Preparing Your Kids For Your First Home Purchase

Posted on Nov 7 2017 - 10:44am by Editorial Staff

Living in rented accommodation can be practical when you’re young, but when it comes to starting a family, you may wish to put your roots down somewhere more permanent.

Getting a foot on the property ladder is an important step and moving to a new area can bring a whole host of exciting possibilities. However, when it comes to making changes, kids don’t always share our enthusiasm, and a house move can be unsettling to even the most secure of family units.

With this in mind, here’s how to prepare your kids for the transition to your own home.

Be Positive

However worried you might feel about the prospect of moving house, try not to let this show in front of your kids. Some children don’t respond well to change, and it may take them some time to adjust to their new arrangement, even if it is a positive one. Instead, treat the move like an adventure. Explain there are uncertainties, and that things are bound to feel a bit strange for a while, but that this is for the greater good of the family, and it’s going to be exciting once you’re in your new home.

Let Them Make Decisions

It’s common for kids to feel they lack control, particularly if they’re moving somewhere new begrudgingly. As a parent, you know what’s best for your child, and the decision to move into your own home is not one you’ll have come to lightly, so don’t feel guilty — even if your child is kicking up a fuss about moving away. Instead, give your back some of the control by asking them to make important decisions about the home move. Let your child choose their bedroom, for example, and give him or her options about the furniture and decor. Consider your child’s input and help your child feel part of the process.

Explain the Risks

When it comes to buying a property, there are no guarantees until the day of completion, so be sure to explain this to your children. It’s tempting to keep them in the dark to avoid over-complicating the process or stressing them out, but kids are often smarter than we give them credit for. Rather than sugarcoating the process, explain there are risks of sellers pulling out, or that legal issues could get in the way of the move, and that you can only go one day at a time.

Despite that there are always uncertainties when it comes to moving house, you’ll want your purchase to be as smooth as possible. Make sure you buy through a trusted estate agent and consider hiring online conveyancing Solicitors in Bristol to help with the legal sideof the process. That way, your interests will be protected if something goes wrong in the chain.

Although there are risks associated with buying a property, giving the kids somewhere to call home and investing in your financial future is a sensible decision to make. Just make sure you include your children in the process and try to keep calm when the inevitable stress prevails.

About the Author

Editorial Staff at I2Mag is a team of subject experts.