The 21st century family home looks very different to the standard nuclear family set-up of post-war Britain. A number of factors have influenced this change. In 2016, larger numbers of young people are living at home for longer before moving out due to rising house prices and a higher cost of living.
More parents now work from home, with better broadband and mobile phone cover plus flexible working hours less of a dream and more of a reality. Grandparents living in the family home have returned to the mix, as carers for young children where both parents are working flat-out to cover high mortgages, or as regular sleep-over visitors when required to help out.
In this context, a family property needs to evolve to the changing needs of the multi-generations it supports, providing a flexible living space that can switch and adapt over time. This presents house builders with an exciting challenge to rise to this need, using space innovatively and incorporating progressive design ideas to produce high quality new build family homes for life.
With this in mind, buying a new build home for a growing family can be a daunting task. Here are the most important factors to consider:
- Lay-out – a new build must offer flexible living space that can be adapted as the children grow from babies through the primary school years, into teenagers and young adults. Additional guest bedrooms for when the grandparents or other relatives and friends come to stay may also be a consideration, with the flexibility for rooms to be transformed into office space for those working from home or music /study rooms when needed.
- A central family space – the open plan kitchen / dining room is a feature of all new build family homes nowadays, a space to eat together, supervise homework and revision, catch up over tea and cake, entertain, or wind down after a busy day.
- Private space – it’s equally important to have areas for private time away from the hustle and bustle of family life. A cosy living room space, large bedrooms and study rooms away from the main living area are essential for a happy home. In addition, solid quality walls and good insulation are as important for noise reduction as they are for energy efficiency.
- Location - moving into a good area with excellent local amenities and a strong sense of community is a major priority for many families. A range of shopping options, doctor and dental surgeries and leisure opportunities are key. Living with other families in the same development provides opportunities for children to make friends and play together. Access to a variety of good state and private schools, both primary and secondary, is another consideration as well as good transport links, road connections and bus services for those in the household commuting to work.
- Bathrooms – a choice of bathrooms, en-suite facilities and smaller WCs saves rows in the morning, provides choice and generally makes a rather obvious if delicate major contribution to a happier family life!
- Safety and security - buying a new build in a development that has a secure area for children to play in and walk to and from their friends’ homes, away from the main road and busy areas, is essential. Good quality windows and secure doors are another important feature.
- Private outdoor space – French doors leading from the kitchen/ diner to the back garden are a great asset to any family, with space outside for young children to play safely. Of course, a good sized garden is of benefit to all members of the family, whatever their age, as is access to larger, public green spaces, parks, woodland, cycle and walking paths. Add to this a parking space, either in a driveway or on the street plus a garage and the stress of everyday life is greatly reduced.
- Low running costs – over a lifetime, a family home with good energy saving features seems an obvious factor when thinking about running costs. Quality double-glazing, energy efficient boilers, and a high standard of wall insulation are crucial.
- Ample storage space - this is high up many customers priority list when house hunting for a new build. Areas for long-term storage of, for instance, bedlinen, seasonal items and nostalgic objects are a factor as well as short-term storage for food and outdoor clothing. Built-in wardrobes provide easy–access storage space while a utility room with dedicated space for muddy wellies and shoes plus domestic appliances like washing machines, hoovers and ironing board is essential for the smooth running of the household.
- And finally, technology – good access to an efficient broadband and mobile phone signal goes without saying but is an important factor to consider. Try explaining to your teenage child that he or she can’t use their mobile phone at home or to your boss that you can’t access emails from home and life will be considerably more difficult for you!
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Richmond Homes has a number of family homes on offer that fit these criteria, both in rural and urban settings – more details can be found at www.richmondhomes.co.uk
