Home Shopping with Kids – A New Perspective on Real Estate
March 16, 2009 by Kristin LaVanway · Leave a Comment
I happen to have four boys – very energetic ones, I might add – so I always enjoy it when my clients bring their kids along when we are shopping for homes. I probably enjoy it more than my clients do because house shopping with the kids in tow can make the experience a little more stressful, and who needs more stress when you are shopping for a new home! Over the years, I have learned that kids add their own perspective to real estate and their input can be helpful when trying to make a decision. Here are few things I have observed:
Teenagers are all about location, location, location. And this is sage advice that any real estate expert will give you…it is all about where the house is located. Now, teenages don’t care so much about whether the house backs to a busy street, has a north-south exposure, or offers a reasonable commute. No, no, no…teenagers care about how close their friends are to the new place. Seriously, who can blame them? The deal is sealed if a good friend lives within walking distance (which is a very short distance for most teenagers) but if the wrong person lives next door…just move on to the next listing. A side note here…teenagers rarely accompany their parents on a house shopping trip under their own free will, but prefer to reserve their right to approve or disapprove the deal prior to COE.
Pre-teens, ages 8-12, focus on the amenities…what does the yard look like? Is there are a park nearby? Are there some cool features in the house like a big screen TV or a great staircase? How about one of those great under the stair closets that would make a great clubhouse? Kids this age are the most discriminating of the youthful shoppers and can be quite opinionated on what they like or do not like. Although it might seem arbitrary to us adults, often their comments can be pretty insightful as well as plentiful.
Youngsters, ages 4-8, seem to care most about which room will be theirs. For some kids, a new house means they may not have to share a room any more – they may get a whole room to themselves. And this is a very big deal indeed. What color will their room be? This is critical and is best considered if the room is actually decorated appropriately. No little dude is going to even consider a room decked out in pink and purple, and the little gals will rarely give the thumbs up to a room draped in those masculine decorating themes. However, much can be overlooked if there is a walk-in closet (AKA secret fort)!
The youngest shoppers, 3 years and under, care about exactly two things…switches and stairs. What does this turn on? What does this little thing do? And if the house has stairs, they must be tested thoroughly. Up and down, several times at each house. You can never be too careful when it comes to stairs and switches so bring along a savvy 2-yr-old to check out these vital features of your new home.
There are some key differences in the ways that boys and girls shop (except for the teenagers, like I said, they only make the rare appearance). Boys are all about function and that can only be tested by touching everything and running around A LOT. Because so many of the homes on the market these days are vacant, it is so much easier for the guys to really test out the homes. They can touch everything! They can run! They can yell (a good echo is always an extra bonus!). Yes, vacant homes are great for the little boys.
Little girls on the other hand seem to key in more on the aesthetics. Colors, decorating, the way the house looks is critical. Although, most little girls also like to check out the acoustics, especially in those vacant homes. Shelves, window seats, gathering places for social events, these are real pluses. Fixer-uppers do not usually go over well, however.
A couple of tips to help the little shoppers:
* The importance of snacks cannot be over-emphasized. Little shoppers must keep thier strength up!
* Sometimes it helps to bring along a prop – a ball, a book, or a toy – to test out in the new space – to see how your stuff fits in.
* For those long shopping trips, a little nap time might be required as well. After all, shopping for a new home is hard work!
Happy shopping!
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I am a Realtor in Gilbert, AZ, working with clients throughout the Phoenix Metro area. I am lucky to love what I do and appreciate the difference I can make in people's lives.
In a previous life, I was a rocket scientist - really! - but decided to step away from corporate America to be a Mom to my four boys. Found it hard to do bake sales, so I ran a small independent programming business instead.
Flash forward...I am now a single mom and I face many, many challenges everyday. I am living through the hardships that many are facing in this economy. These experiences have motivated me to help other people in my shoes.
I have teamed up with Dean Ouellette to form the East Valley Team - the best darn team in the Valley. Check out our site at http://www.EastValleyTeam.com. I spend way too much time on YouTube - check ou tmy channel at http://www.youtube.com/klavanway
