Buying a family home is going to be a lot different than buying a home for yourself as a single individual.
MTD Management Company advises, there is a lot more now to consider. On top of the space or size, some features are important in a family home.
You see, when buying your first family home, you have the future in mind. You not only consider your current household size but perhaps for new family members in the future as well.
Longevity comes to mind, too – your family will spend many years in this home. After all, if you’re like most homeowning families over here, you’ll likely only buy a home once. You probably won’t change homes every so often.

Let’s check out some of the top things to consider when buying your first family home.
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1. House Size
Topping this list is the house size. Naturally, it has to be bigger than the one you may be staying in now. And, that home also has to be big enough to accommodate any added kids you’ll have in the future.
It’s important to plan your family. How many children do you and your spouse want to have?
When you decide on that number, at least add one or two more rooms to your count. One is for the dedicated guest room.
When you have kids, their grandparents are bound to visit regularly, so allot a room for them.
The other extra room is an allowance, just in case you’re going to have one more child. Surprises are always there, who knows! In the meantime, that room can be a playroom, home office, homeschool room, or extra storage space.
Those are just the bedrooms. To determine the final size, you also have to account for all the other rooms or areas you like to have in a family home.
2. Location
The location is already an important part of choosing any other home or property, even more in a family home.
First, the location of a family home should be strategic, having all your essentials nearby.
Imagine how much of a hassle it would be to have to drive an hour every day to bring the kids to school, go to work, and do all other errands. You get the picture. A hospital should be nearby, too.
Second and most importantly, assess the overall safety of your chosen location. You wouldn’t want your family to live in a home where you won’t even feel safe in your backyard.
As much as possible, choose a residential area with good safety ratings. If a gated community is well within the budget, why not?
3. Outdoor Space
Third on this list is the outdoor space. While you won’t need to have a hectare of sprawling land, having adequate outdoor space may be a must.
The more kids you have, the messier your home’s indoor space will be. Ample outdoor space is beneficial for your children.
On top of that, there are all the children’s parties you may be hosting. If you have an outdoor space you can host your guests in your yard.
Imagine all you can make out of that outdoor space—a playground, a trampoline, a treehouse, a swimming pool, or any other water feature—if the space and budget allow for it.
You can have an outdoor dining area or a small outdoor kitchen. The possibilities are endless.
4. Number of Bathrooms
Ideally, it would be nice to have an ensuite for every bedroom. But, this might not be possible, especially if you’re not building from scratch.
Usually, the master’s bedroom comes with an ensuite. So, be sure to account for the number of bathrooms as well.
It may not matter so much right now, but, when you have three kids you have to prep for school, plus you and your spouse, you’re sure to have a chaotic morning.
You can be more efficient with your time when you have at least a ratio of one bathroom to two family members, if not the ideal 1:1.
5. Storage Space
A family home can never be without ample storage. Kids come with a lot of extra baggage: literally. From baby gear to a hundred clothes they’ll go through, there’s a lot of storing you’ll be doing – from one child to the next.
And, that’s just the kids’ things. There’s all the seasonal decoration and clothing for every single family member. Camping gear. Travel gear.
Party hosting items and décor. There’s just so much a family will accumulate, regardless of how frequent you’ll declutter.
So, don’t skimp on the storage space. The family home you choose should have ample storage space. Or, if that’s not available yet, then it should at least come with the space to create or build more storage.
Without ample storage space, you’ll start feeling like your home will always be cluttered and disorganized.
6. Stairs
The fewer stairs, the better. Stairs are the top fall hazards for kids, as well as the elderly members of your family.
You can install stair gates, but because this is a matter of safety, it’s better not to take any chances.
Final Thoughts
The list of things to consider above isn’t yet all-compassing. Of course, there’s going to be a lot more to consider, depending on your preferences as a family.
But, that’s a good enough start. Shopping for your first family home is always exciting. But, it’s also a big decision to make. You can at least be one step closer to getting it right, by going through the items above.