If your motivation to buy a new house is your growing
family, it's only natural to bring your kids along as you go thorough
the process. But making the best decisions for the household
frequently requires parents to be very focused and this can be hard
with kids in tow. Many first time buyers with very young children are
neither experienced parents nor seasoned house buyers. If you have the
option of a babysitter, you may want to take advantage of it. Not
only will you be more efficient, you'll cover more territory. With
young children, trying to see more than two homes in an afternoon is
pushing it; if the kids are home, you can see as many as five. If a
babysitter is not an option, there are ways to make home hunting with
the kids less stressful and more fun for you and young children.
Choosing a Realtor that understands kids and how to interact with
them, can make the situation easier.
Though it may be
harder to go through the process of buying and selling a new house
with younger kids who need constant supervision, older children,
especially teenagers, present a different kind of challenge. They
don't want to move and leave their friends. Always keep in mind how
they feel, but be firm on what you think is best for your family.
Teenagers need to feel some control over their lives, so make sure to
incorporate choices for them as well. If
you have left the children with a babysitter, it is a good idea to
have a private viewing for the children, once you have decided on a
house. Ask for their input on what colour to paint their bedrooms, or
perhaps on where the basketball net should be hung. Make it clear,
however, the decision that this is their new home is final.
Some
Points to Consider if Bringing Children on Showings
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First of all, plan
your home hunting excursion as you would for a road trip. Set aside
a Saturday or Sunday and working with a Child-Friendly Realtor, map
out the homes you would like to visit.
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Choose a time most conducive to co-operation from your child. If
one takes a nap at 2 p.m., go in the early morning but not at 12:30
or 1:00 p.m. If going in the early afternoon is more convenient,
make sure you give your children lunch first.
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It's
also a good idea to bring snacks along for the kids such as crackers
and juice. Just make sure that the juice won't stain the home
owner’s carpet.
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School time offers one advantage for homebuyers with school-age
children – house hunting can be done while the kids are in class.
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Trying to tour more than two homes in an afternoon with the children
is pushing it; sans kids you can see as many as four or five. More
important, when you find a home you are interested you won’t
appreciate the distraction of young children as you try to make a
decision that may affect the rest of their lives.
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Lori will provide
colouring activities and crayons and car games to keep the kids
amused while driving around looking for their new home.
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If
your older child has a portable video game or walkman they wish to
bring, encourage them.
When you are ready to buy, I am an excellent choice to work with for
several important reasons:
I understand how children fit into the home buying process
l am familiar with the process of buying a home and can explain
everything you need to know.
l can easily access information on all properties listed for sale by
other realtors in your area.
l can set up appointments for you to see homes that interest you.
l will help you complete all the necessary paperwork when the time
comes to make an offer.
l will be there at closing to answer your questions and make sure
everything runs smoothly.
Getting Started
Before you start looking at properties with a serious intention of
buying, it is a good idea to have a clear understanding of what you
want in a home. Start saving money; you'll need to have cash on hand for a down
payment and closing costs. Contact me. I can help you get the
home your want. Prepare for the home finding trips. Rate
the houses you tour. After touring each home, write down what you
liked and didn't like about it. Develop a rating system which will
help you narrow the field down to the house that's best suits you. Stay focused. Frequently
home buyers "fall in love" with a home, ignoring the fact that it
might not have all the "must have" features on their list.
When you find the home you want, I can help you make an offer. Making
an offer on a home is a complex undertaking. Offer too little and you
run the risk of losing the home you want. Offer too much and the home
can be difficult to re-sell later. I can help you negotiate and close
the sale.
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