Buying a Home with your Kids in Mind

Most of our friends are at the kid-having and bigger-house-buying stage in their lives. When they're buying a new home, friends and clients with kids always ask me what the “luxury” items are when finding a home that’s kid-friendly. Think of it as the grown up version of wanting to "pimp your new ride" with leather, a cd-player, sunroof, GPS, and upgraded tires. Oh! And tinted windows!


Here are a few “luxury” items to look for when you’re searching for your next home.
Consider it a wish list after you've been diligent about saving your pennies!

-An awesome, already built and ready-to-go playset. No digging, no drills, no wood-staining? Score!

-In ground pool with safety barriers already installed. If you’re interested in a pool, it’s nice to already have the thing built. It can turn into quite the headache to have one installed while you’re living in the home. It’s also probably cheaper to buy a house already with a pool than to install it yourself (the resale value of a pool isn’t 100%).


If your kids are begging for a pool but you aren't able to install your own in your
backyard, consider looking for a neighborhood with a pool.
This one even has an awesome slide!

-Mud-room for those rainy and snowy days. Somehow little ones just don’t understand why it’s not fun to run through the house with muddy shoes!?

-Art room. It’s almost essential that kids of all ages play with paint, clay, and explore with glue. Wouldn’t it be nice to have to clean it all up every time or to clear the art project before dinner? An art room with a large, flat workspace will work every time.


These fun and colorful walls with the incorporation of natural light and greenery
really make this Dilworth home feel fun and inspiring for your budding artists.
All that's missing is an easel!


-A playroom. Same idea as above….this room will keep your home feeling like a home and the playroom feeling like Chuck-E-Cheese’s. It’s also great for the kids to take responsibility of the cleanliness of this single room instead of asking them to pick up their toys all over the house.

-Intercom system. This is an especially nice feature if you’ve got multiple levels.

-Large Garage. If you’re interested in having two cars housed in a garage, consider buying a home with a three car garage or space above the garage for storing larger items. Having more room in the garage for bikes, scooters, and the summer yard toys can be a major plus.

-One of a kind murals. These artistic additions can make your little ones feel special and they may actually enjoy hanging out in their rooms. For inspiration, read this blog about mural painting.

-Finished attic or basement. Having a special and out-of-the-way place to play and get imaginative can be very rewarding to your little one’s childhood. Didn’t you love having tea parties in the loft attic with your Barbies or building room-sized forts in the basement? Having off-the-beaten path space for your child to play and make into their own can foster a great imagination!

-Movie Theatre Room
Nothing says “Family Movie Night” like a room totally dedicated to being a movie theatre. Comfy couches, a large screen, and end-tables for juice & popcorn may be just the thing you all needed to spend a great cinematic evening together.

Having a bar overlooking the kitchen will encourage your kids to sit
and color or do homework while you're in the kitchen. 
I'm always up for looking for ways that families can spend extra time together.
This tactic may even inspire them to help you make dinner! 

Remember, now, that I said "Wish List"! Some of these ideas may be over your ideal budget. However, most of these ideas can also be completed in a DIY manner and for less than you may think. Hopefully, this is the type of spoiling that your parents or in-laws wouldn’t shake their head’s at.