4 Home Features to Look for When Starting a Family

Starting a family is one of the most significant moments in life. Oftentimes, it requires moving into a new home where your family can comfortably grow and spend time together. If you’re getting ready to start this exciting chapter, here are several home features that are ideal for new families. 

Large Backyard
The backyard is a special place for kids. It’s great to have a spacious outdoor area where they can run around and expend their energy, but perhaps more importantly, it’s a place where early memories are formed. Whether they’re learning to throw a ball or practicing cartwheels, there’s nothing like having a big backyard while your kids are growing up.

Kid-Friendly Design
Now that you’re going to be a parent, you’ll start to see everything differently. When it comes to homes, you need to make sure that it’s safe for kids. You probably don’t want a residence with lots of sharp corners or a spiral staircase that can be dangerous with little ones crawling around. However, a tub where you can wash them during bath time is a must-have. 

Neighborhood and Schools
Of course, if you plan on having children in the near future, schools are one of the most important things to consider when moving into a new neighborhood. In addition to that, living in an area with lots of young families can have its benefits, like knowing that there are other parents keeping a watchful eye on the neighborhood when the kids are out playing or riding their bikes around.

Room to Grow
If you want to be on the safe side, be sure you have plenty of extra space for the family to grow. An extra bedroom or two might save you from having to move again in a few years and, inevitably, you’ll want ample storage space for all the stuff that you’re going to accumulate, like strollers, cradles and toys.

Consider These Features When Buying A Multi-Generational Home

Multi-generational living spaces are seeing an increase in demand. These days, many luxury homebuyers are not just looking for a place to reside with their children, but also extended family, such as parents or in-laws. A suitable home, however, often requires specific characteristics that you might not find in your typical residence. Here are a few such features that lend themselves to multi-generational living. 

Separate Living Areas
While a guest suite is usually adequate when the in-laws come to town for a weekend, you’ll probably want more substantial accommodations for a long-term arrangement. Whether it’s a fully-equipped guesthouse or an in-law suite with a kitchenette, multi-generational living tends to be much easier when there are separate living areas. This helps to ensure that everyone has their own space and privacy, while avoiding the sense that you’re on top of each other.

Flex-Spaces
When you have more than just the immediate family living under one roof, space will naturally be at a premium. That’s why a versatile layout that can be adapted to meet a variety of needs is always appreciated. This can be an extra bedroom that doubles as a study or a library that can also be used as a nursery. A multi-purpose area, or flex-space, allows you to get the most out of your home. 

Two Master Suites
The trend of having two master suites in a single home has grown over the last few years. If you don’t need an entire separate dwelling, this feature can make a huge difference when your parents or in-laws are living at your house. After all, everyone enjoys a luxurious master suite that’s equipped with its own bathroom and walk-in closet.

Adjoining Units
For city dwellers, it might be difficult to find a home that can accommodate a multi-generational living arrangement. One popular solution, though, is to purchase adjoining units in a building and knock down the shared wall. If the perfect space isn’t available, sometimes you just have to create it.

Seal the Deal With a Letter

After all the house hunting, after applying for a mortgage, and after figuring out how much you want to spend on a house, you know what can make the difference and convince the current owners to accept your bid?

A letter.

That’s right. Even in this age of high-tech, a hand-written letter explaining why you want to live in a home can actually convince people to sell to you as opposed to someone else; even if the other person’s bid is slightly higher. So here’s how to put pen to paper and write a perfect note to the people who are selling the house you want to live in.

Make it Personal 
Tell the current owners a little about yourself. If you’re a young couple starting out, write about how this house is the perfect place for you to start your life together. If you have kids, tell them how much you love the neighborhood and school district. And if you’re a retiree, write about how you look forward to spending special time with your grandchildren there.

Mention the House Itself 
Think about the things in the home that you truly love, the aspects that made you say, “I want this house.” Maybe the kitchen window leads to a beautiful view you want to enjoy as you drink your morning coffee. Or perhaps there’s a swing set or pool you picture your kids playing in. If the home has a beautiful garden, tell them you look forward to keeping it beautiful and thriving, they’ll appreciate knowing that their years of hard work will be built upon.

Praise the Neighborhood 
While looking for your dream home, you’ve done your research into the neighborhood. Tell the current owners how much you love their town and mention specific parks, shops, or attractions. Perhaps they suggested a restaurant to you. If you went there, tell them how much you liked it and look forward to enjoying many meals there.

Most importantly, be sincere. The more honest and heartfelt your letter is, the more effective it will be.