Nowadays, a larger number of young people are choosing to house share and rent for longer periods of time. In major cities, it’s not all too surprising to find people in their thirties still sharing spaces with their friends in order to split rent and bill payments. With the rising cost of housing, this isn’t all too surprising. But when you find out that you have a little one on the way, or when you’re planning on having a family of your own, house sharing is no longer an option. Buying also becomes preferable to renting, as you can guarantee that the property is your own. You don’t have to worry about your contract or lease being extended when it comes to an end and you can provide your children with a stable place to call home. However, finding the perfect property to begin family life can be difficult. After all, you are going to be trying to find somewhere that suits the needs of more people and even some pets too! So, here are a couple of questions that you should be asking yourself and topics that you should be considering when it comes to finding the perfect property match for your family!
Is It Affordable?
First things first, you need to make sure that the property you’re looking at falls within your budget. So many potential homeowners make the mistake of falling in love with a property that is out of their budget and trying to convince themselves that they will make the price work for them. They argue that they will take on extra hours every week or work every weekend. They contend that they’re due a promotion. They say that they’ll take on a convenient part-time second job. But at the end of the day, you can’t guarantee that any of these plans will ever come into play. There might not always be extra hours to take on. You might not be offered weekend work. You can’t guarantee that you will definitely get the promotion. You may not find a part time job that fits conveniently around your current lifestyle. Instead, you have to be realistic. Set a budget and use a house loan calculator to ensure that you can afford the payments as well as the added interest and any extra costs, such as property tax, energy bills that will support the size of the property, and any potential maintenance costs that may come into play later down the line. There’s nothing worse than moving into something out of your means and having to give it up after a financial struggle – especially when you have little ones who can be negatively affected by the disruption and difficulties.
Is It Pet-Friendly?
If you are moving with a four legged friend, you need to make sure that the new property is just as suitable for them as anyone else in your home. After all, when you decided to get this pet, you took on a responsibility for their health and well-being. You need to make sure that any properties that you’re looking at have sufficient space for them to roam about in and sufficient outdoor space if they’re going to need to stretch their legs and relieve themselves. If you don’t yet have a pet but are considering getting one, you should bear all of these things in mind too. After all, you’re not going to want to go through a whole moving process again in order to be able to get the pet that you want. If you don’t yet have a pet, you can make things easier for yourself by considering non-moulting breeds of cat and dog. Generally speaking, these tend to be small (requiring less space) and also won’t have such a messy effect when it comes to your carpets, furniture, and clothing. What’s more? They don’t tend to affect people who usually get allergies to pet hair. Popular breeds include Bichon Frise, Lhasa Apsos, and Poodles. While all dogs are individuals and will have their own personalities and quirks, these breeds are generally renowned for their friendly, loving, and affectionate natures. You can also check out cross breeds such as Labradoodles (a cross breed produced by crossing a labrador with a poodle) and Cavachons (a cross between King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and a Bichon Frise). While there are fewer options when it comes to hypoallergenic cats than hypoallergenic dogs, don’t fear. The Sphinx cat may well be the answer to any allergy suffering cat lover’s dreams. These kittens tend to draw a love or hate opinion, as they are completely hairless throughout their entire lives. It’s important to bear in mind, however, that these cats do require a little extra TLC when it comes to their care. You will have to remember to coat them with sunscreen during the summer months and provide them with warm, knitted jumpers in the winter. They are also primarily house cats, who won’t do all too well fending for themselves out on the streets. Besides these few quirks, they will provide you with just as much love, affection, and entertainment as any other feline friend.
Can It Expand?
You never know when you might find yourself wanting a bigger space for your family. Perhaps you start out with little ones sharing a room and decide that they need more space for themselves later down the line. Maybe your family itself will expand and you’ll need an extra room for the pitter patter of an extra little pair of feet. Whatever your reason for expanding, chances are that you’re going to want a little more space later down the line. Now, this doesn’t necessarily mean that you should take on a property with multiple spare rooms to start with. Instead, you should find a property that is the right size to suit your current needs but has potential to grow. All sorts of extensions can be carried out on your property as long as you have enough free space around your property to accommodate these changes. So, whenever possible look for detached properties or semi-detached properties with room at the side to add an extension. Alternatively, properties with large gardens offer extra space too!
These are just three questions that you should be asking yourself during your house hunt. If you find that a property catches your eye and ticks all of these boxes, you could have found the perfect place to meet your family’s needs!
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I love my house but we have outgrown it, will be looking to extend soon
All very important things to think about; it’s always worth putting in a bit more planning at the start of the process.
Author
Definitely. It’s such a big decision and important process xxx
Excellent ideas – planning and prep is the key