We are currently in the process of looking to move/relocate to a completely different area of the country. Being quite far from the area we are looking at moving to is making it very difficult to go and view properties. Especially as we have a toddler. As anyone with a toddler will know, they get bored quite easily and need entertaining. Yes the idea of looking at and exploring new houses is fun the first few times. However by the time you are on house number 8 of the day, you just want to cry and go to the nearest pub and drink.
So here are my top tips for house hunting with a toddler.
- First of all – if you have a baby/toddler/child(s) it would probably be much easier to leave them with family member/friend/babysitter/anyone the first time you go and view potential new homes. Take the kids on the second viewing, however if, like us, you can’t then PLAN! I cannot stress this enough.
- PLAN, PLAN, PLAN. The first time we headed down there we saw 3/4 properties. We didn’t use our time wisely, we spread the viewings out thinking this would be good. It wasn’t. There was a lot of wasted time. Time that could have been spent looking at new property. The second visit we did 7 viewings in a row. We even printed out a map and worked out the best order to see them in. We averaged out how long each viewing would take, and worked out the time it would take to get to the next one.
- Try and book the viewings for early in the day. Not too early though, you definitely need to have breakfast/3 cups of coffee before you start. That way your toddler has a lot of energy and doesn’t get too grumpy/bored. You will also have more enthusiasm at the beginning of the day.
- Don’t book viewings around lunchtime!! We made this mistake the second time, and we ended up shoving a sandwich in our face as we ran from one house to the next. Not a good look arriving to greet an estate agent with food all down your front!
- Try and involve your child in the decision making process. Obviously if they are too young and don’t really understand then this doesn’t matter too much. However don’t forget they are also going to be living and growing up there. Is it somewhere you would have wanted to do that? Show them their potential new room, garden. Try and work out if they like it.
Has anyone else attempted to go house hunting with a toddler? Do you have any tips for when the big move comes? I’m really not looking forward to packing up our home into boxes with Clem around. I’m pretty sure the more I put things in a box, the more she is going to take out!
No tips for house hunting with a toddler but, if you’re getting a removal firm to do all the heavy lifting, get them to quote for packing your things, too – our last move, they got the whole flat packed up in a few hours and it cost less than £100 extra. Some of the best money I’ve ever spent.
I agree with involving your children in making the decisions. We did the same and it really helped with the transition process. #KCACOLS
You’re very brave – we have the choice of extending and thus living on a building site for three months or so, or moving, and I must say the second seems scarier! #KCACOLS
Best of luck with your house hunt! No advice on moving with a toddler though – we moved into our current place when I was pregnant and I vowed never to move again! I feel your pain on the packing though – my son just loves to empty a box! #KCACOLS
I totally love this!! You are so very brave, I can’t imagine dragging my 16 month old from house to house, he would be such a CRAB!! These are some awesome tips though, considering we will be house hunting in the next couple of years. I really like the idea of involving your children, making them feel important is always helpful!! Thanks so much for sharing <3 #KCACOLS
So brave to go house hunting with a toddler in tow! Why is it that kids love to take everything back out of boxes?! Good luck with the move. #kcacols
Hope you find something soon, can’t even imagine how difficult the house hunting must be with a toddler. Hopefully we are in our forever home now (unless we build at some stage). House hunting is a nightmare at the best of times even with no children! #KCACOLS
Great post! We’ll have a toddler when we start house hunting and I can imagine it to be a stressful experience! #kcacols
Really useful advice! We keep talking about moving as our house is a little small for us now, but I can’t imagine actually having to pack everything up and move with 2 children in tow! x #KCACOLS
Lots of great advice! We will be moving next year but thankfully we have found the house – it just needs to be built!
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday
There are some good tips here Ky, I can imagine it must be stressful for you especially if you don’t live nearby. Fast forward 1 or 2 years and this’ll be us, making the big move out of London (argh). Claire x #KCACOLS
We have just moved but with a 6yr old and a baby so a bit different. I would just say accept any offers of help for move day because it’s really handy to have extra bodies around who may play with your toddler or make him a snack while you tell people where to put things or begin unpacking. #KCACOLS
We’ve just started house hunting and went to our first viewing last weekend with toddler in tow… Luckily he was fine and enjoyed exploring! Luckily ours are on our doorstep, not the other part of the country…. Good luck!
#kcacols
I’ll be looking for a rental soon and I’ll have to hide him! No one is going to rent to me if they see the mischief in his eyes 🙂
Wow! such a nice post! The tips are very useful. We are planing to start house hunting soon, And we will be using your tips for sure. Great post though!