7 Tips for Finding the Perfect Family Home

Your family is your first priority, so finding your family’s perfect home is essential. But where to start? What do you look for? What do you ask? Who do you ask? It can be an overwhelming process to begin, but finding your family’s perfect home is easier than you might think.

Helpful Team

The first thing to get settled is a good team to help guide you. First and foremost that means a good realtor. Realty companies like Coldwell Banker George Realty explain that realtors can become your "neighborhood experts," which is exactly what you need to decide on your dream home. Next in line is a helpful lender or broker, and upfront and honest partners for things like home inspections. Meeting with a few different realtors can be helpful in terms of finding a good fit and relationship. You want to make sure your realtor listens to your needs, preferences, and concerns. After all, they are going to help you find your forever home. You want someone you feel comfortable with and trust.

Top Notch schools

Once you have a good team on your side, one of the first things you will want to think about is location. And when little ones are involved, location has a lot to do with school districts. Do some research on the kind of school you are looking for (public, private, religious, performing arts, etc). Look up the reviews and ratings each school earned in the last five years to determine which school is the best fit for your kids and start your location search there.

Cost of Living

What is costs to live somewhere will be directly related to your quality of life. Making sure you can afford the mortgage is part of the puzzle, but you also want to make sure you can afford to enjoy living there, not just get by.

Leisure Time

What kinds of activities do you and your family enjoy? Make sure at least some of them are nearby. Do you enjoy museums, high end shopping, and nice restaurants? Are your kids involved more in sports? Does your family enjoy hiking or biking together? Check out the surrounding neighborhood to make sure your hobbies are close by and easy to get to.

Interior Space

Figure out what kind of and how much space your family needs. Do you prefer an open-concept first floor? How many bedrooms do you need? How much common area space is necessary for your family and for entertaining? Do you plan to expand your family and need additional space in the future? Determine the basics of what your family wants and needs and then keep an open mind because you may end up falling in love with a house that doesn’t necessarily meet all your "must haves," but surprises you!

Green Space

The outdoor space may be important to you and your family. If you enjoy being and playing outside, you will want to make sure you budget for some land as well as a home. A big back yard is great for playing space for kids and pets as well as entertaining friends and family.

Start Now

Lastly, starting early in this process is key. You want to give yourself plenty of time to answer these questions and get things in order so that when you find your perfect spot, you are able to jump on it quickly.

Get started today and you might be surprised how quickly you find yourself living your own dreams!