As a parent, you know how important it is to look out for your children’s welfare. One of the easiest ways to keep vigilant is by finding a child-safe home—one that you and your family can thrive in for years to come. If you are a mother or father—or you plan to become one in the future—keep an eye out for these features parents should look for when buying a home.
- Level yards. When your children are young, they’ll run around without a care. We all did adventurous—and silly—things when we were kids. A fun activity, however, can turn into an extreme sport if you have a dangerous lawn. Looking for yards with level terrain will help protect your children—and they’ll make yard work easier, too.
- Bedrooms on the same level. It’s hard to look after your children, no matter how old they are, if your bedrooms are on different levels. For easier days (and nights), you may consider making sure that your bedroom and your children’s bedrooms share the same floor (unless you want your privacy, of course).
- Calm streets. As your children play outside, you’ll be doing your best to make sure that they stay away from traffic. Calm streets will make this endeavor less high-stakes. Just remember that low traffic is no excuse not to routinely teach your children about street safety rules and procedures.
- Single-level homes. If you have young children, stairs can be a recipe for disaster. Even if your child doesn’t trip on them, you may trip on the expensive baby gates designed to keep your little ones safe. However, single level homes can simplify parenting. Additionally, if you want to find a home to grow old in long after your children are grown, a one-story home is mutually beneficial for seniors.
- Prevalent sidewalks. Another one of the features parents should look for when buying a home is prevalent sidewalks in the neighborhood. Children love to explore, running around or pedaling on their bikes. Sidewalks will keep them tucked away from traffic, letting them safely enjoy their time outside.
- Nearby emergency services. In the event of a fire or accident, you’ll want emergency services to be as close as possible. As you tour homes, research just how far they are from local fire stations, police stations, and hospitals. That way, you won’t have to wait nearly as long for emergency assistance—and you can keep your children protected.
Choosing the right home for you and your children requires care and thought. By searching for houses with these features parents should look for when buying a home, you can set up you and your family for many happy years together. If you’re ready to begin searching, fill out our contact form here. To see more of the houses we have available—and how to sell your own—read through our blog here.