What areas are best for kids, are we in the school catchment area, should we rent first and is the garden big enough?
There’s just so much to think about when choosing a family home, it’s hard to know where to start.
Do you want to be near the grandparents so that they can easily visit - and, let’s be honest, help out with the kids?
And how far out from a city can you go so that you get more space for your money while still not spending half your wages on a train fare into the office?
Chief Executive at real estate and lettings agency Pacitti Jones, John O’Malley, says: “Buying the first family home is a major milestone for couples, particularly if they are about to welcome their first child.
“Priorities change completely – instead of looking for a home within walking distance of bars and restaurants, families have to consider things like where the nearest nursery and primary schools are and are they highly rated, are there safe parks where the children can play nearby and what baby groups and kids activities are available in the area.
“There are lots of practical things to consider, like does the property have a driveway or can you park nearby? If you have a sleeping baby you’d rather not have to wake them up and carry them any distance.
"Consider whether there are steps into the property and whether you can get a pram into the house easily enough – and is there anywhere to store that pram?
“Storage is a major, major issue when you have little ones, you cannot underestimate the amount of space toys, baby walkers and changing stations take up!"
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Once you’ve decided on a general area, take a look at the surrounding areas too.
Sometimes just moving along to the next neighbourhood can save you tens of thousands of pounds, or offer you much more space for your money.
“Keep an open mind,” advises John Ennis, Foxtons’ Managing Director of New Homes & Central London.
“Applicant mobility has never been greater. In London, people are prepared to move three to four tube stops along or three to four postcodes away from where they currently live to find what they really want.
“We ask people: where do you work? Where do you play? It’s worth considering areas you may not have thought of initially to get that extra bedroom or garden.”
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How can I know if I’m in a school’s catchment area?
Unfortunately there isn’t always a straightforward answer for this one.
School catchment boundaries can change on a yearly basis, depending on how many children are applying from within the local area.
How parents bend the rules if their home isn’t in a school catchment area
And in more densely populated areas, the catchment area can be as small as a couple of hundred metres from the school.
Know the school you’d like for your child? Find out the catchment area
“You may be some years from considering which schools your children might go to,” says Behavioural Psychologist Jo Hemmings.
“But if you intend to keep your family home for a while, the quality of schooling in your preferred area is absolutely key.
“Many parents with secondary school-aged children make this their first priority when moving home.
“And what will you do about childcare? If one set of your parents is more able to look after your children than the other, then moving nearer to them might be a factor in deciding your new location.”
Should we rent first to get a feel for the place?
We’ve all had that moment on holiday where we start dreaming about upping sticks and living a different life by the sea or in the countryside.
But it might all feel very different when you’re factoring in a day job and school runs.
So getting a feel for what it’s actually like to live in a new area can be extremely useful.
“You don’t have to buy a family home, especially if you’re unsure of where you should live or feel that there might be a change in your circumstances,” says Hemmings.
“Perhaps you’re moving to another part of the country because of a possible job opportunity.
“It’s much easier to be flexible and move quickly if you rent, especially if you want a speedy or spontaneous move.”
Think about what you both really want from a home, long term
“If you are planning to make it a forever home, you have to think long-term,” advises O’Malley.
“Would that little nursery work for teenage sleepovers? Will a 6ft tall teenager manage in the boxroom? Is there space if an elderly relative needs to move in?
"Having an ensuite as well as a family bathroom is always a plus when you have a growing family if you want to avoid queues and arguments in the morning.”
And if you’re choosing a larger home for your family, make sure you’re able to manage the work that involves, advises Hemmings.
“Perfect as your preferred house might seem, take a dispassionate and joint view on whether it is really what you want and can cope with,” she says.
“A large garden is lovely, but do you have the time or motivation to maintain it?
“If you enjoy cooking – and there will be lots of it with a growing family – is the kitchen big enough?
“What about the parking? Is there plenty of space outside, a garage or a dedicated parking area?
“Storage is also key. A growing family means a lot more stuff - and you will need places to put it all!”
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Is there enough space for you both to work from home?
Few families can afford the luxury of two separate offices on top of all the bedrooms, so think about how you will factor in your working from home arrangements.
“Can you cope with working on the kitchen or dining room table, or do you need to turn one of the bedrooms into an office for now?" asks Hemmings.
“And what happens when children come along?
“These weren’t quite such pressing issues pre-Covid, but they are now something that many couples have to factor in before moving into a family home.”
And finally, be prepared to compromise
“It can be difficult to imagine a house full of children and maybe pets when you are only on the brink of planning it,” says Hemmings.
“There are going to be a lot of questions to be addressed about the size of your home and the things you both want.
“Is outdoor space or an ensuite important for example? And how many bedrooms do you need?
“Are you both do-er uppers or do you want somewhere that’s ready to move into?
“Make sure you both give input into this to get the right property for you and be prepared to make some compromises.”