Location key to finding a home for the family

IT’S NEVER been easy to buy a home for a growing family, but nowadays parents have even more to consider in ensuring that the property meets the needs of their children as well as their own.

The first thing they need to consider, says Shaun Rademeyer, chief executive of mortgage originator, BetterLife Home Loans, is location, so choosing the right area is essential.

And, he says, the most important factors in that choice are:

● Safety and security. Children need safe places to play and to meet their friends. That’s one of the reasons that gated developments and closedoff neighbourhoods are so popular with family homebuyers.

● Good schools close by. As well as wanting to provide a quality education, most parents with school-going children would like to save time spent commuting for sporting and other extra-mural activities.

● Other families. It’s great to live in an area where your neighbours are at a similar stage of life and your children can all grow up together.

● Proximity to work. Spending more time with their children and less time commuting is a major consideration.

● The next thing to think about, says Rademeyer, is a home that will “grow with you” as your family’s needs change, and some features to look for in that regard are:

● Lots of storage: Having children means having more stuff. Make sure your home has long-term storage like a basement or shed as well as plenty of easy-access storage like closets and cabinets. It is also useful to have an additional room that can be used as a playroom or as a music and computer room for older children.

● The correct floorplan: Some family homes have the master bedroom at the opposite end of the house to the children’s bedrooms, and that may be appealing to the parents of teenagers. However, those with young children will probably feel more secure having all the bedrooms together.

● Family space. A good kitchen can be a major gathering place for a family. It’s also a good idea to look for a home with a large informal living space that everyone can enjoy together.

● Extra accommodation. Working parents with young children may also need a home with room to accommodate a full-time au pair or nanny, and those with older families might also need extra space for grandparents to visit or even live.

● Then finally, says Rademeyer, it is really important for

‘Most parents