Clues for Parents Picking a Home
Do you want your kids staring at the Tv or the computer because they are bored? Probably not.
As a mom and grandmother as well as a real estate agent I have some tips for you.
Kids love to build things, tents, tree houses, forts, gardens, castles, hideouts and campsites. Find a home with an extra shed or building. They can raise a few chickens, build a fort, paint the walls, have overnights, have a shop, have a sewing room, build a rocket ect. The point is the house is usually the parents domain which means projects get cleaned up, put away and have a ton of rules associated with the space. My daughter groaned at me for buying stickers, play dough and paint for my three year old grandchild since she got stuck cleaning it up. The playroom is her living room. You do not want paint, play dough, piles of sand for bull dozers or Barbie's wardrobe covering the floors of your house twenty four seven. Find a house with a place for the kids. A place where you do not have to police as strictly.
Clue number two is for the whole family. Buy a place with a long driveway or right of way to get you out of street view. Children love to play in the water, get wet, get naked, yell, push, throw a fit and be kids. Parents like to run out and grab the kids or dog in their PJs or less. Kids like to camp out, stick out their tongues, name call, ride the dog, argue with the parents. If you can get out of the street view it will save you the pressure of keeping up appearances, feeling guilty for the forts and tents, cleaning up toys that are coming out again tomorrow.
Clue number three is an earth spot. Earth spots are gardens, mini backhoe parking lots, Breyer horse stables, sandboxes, drip castles, fountains, pools, hoses and jungle gyms. Preferably in the back or side yard with a tree or two.This zone is a psychiatric therapy zone. The whole family can dig, squirt, plant, throw and yell. If you can afford it- a fence. To keep the pets, the kids and aging parents on the property within view. Saves stress, embarrassment and insurance claims from wandering family members.
Clue number four is about terrain. Pick high ground, stay away from sub pumps, french drains, gutters and steep walkways into the house. Water will go where it wants to eventually. Electricity is a luxury quickly taken away by mother nature leaving you with a wet basement and mold. Gutters leak, fall down, get ice dams, blow into a neighbors window, land on your head, have to be cleaned and cost money let alone saturdays. A direct easy entrance into house from a garage saves time and money on shovelling, ice removal, defrosting the car and bills from injuries, ice melt and band aides.
My last clue is about bathrooms. Try to have an adult bathroom and one for the kids. Rubber duckies, squirt guns, diapers, wet toilet seats and wet floors can really be a trying experience if you are on edge after a sleepless night. The stomach flu can bring on suicidal thoughts when sharing a bathroom with children. Children need a bathtub which is easy to lean over, floors that are truly waterproof and room on the floor to sit with you to dry, dress and undress them. Till the next blog- have a sense of humor if your home flunked all the clues and be thankful for any roof over your head. Molly Mckellar of Lincolnville.
