Eight Factors to Consider when Building a Family Home

There are great homes and then there are family homes. Great family homes in Brisbane are a league of their own. They are specially designed to address the diverse needs of an often growing family. It’s not a wonder why families move from one home to another, trying to find one that will meet all their requirements.

A growing family has an ever-changing housing needs.  At some point you might need an extra room for the new baby, or a larger backyard for active kids, a fence to keep the pets safe, a music room for your daughter’s piano, or a smaller house when the children are all grown up. Can one house provide it all? Maybe not, but here are some factors to consider when building a home that will meet all of your family’s present and most of the future needs.

The Location and Neighbourhood – When children are young, all you want is to be near primary schools. How about when they’re in college? Instead of concentrating on one need, consider the bigger picture. How would you commute to your work place? Do you like your home to be in a tree-shaded lane, overlooking a lake, or near a park? Do you enjoy walking around looking into chic shops or are you more of a forest person? Would you rather spend a day at the beach or climb the mountain? Can you see yourself enjoying the same neighbourhood ten or twenty years from now?

Lot Size and Characteristics – How much of a space do you need? Remember that you can change and rebuild the house, but the lot will remain the same. Bigger is not always better. For growing families, it could mean bigger playgrounds, gardening option, or enough room for a pool. It could also mean heavier maintenance work and expense. The lot’s shape and grade will determine the type of house you can built.

Home Size – You have to provide enough room for each present and future member of the family, including pets. Babies will need nursery rooms, toddlers need playrooms, and teenagers need bedrooms of your own. Parents need the privacy of their own rooms. How many children do you have or planning to have? Do you have a hobby that needs a room? Are you working from home? You can convert rooms over time to meet the needs, but you should have the space for all the rooms you need in your Brisbane home.

The Rooms and Layout –When drafting the plans and designs of the house, work your day-to-day living into the layout. Make sure you have ample room for everything you need.  If you love cooking, you can expect longer hours spent in the kitchen. If you love entertaining, dedicate a room for it. Into reading? Add a library, or reading nooks. Open floor layouts are popular because it’s a space saver that incorporates several rooms into one.

The Family Room – Designate a comfortable family room where you can let the children play, took out and leave around their toys, and watch TV – separate and away from the formal living area where you entertain guests. Clutter is contained and kids will have a place of their own. It can be right next to your kitchen where you can monitor your kids or in a loft or a spare room upstairs. Family rooms can later be converted into a bedroom, a hobby room, a home office or a small gym.

Bedroom Sizes – Younger kids don’t want big rooms, instead they prefer sharing room with their siblings. However, make sure that you have a spare room to convert into another bedroom when they start asking for a room of their own. Size of your kids’ room will depend on available space. One thing you don’t compromise is your own bedroom. Remember that you will be living in that a house for a very long time, don’t cramp your living space.

The Bathrooms – It is important to determine the number of bathrooms you need in the house. Are you willing to share bathrooms with other members of your family? How about with guests? Two and a half bathrooms is customary in family homes one en-suite the master bedroom, one in the upstairs hallway for kids’ use, and a powder room downstairs – just lavatory and sink. Older kids may want to have their own bathroom. Bathrooms are expensive to build and maintain. A good number is to provide one for every two members of the family.

Home Maintenance Costs – Costs are always a huge factor to consider when building a family. Most will only look into the upfront cost of construction and fail to consider the costs of adequately maintaining a home. These costs have a huge impact on your monthly budget. Bigger homes offer more living space, but will also means higher heating or cooling bills. Tile roofs are pretty, but would cost a fortune to replace. Glass walls allow maximum lighting, but might not be as sturdy a brick wall. Pool maintenance is a lot more expensive than mowing grass.

If you need help or guidance, there are always an expert who can help. Call us to know more about your home building options. Click here to get in touch with the best real estate agents who can help you find property investments or build your home in Brisbane.