House buying or renting priorities change when you have children – there is so much more you need to take into consideration when looking at both the property itself and the surrounding areas.

To help you find the perfect home for your family, we take a look at five things to consider when you’re planning your next move with your family.

1: School Districts

What school district a property falls into is one of the key considerations when buying a home. If your child is already at school then you may want to remain in the same district, so that they are not moving school as well as moving house.

If your child or children have  not started school yet, or if you are moving further afield to a different school district, it can be worth checking Education Scotland’s latest inspection report and visiting the schools to learn a bit more about them.

Our local area guide pages let you know what schools are in each town, as well as if there is a nursery for the little ones. 

2: Safe Streets

If your child is of an age where they will walk to school by themselves, or will go out to visit friends, how busy the roads are can be an important factor – especially at the rush hour times when they may be walking.

It’s a good idea to walk to the local school to check the route as well as how long it will take for your child on their journey. On your walk, look out for factors such whether the school has a crossing guard and if are there plenty of lamp posts on at night.

3: Room to Grow

When looking for your next property, it’s always a good idea to make sure that you have room to grow as a family, especially if you are planning to stay there for a long time.

That small room might be fine for your four-year-old son now, but will it still be a good fit when he is fourteen? If you are planning on having two younger children share a room, this can also be something to think about – at what age will they need to have their own rooms?

4: Garden

A great garden is always a must for the perfect family home, allowing space for play.

However, depending on where the property is based, and the age of your children, there may be other factors to take into consideration to ensure your child stays safe when  playing outside. For example, has the garden got a fence and, is it secure?

If your chosen property does not have a garden, is there a nearby local park they can play?

Some new developments will have a dedicated play park for children, meaning that your child won’t need to stray too far from home to be entertained.

5:  Make enquiries locally

It’s a good idea to speak to the current owners of the property you are interested in, especially if they have children, to find out more about the local area and where nearby amenities for children are.

If the owners don’t have children, they may be able to point you in the direction of a nearby neighbour that does, or you may be able to tell by toys in the front garden!

After all, who is better to fill you in on the area itself than locals, who can tell you all about the local school and any other useful information?

Do you have any more tips for people looking to buy a family home? Let us know in the comments.