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Searching for the right apartment home for your family is an important task, with a lot of things to think about. It doesn’t have to be an impossible task though, if you go about it the right way.
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First, calculate your budget. Apartment prices can vary widely for renting and buying in different areas, so it’s worth looking around a little to see which area you can afford to live in. You might find an area you hadn’t considered is actually ideal for your fam
When you start to view apartments, remember to consider what’s nearby. What are the local schools like? Are there any parks or good play areas you could walk to? Do any of the neighbours have children close in age to yours?
Think about how much space your family needs. Apartments can be small, so compromises might have to be made. Will the children have to share a bedroom? Is there room for everyone to play without taking over any adult spaces? Buying an apartment off the plan can allow you to make some changes to the floorplan to suit your needs.
Don’t feel you need to take the kids to see every apartment you want to view. For a first viewing, it’s better to leave them at home, so you can concentrate and ask the agent any questions. If you like somewhere, bring the children for your second viewing. This is their chance to ask any questions and see where they could live. Try and make the experience fun and listen to their concerns or questions. Take the opportunity to explore the area at the same time to make sure it works for your family. Try out a nearby play area, have lunch at a cafe and walk around to discover things like where the nearest shops are. As a family, you can picture what life might be like there.
If your children are old enough, you could give them some tasks of their own to do during a viewing. You could ask them to be in charge of taking pictures of the apartment, or making notes of any details. For smaller children, help them to remember things about each apartment by asking them to draw a room they like or a map of the apartment. It’s a good distraction and helps to fix details of the apartment they see in their minds.
Some children find the idea of moving upsetting. Work with them to help them come to terms with the idea. Perhaps you could ask them to design their dream bedroom and talk about what parts of that design you could have in your new home. During a viewing, make sure to point out the fun, positive things about the place, such as seeing a child of similar age that could be their friend in the hallway, or noticing how close the apartment is to the swimming pool.
However you choose to approach it, you’ll be finding your family’s new home.
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