Choosing the perfect house for a family

Soon there may be the pitter-patter of little feet in your life - or you might be planning a family in your future. Look around you. Is your current living situation ideal for a baby, a toddler, or a family in later years?

If you are considering a family, it might be time to put your current property on the market if it is more geared for single life. When looking for a family home there are a lot of extremely important aspects to consider.

Location, location, location!

Michelle Hagan, non-principal property practitioner at Seeff Plattekloof, advises that when buying a family home, location is of utmost importance.

She stresses that you should find a location that is close to schools.

Educational experts caution that when looking at schools in the area, you must ensure that the level of education is up to standard. Are there also day care centres and preschools in the area?

Make sure you can afford the school fees and find out if the school provides transport. If driving, try the route at rush hour to gauge the traffic.

You must also have access to main highways, public transport, hospitals or medical clinics, and shopping centres, says Michelle.

"Also find out more about the neighbourhood before you buy - an area with predominantly young families with children will be ideal. "

Safety and security

For peace of mind, do some research on the crime patterns in the neighbourhood. Talk to residents and the neighbourhood watch. Michelle advises that a garage with direct access to the house is a good safety feature, as is an alarm system.

A wall around the garden is also an excellent way to keep your children and pets safe while they are playing in the garden.

Garden and play areas

"If you do not want to maintain a garden, look for a property nearby a safe park where your kids can play, but if you prefer them to play at home, then  a good size plot will be ideal," says Michelle. She recommends a garden mixed with grass and paving.

A playroom is also a convenient feature or even a Wendy house where the kids can store their toys.

Open living areas

Michelle recommends a house with open living areas. Not only does it create the illusion of more space, but parents and children can spend time together even though some are watching tv while the others are in the kitchen. In an open plan setup, you can also keep an eye on the children while cooking, for example.

Michelle also recommends a laundry room and scullery as it keeps the kitchen less cluttered and as a parent you will be washing a lot of clothes and dishes!

Bedrooms and bathrooms

The more bedrooms the better - if you can afford it. As a rule of thumb, you should have enough bedrooms for everyone in the house plus an extra bedroom for guests. An extra bedroom is also handy with a newborn as it gives one parent a room to sleep in when the baby wakes up in the middle of the night.

Also keep in mind that you would probably want the nursery to be as close as possible to the main bedroom. If you can, look for a layout where there are some rooms closer together and then another room slightly further away for a teenage room in later years.

Also, do not forget the bathrooms. The rule of thumb is one bathroom for every bedroom in the house.

Six questions to ask yourself before buying a house for a family

1.    A fixer-upper might seem a better and more affordable option now, but you do not want the mess and noise that comes with building and renovations while expecting or having a baby or a toddler.

2.    Revisit the bond costs of your future home a few times. Can you really afford it? Will you still be able to pay the bond when you have an extra mouth to feed, not to mention baby nappies to buy?

3.    Do you want carpets or tiles? Tiles are easier to clean, but children might slip on it and fall.

4.    Do you want a swimming pool? If not covered and secured properly it poses a risk. The same goes for a fireplace - cozy in winter, but dangerous for a curious toddler. 

5.    Can you see the garden, pool or other places where your kids will be playing from the most used parts of the house?

6.    Is there enough storage - especially for toys, books and games?