What Are Customers With Families Looking For In A Home? 

When dealing with family oriented buyers, which may include grand parents, there are many areas to keep     in mind when chosing homes for the buyer to preview. 

Buyers think in terms of safety when a growing family is involved.  Considerations should include, traffic   patterns, fenced in yards, proximity to schools. Other considerations would include extra bathrooms,  extra   bedrooms and quiet ares to study and learn.  We also have to allow for indoor and outdoor recreation with safety again, being the highest priority. 

Kids - Their Space

Age & gender play a big part in deciding the size and the location of kid's bedrooms.  Do the parents want the kids rooms to be a shared experience or multi-purpose rooms or do they want the children to have separate spaces for study and play time.  These are all key points for a realtor® to address with the parents. 

Based on their age, we have to make sure there is sufficient space for the child to grow into.  Most parents want their children's rooms on the same floor as the master bedroom. However, a teenager may want their space to be away from the family as they mature.  For example, a room or two in the basement.  They also may want to entertain their teenage friends and a multi purpose room for study and entertaining may be appropriate. Let's not forget that extra bathroom.  Teenagers are looking for privacy. 

Other areas to consider: 

1) Storage space, 2) Safe exit for emergencies 3) Convenience & accessibility for adult supervision

Multi-Purpose Rooms

Families want their space together and apart from each other.  Depending on the price-point of the buyer, this may be a tall order to fill.  Consideration should be given to rooms that allow the family to participate as a family.  The dining room should be large enough to accomodate family and guests if possible. A room near the front of the home to greet guests that will not inconvenience or disrupt the rest of the family is an added bonus.  Some homes have a multi-purpose or bonus room on the same level as the bedrooms.  This allows the children to study or entertain their friends away from the main area of the home such as a great room or family room. 

Outdoor Play Areas  

The prime consideration for children should be their safety. If a home has a playgroud or play set, it should be inspected.  Is there a risk in using the equipment. This is no different than having a pool.  The home owner needs to have essential precautions in place.  A pool safety expert might be a great step to help make an informed decision as to the best safety equipment to have installed.  Besides suitable fencing, a pool cover and more specifically an electronically controlled cover might be a great option to ensure a safe environment.  Make sure that you meet the minimum standards of pool safety for your area.  Check with your local government agency. 

Let's remember, nothing is more important than proper and constant parental supervision to keep your kids safe.

Safety - Comfort - Privacy - Expansion

As with any buyer, the key for the realtor® is to ask the right questions and listen to the answers to determine the priority to the customer. But looking for a home that is safe, comfortable has the right amount of privacy and room to expand for a growing family are important to finding the right home for your family oriented customers.

As our population continues to age, we have to be very cognizant of those young families who are looking for their peice of the American Dream. As you have read in this article, there are different priorities for families than those buyers who are single or empty nesters. 

Thanksgiving

The picture above brings back pleasant memories from last Thanksgiving. It is a time to be thankful for all our family and friends. The Cornucopia is a symbol of "an abundant supply of good things".  This should remind us to reflect on our bounty and how fortunate we are for what we have.

I am blessed to live in a very special place.  When you look around at the majestic scenery and stare at the night sky, breathe in the crisp pine scented air while listening to the sounds of nature in the background, you can't be anything but thankful. All your senses become heightened.  You realize how alive you are.

Fortunately, most of us can reflect in the same way as I mentioned above,  but what about those who are not as blessed?  At the very least, we can implore to a higher power to help those people who are in need.  If it is within our ability, we can also share our bounty with our neighbors and community and help those who are disadvantaged.

The Thanksgiving table is another symbol of being thankful for our abundance. To me, it is the perfect representation of friends and family getting together to celebrate as one unit sharing stories and memories as well as that all important meal!  Your Thanksgiving table serves as a focal point during this special gathering of all the important people in your life.  The attention you put into the table decorations adds to the ambience and sets the mood for the occasion.

Below you will find a few tips to bring delight to your guests and help celebrate the holiday season.

Eye Catching Centerpieces ~ Vivid Harvest & Autumn Color ~ Other Table Ideas 

This is one example of hundreds of creative ideas you can use to focus attention onto your table.  Remember that you do not want your centerpiece to interfere with the ability of your guests to talk across the table as well as pass your sumptuous meal that you have prepared.  You can always pull the centerpiece off the table and set it on another area that can add a dimension of ambiance to the room. This will allow space for the main dish to be served from the center of then table.  If you are creating mood light with candles don't forget to keep flammables clear of the flames.

Fall offers such an array of Autumn colors to adorn your table. There are the rich reds and scarlet  hues, golden yellows and deep orange shades as well as a splash of green (light or dark) to add an undertone to your rich palette. Using faux foliage combined with berries and leaves can only add to an already warm and inviting setting.





Of course no table is settled without the fruit of the season. Cranberry and pumpkin are probably the most well known but don't ignore other strains of squash and often forgotten persimmon. Hold overs from early in the season include, apples, grapes, berries, pears and yes, even cherries. Fruit can not only be  used as table decoration, it is a perfect light fare to have after your main course has been served.  This leads us into the realm of Fall desserts.

Besides the traditional pumpkin pie, there are hundreds of creative mouth watering ideas including pumpkin & spice breads, fruit turnovers and strudels, cookies and carmel drizzled ice creams.  Other classics such as apple & pecan pie, cheese cakes & mousse delights. Oh! Don't forget the nuts. Some of us like to crack our own.  Yummmm!  So many of us feel guilty we partake in these sweet pleasures, so you may decide to serve bite size pieces of a variety of guilty pleasures to ease the compunction. This has become a very popular choice among your finest eating establishments.

Well, you can see that this tantalizing and delectable selection of treats will be the perfect cap off to any Thanksgiving meal and will help your celebration be a fond and warm memory for all.

May you and yours enjoy Thanksgiving that will provide a life time of memories.

If you are in the market to buy or sell Sedona real estate or Verde Valley property, please call Sheri Sperry @ (928) 274-7355 or visit her website @ www.eSedona.biz .  Happy Holidays!

© eSedona.biz, sperryr.com, azsedona.biz