not child-friendly. A home in a neighborhood that has other new parents households will benefit your children and help them develop social skills even before their school years. Not to mention that it is always helpful for new parents to have friends who are going through the same things, sharing common interests and so on.
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Home requirements
One, two, three, four? That is the question. For new parents, it is a plus if they have at least an idea of how many children they want to have while they are shopping for new homes. Like that you know how many bedrooms you might need. You can also make smaller children share a room but as they grow up that might not always be an option. With small children, if you want a yard, it is important that you have a clear view of the yard from inside the house. Some new parents also want to have the master bedroom on the same level as their children’s rooms as that will give them easier access in case it is needed.
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Research school districts
While normally, you would start looking at floor plans, price range, bathrooms and yardage, you should always make sure that the schools are reputable. Your small bundle of joy will shortly turn 6 then 11 then 15 and the quality of schooling is important for their development. It is best to look at the schools’ ratings from the start then to deal with another move later on. If you did find a house that fits your requirements, make sure the schools in the neighborhood have good ratings before you make the purchase. Especially if you wish to enlist your children in the public school system. Location is important when it comes to public schools so checking the rating of the school that your children might attend if you move to that neighborhood is a good idea.
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Services and Amenities
With small children comes great responsibility. Spiderman might be a feature in your home so you might as well get used to it. Frequent grocery shopping trips, walks in the park, well-lit streets and pediatricians are activities that will need to be as closely available as possible. Long drives for the smallest things will be inconvenient as you can’t leave small children unattended and some situations may deserve an instant solution. Be aware of the proximity of any service or amenity you are more likely to use frequently when purchasing a home as new parents. Daily errands should not be time-consuming or stressful for you or for your children. Playgrounds near the house are always a plus or a swing set in your backyard. Other activities that your children might be interested in doing in the future like field or water sports can also be taken into consideration. A public pool or fields where young teams play can come in handy one day soon.
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Safety
When you have younger children, safety is highly important. That is why, when buying a home for new parents, you should look at the safety statistics of the neighborhood. Gated communities are definitely something that you should look into as many of them have all the services and amenities perfect for young families as well as the safety requirements great for small children. Traffic-free streets and speed limitations are great, but what if gated communities aren’t an option? Look into how busy the streets are, how well lit the area around your house is, or wherever else your children might play so that your children can play or ride the bikes safely around the neighborhood. Properties that have water features like ponds or pools might not be ideal if they aren’t protected by fences, while stairs might be risky for small children as well. In regards to fences … fenced-in yards might also be considered a requirement especially if the house is located on a busy street so that your children don’t wander on the road accidentally. Last but not least, if you require special needs housing there are things to keep in mind as you start your search for your new home.
Stressless pre-moving guide
You can plan your move to the last details and leave no stone unturned, but, chances are, when you actually have to move, things might get a bit hectic. Moving isn’t a simple affair for small children. They might get upset over little things and even packing might be problematic.
Moving with small children is easier as the change doesn’t influence them much, the move itself is another story. Communication is very important as is getting them involved in the process. Which it might be a good idea to start the whole pre-moving preparations sooner rather than later.
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Start early
When you have small children, packing might get prolonged often. This is why it is better to start packing early and make a schedule of it. Packing might be easier done during their sleeping hours and like that you can pack all the non-essential things.
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You’re not alone
You can always ask a friend, relative or even hire a babysitter if you need more time to pack. While your children are kept busy playing with someone else you can sort through your belongings. Whether you can do this daily or not, you will manage to get a lot more done and be more relaxed at the end of the day.
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Make packing fun
When your packing corner is invaded by your toddler, you can easily involve them in the process. Give them a box to pack their toys and while they might wind up just playing and not getting much done, it’s keeping them busy. Making moving fun for both you and your children is a great way to improve the whole experience. Also, you can use color-coded duct tape to make things more interesting but this depends on your child’s age.
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Declutter away from your children
As you sort through toys that your child forgot about months ago, you might find yourself facing a meltdown. While the toy hasn’t been touched in months, it’s interesting now and finding it in the trash might not sit well with your child. It is best to declutter and throw away the toys that aren’t in the best condition while your children are asleep. Also, if you throw anything away, make sure you throw it in the outside trash. Another option would be to donate some of the toys that are less treasured by your child. You can either involve them in this activity if they are old enough to understand what donating means, or you can do this while a friend or sitter in keeping your child occupied.
Conclusion
Studies have shown that moving tops the list of one of the most stressful events but it doesn’t have to be. Keeping a positive attitude can make a huge difference so focusing on the good things about the move can make the difference between a stressful or stressless move, especially for your children. Small children sense their parents’ emotions and they react accordingly, it can affect them so keep a positive attitude particularly when you are around them. The whole relocation is more stressful for new parents than it is for small children. Babies, in particular, are less likely to be affected by a relocation, while toddlers are more aware of what is going on. So help yourself by getting in touch with the best real estate agents from RealEstateAgent.com focusing on the positive will help you as well as your children.
Let us know what you think in the comments below about the whole process or if you had to face such a situation so far. Like & Share with friends and family who are likely to find this guide useful.
