Buying a house...

[ihop]

In the next year I am hoping to buy a new home. Maybe the one I live in now but not sure yet. Anyway... I am wondering, in a perfect world, what would you look for in a new home?

The one I live in now is 1400sqft, ranch style, 3bed 2bath. Very open floor plan so the entryway is the living room/playroom and opens up into dining room then kitchen the back door. I like the open floor plan but am wondering if some sort of division throughout the house would make daycare easier....

In my area the size is pretty typical unless you go with a split level.

I figured I'd come ask the pros!

Any thoughts?

[melilley]

A separate daycare space!!!!

If that's not possible, I have a 3 bdrm. ranch where the kitchen, dining room, and family room are fairly open, but I also have a living room that I use as the daycare room that I can see into from the dining and family room, but there is a doorway where I put a stationary gate and I love it! All of the toys except for 3 baskets of infant toys are in there and separate from the rest of the house. I do use the rest of my house for daycare too, but if I want the kids to only be in the playroom, I have that option.

I would love to have a separate space, but I don't and they way I have it now is working out well so far!

[BrooklynM]

My house has worked out rather nicely, although an extra bedroom would be nice! My house is 1700 sq feet, 3 bd 2 ba but I have a seperate family room and living room so one of those is my exclusive daycare room. We don't use it for anything else (my kids are 12&14).It is in view of the kitchen so I don't have to take my eyes off the kids while I'm making snacks or lunch. I also have about 250 sq feet of a covered patio that is attached to the daycare room that I laid down foam tiles on. I love having my living room after hours being completely kid/daycare free!

I think neighborhood is very important, also. I have a Quad stroller and I take the kids for a daily walk around the neighborhood. It's my way of staying sane. If your house is working for you now and you can buy it, then not moving sounds like a good plan to me!

[melilley]

I love having my living room after hours being completely kid/daycare free!

I think neighborhood is very important, also. I have a Quad stroller and I take the kids for a daily walk around the neighborhood. It's my way of staying sane. If your house is working for you now and you can buy it, then not moving sounds like a good plan to me!

I love taking walks in my neighborhood! I don't do field trips so this is like going on one...

[jenboo]

I bought my house a little over a year ago with my daycare in mind. I love the set up but could use one more bedroom. The house is full and we havent even started a family yet!

4 bedrooms, 2 bathroom, living room/formal dinning room, kitchen and family room.

All the bedrooms are on the right side of the house. dog door from master bedroom to side yard (dogs are not allowed in the main part of the backyard). The middle of the house is the living room/ formal dining room. No daycare kids allowed in there. Then the left side of the house is the kitchen and family room (dc room). Its one big room with a baby gate dividing the kitchen from daycare room. Its perfect because i can cook lunch and clean the kitchen and watch the kids all at the same time!! Then there is a sliding glass door off the dc room to the backyard. The parents come down left left side yard, through the sliding glass door and into the dc room. I LOVE the set up! The only thing i would change is a larger family/dc room. It works but bigger would be better