If you think house hunting with children is next to impossible, think again. Here are some great ways to involve your kids in the exciting search for your new home.
According to Care.com, sit down with your children and look at home listings online. While you’re searching, ask them what they would like in a home. Find out if they’d like a big yard to run around in or a pool to stay cool during the warm summer months. This will allow your child to feel like they’re helpful in the situation and reduce any potential frustration. About 65% of youth sports participants say they take part in sports to be with their friends. Since the number of children participating in sports is so high, it’s important to find a place that will help them practice for their upcoming tournament or to work on their skills.
When you find the homes you want to see in person, don’t feel obligated to drag your kids to every single open house. Even though you want to include your children, it may be distracting to keep track of them while trying to inspect every nook and cranny of a potential house. Wait until you’ve narrowed your choices down to two or three homes before showing them to your child in-person. That way they don’t get attached to a house that you may not choose or bring into the final running.
Active Raine says you can avoid any problems with your children by setting rules. When you bring your child into the potential houses, make sure they understand that they’re entering someone else’s house and to keep their hands to themselves. Tell them that if they’re on their best behavior, you can go out for ice cream or dinner afterward. Make sure to keep an eye on your kids and have them in the same room with you always.
Something that your kids might not find important, but you should, is the school quality surrounding the home you’re looking to buy. The top three goals among all current home buyers are privacy, family needs, and asset accumulation. Since school district falls under the ‘family needs’ category, find a school that’s high-quality and located within district boundaries. According to Open Door, there’s another perk to living in a high-quality school district area aside from a great education. Homes in high-rated school districts tend to have a higher prices and can sell faster. So, if one day you decide to move, your home will have a pretty good chance of selling quickly.
Studies show that the most popular definitions of a happy home are a space where you feel secure (69%), a place for relaxation (64%), and a space where you are free to be yourself (57%). But for you to feel relaxed, happy, and yourself, your children must feel the same. To keep your children happy with the moving process, do what you can to include them in your search and take their opinions into consideration.
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