All in the Family: Five Sets of Siblings Call the Wegmans School of Pharmacy Home

What makes the perfect family home? Thinking about h ow you will all live in the house, and how the property can adapt to your lifestyle and change your family dynamic for the better, are all crucial factors to consider.

But these aren't the only considerations you need to make. When hunting for your first family house, having a garden and plenty of space inside is often a dream requirement, but being near good schools, a local park and even a leisure centre should be high on your priority list, according to James Hartley, director of North Sands Developments, which specialises in building properties for larger households.

Here, James talks us through six key points to make finding the perfect home for your family a success.

1. Do your research

Searching for your ideal family home can feel overwhelming, but make it more manageable by taking the time to envision what your dream property might look like. How many bedrooms does it need to have? Is a large garden a priority? Is location the most important factor for you?

Having answers to these important questions will help you have a clearer idea of what you're looking for so that you can narrow your search criteria when you're talking to estate agents. 'We'd recommend using one of the various online property websites as a tool to compare different types of homes and their locations,' says James. 'Note how prices change depending on location and consider how this might affect what you can afford.'

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2. Decide on a budget

Having a figure in mind means you can search for homes within a certain price range, giving you a stronger idea about what you can realistically afford and also the elements that you may need to compromise on.

It's important to remember that you'll need to set aside additional money on top of your deposit to cover the costs of solicitors, mortgage booking fees, arrangement fees, valuation fees and surveyor fees, as well as lender/broker fees if you choose to use them.

3. Choosing the right location

This is undoubtedly one of the most important aspects and it's crucial to think about the needs and priorities of everyone both now and in the future.

School catchment areas, OFSTED reports and league tables are all important to research, but once you've narrowed your choice it's also vital to visit the school to see whether it would suit your children.

Transport links to work, to the nearest city or town centre and to nearby motorways are also a major consideration, so do your homework about the distance from your potential new home to these areas.

For young families, a garden is a wonderful feature, but it's also important to be near a park so children can really run around and play. And if you're close to walking trails, woodland and the countryside it's even better so that time spent together in the fresh air can be a regular feature of your lifestyle – it's especially important if you have a family dog.

Finally, are there plenty of clubs and activities for children? How close is the nearest health and leisure club? And are there good family-friendly restaurants and bars within walking distance?

Gu Getty Images

4. Easy parking

To avoid wrestling with shopping bags and a baby carrier, a safe, secure parking spot such as a garage or a gated driveway would be ideal for added security.

5. Space to grow

Getting the space right in a family home is key, and for this think about how you want to use the house. For you, is the kitchen the heart of your home? Would you like an open plan living space? Do all the bedrooms need to be the same size?

It's also a good idea to consider if the property has potential to be extended in the future, giving you extra space, so you wouldn't have the expense of moving to a larger house as your family grows, and increasing the value of your home.

Jacek Kadaj Getty Images

6. Flexible s torage

The home you're considering might already have enough room to accommodate all of your belongings, but as children and families grow, so often does the amount of stuff they need to store. So when you're viewing properties check whether there would be space for new made-to-measure shelving and cupboards in the bedrooms and hallway.

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All in the Family: Five Sets of Siblings Call the Wegmans School of Pharmacy Home

Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/uk/lifestyle/property/a30750665/family-house/