You’re expecting? Congratulations, there is nothing more exciting! Speaking from experience, we know how stressful it can be when you’re buying a home and having a baby at the same time; that’s why we’ve put together a list of what you should keep in mind during this important time.
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Closing and moving during the 2nd trimester – for the few women who don’t suffer from morning sickness in the first trimester, closing and moving might be an option but for the majority, the second trimester is the best time. Why? During the 1st trimester all you want to do is lay in bed and down all the ginger ale you can and by the 3rd trimester your belly is just too big to feel like doing anything involving packing or picking up big boxes. The 2nd trimester is when you start feeling like your normal self and when you haven’t gotten too large to move around! You’ll have most of your energy back and will have the strength to tackle all that comes with closing and moving.
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Nearby amenities – having nearby amenities within a 10-15 minute walk.
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Parks & playgrounds – the best place to let your kids get out all their energy and to make mom friends
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Kid friendly places: indoor play spaces, libraries, day care, museums, pools, boys & girls club, etc.
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24 hour pharmacy – for those late night emergencies which will definitely happen!
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Costco or Target – most likely you’ll be there at least once a week…maybe more unless you sign up for Amazon Prime (which we highly recommend – Hello diaper delivery which is the best invention ever)
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Restaurants – always good for those nights you just need carry out or want to get out of the house with your little one
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Quality of nearby schools – do your research on the schools in the home’s area. Find out things like: academic quality, if it’s equipped for special needs or learning disabilities, class size, test scores, etc. Greatschools.org and talking to local parents are great resources. We also highly recommend touring the school before you buy in the neighborhood (even if you don’t have kids yet) and setting up a Meet and Greet with the Principal.
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Building with an elevator - if you’re looking at a building with more than 2 or 3 flights of stairs, consider a building with an elevator. Climbing up all those stairs, especially with a stroller and baby in hand (plus diaper bag, groceries, etc) is exhausting.
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Home layout -
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bathroom on the main floor – while we haven’t reached the potty training phase, we hear from other mamas that having a bathroom close by makes all the difference
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open concept – super convenient to watch your kids in the living room while you’re cooking in the kitchen
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proximity of the nursery to common areas – nap and bedtime are critical. Try to place the nursery away from loud areas like the bathroom or living room
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Storage – you won’t believe how much stuff comes with an 8 pound little human. Storage can be anywhere from closets to garage space. You’ll need room for clothes, diapers, car seats, toys, strollers, bikes, and so much more!
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Tub – jacuzzis and soaking tubs are all the rage right now but are no good for kiddos unless you get in, too.
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Stairs – look for stairs that can easily be baby proofed. IE: some staircase entries are oversized or have rounded bottoms; both make it difficult to install baby gates.
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– if possible, find a home with outdoor space where your kids can run around under your watch.
For more tips from mamas on what to look for when buying a home with kids, click here.
We hope you find these tips useful. If you have any questions or concerns don’t hesitate to ask.
