Photography by Collov Home
Buying property is one of the most significant financial decisions and investments you will ever make, and there is a lot to consider as you search for the perfect family home. Here are some tips to get you started.
Ask The Right Questions
The first step in finding the right home is discussing your family’s needs and determining what’s essential and what’s negotiable. This should include the size of the property and garden, the number of bedrooms, the location and proximity to services, internal and external features, lifestyle flexibility, and future growth potential.
You also need to make sure you know how much you can afford before you start shopping and discuss your reason for purchasing – will it be your forever home, will you likely sell it in the next 5-10 years, or will it eventually become an investment property?
Asking these questions will ensure that you and your family commit to a home that offers a comfortable and practical lifestyle and will serve your short- and long-term needs. Although many of these scenarios may not be relevant right now, you’ll thank yourself in years to come.
Photography by Behzad Ghaffarian
Why Location Matters
Location is arguably the most important consideration when looking for a new home. A good location will help your home’s value grow over time, while even a great home might not appreciate as much in a less desirable area.
For each suburb you include in your search, evaluate the availability and quality of nearby amenities and check the property’s proximity to schools, shopping centres, hospitals, parks, nature reserves, community centres, sports facilities, and essential services. Investigate access to main roads and public transport links, look for options connecting the property directly to city or town centres, and scope out access to local transport junctions to ensure bus or tram options are available.
Before attending a house inspection, explore the suburb and surroundings during the week and on weekends. Pop into the local shops and visit the parks and schools when it’s busy and during quieter periods. This will help you get a feel for the area and how it changes depending on the time of day or day of the week. Visiting the area a few times will also give you a sense of the type of people that live there – the community you live in is likely to be as important, if not more important, than the actual property you choose.
Photography by Jimmy Dean
Photography by Max Bottinger
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Thinking about your property’s long-term potential is crucial, especially as a family with evolving needs.
If you are buying a forever home for your family, then discuss how your lifestyle might change over the years, not just what you need right now. Does the home offer enough space for your family to grow? Does it offer enough room for grandchildren or elderly parents to stay one day, if needed? Another attractive feature when looking for a long-term family home is its renovation or extension potential. When on the property hunt, don’t just look at the home’s existing floor plan and configuration but consider the land size and the options to build out or upwards if you ever need to in the future.
If you plan to rent out the property one day, think about what might appeal to a future tenant. This could mean reassessing the neighbourhoods in your current property search to ensure their proximity to public transport links. Likewise, you might also need to think about a more energy-efficient heating and cooling system or perhaps make plans for a low-maintenance and hassle-free garden.
Photography by Collov Home
Photography by Mi Pham
Enjoy this complimentary magazine, and continue to feel inspired to find endless possibilities to enhance your living.
To read the e-brochure, click here.
