What moms look for when buying a home. | JustlistedKNOXVILLE.com Open floor plans, a mud room, and an office off the main living space so parents can keep tabs on what kids are looking at online.
Traditionally, when people with children have looked to buy a new home, they were more concerned with neighborhood schools, walkability, and convenient shopping than with the actual layout of the home they’d be occupying.
Ten years ago, the only thing families were looking for was square footage and a large yard. Configuration of the home is more important now,” as people prefer open floor plans rather than separate dining and living rooms.
We see less and less formal spaces, as floor plans with separate dining rooms aren’t as preferable as a larger kitchen, often not just with one large central island, but two islands. Everything happens in the kitchen. Kids use the islands now for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Separate home offices are out too, replaced by an office nook off the main living space so that parents can keep tabs on what kids are looking at online. You want a family office that’s very visible with a direct sightline to the kitchen.
Moms want — a large kitchen space, open floor plan, and even laundry space on the same floor with room to fold laundry so they can keep an eye on everything.
The location of the garage also counts with many moms and parents. If there are stairs to and from the garage, are you going to be willing to go up and down them carrying a child in from the car.
Moms want — lots of built-in storage in bedrooms, attics, spaces under stairs and even hidden storage behind bookshelves where you can pile toys and clothes when company comes.
As kids get older, agents say that some clients want separate living areas for kids and adults.
Young families desire to be on the same floor but as the kids get older, have the master bedroom retreat on the main floor, and have the kids have their own space, with bedrooms on the separate floor and separated so they don’t share a common wall to allow for privacy. Daniel Goldstein is a personal-finance and real-estate reporter for MarketWatch. com