Moving to a new home can be both exciting and difficult,
especially for children. Including them in the house hunting process can help
ensure that the transition goes smoothly. It’s best not to take the kids to
every house you’re considering, but to wait and let them view the major
prospects. For those with very young children and babies, it is advisable to
hire a baby sitter to either accompany you to the showings or to keep them at
home. After all, house hunting can be a daunting job, and requires focus. There
will be situations when bringing the younger members of the family along is the
only way. Here are a few pointers for those times.
Discuss Your Expectations - Before you ever begin the trip to view property,
have a discussion with your children about the do’s and don’ts of house
hunting. Let them know from the moment they get into the realtor’s car, that
they must be on their best behavior. Explain that they will be touring someone
else’s’ home and that they should stay with you at all times. They should also
be respectful and gentle, and look with their eyes, not with their hands. Also
let them know that every thought about the home in question needn’t be put into
words, especially negative thoughts. Finally, make them aware that how they
feel about each house is important to you, but the ultimate decision will be up
to the adults.
Timing Is Everything - You know your children better than anyone, so use that
to your advantage when it comes to scheduling house tours. Tired, hungry,
cranky kids can turn the entire experience into a huge waste of time. Give your
realtor an indication of which times will be optimal for the entire crew, so he
or she can plan accordingly.
Pack A Survival Kit - Again, you know your kids best and which diversions will
make house hunting with them doable. Think about having several items for each
child, including mess-free snacks. Please be mindful of when and where they
have their snacks and be sure to have a litterbag and wipes on hand.
If you don’t already have a portable DVD player, now may be the right time to
invest in one. Driving all over town looking at real estate can take hours.
Time spent in the car can be the most difficult part of house hunting. Also
consider a change of clothes, a ball, bubbles, or sidewalk chalk for a park
stopover.
Make Them Part Of The Process-Before you begin looking at homes, sit down with
your children and formulate a checklist on paper for each house that you see.
Have blank spaces for the street address, number of rooms, pros and cons, and
extra space for each child’s overall impression. For younger kids who cannot
write, use a simple form with pictures and stickers such as smiley and frowny
faces so they can communicate their thoughts about each house. Develop your
family real estate checklist and print out copies. Supply the kids with
clipboards and pencils and enlist them as your personal assistants. Having
extra sets of eyes during a walk through will help you and keep them busy.
Reward Good Behavior - To insure long-term success, reward good behavior!
Finding the right house takes time and to continue on a smooth path, keep the
positive reinforcement coming. Acknowledge that you understand that looking at
houses is probably not their idea of fun. Pay back their good behavior with small
treats or special activities, so they will associate the house hunting process
as a good thing!
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