“Our son Sanjay was born three years ago and that is when we decided to buy our current house. It did not cross my mind then that we should be picking a house which is close to playschools and parks or with a demographic that is similar age to ours,” says Satyan Aravamudhan, a business development executive in the city. This could be anybody’s story.

All of us tend to think about the budget, additional expenses, proximity to your workplace but seldom does anyone think of children while buying a property. Here are some tips you should consider before investing in a house.

Safety

Welcoming an additional member in your family is a beautiful feeling but apart from baby proofing your house, have you made sure that you have child-friendly neighbourhood? Ensure that whether it is on rent or capital, the neighbourhood is safe, well-lit and easily accessible. Societies these days lay emphasis on constant vicinity monitoring through CCTVs as well as security guards so that there are layers of checks.

Accessibility

Raising children is no game. Frequent trips to the paediatrician’s, health centres, chemist, creches, schools, parks and play areas is inevitable. Hence, keep location convenience in mind. Opt for homes close to workplaces because after a busy and long day, you wouldn’t want to compromise on your family time by getting caught up in traffic.

If you are looking out for a nanny or help, mind that an area that is favourably located and has enough settlers will be more accessible for any domestic help.

Demography

In the long run, the demography does matter. Is your locality a place where children can play around other kids of their own age? Here is a case in point.

Alex Rajan has two boys and the society he had bought into was not very child-friendly. There were restrictions on play time because much of the populace that lived in the society were senior citizens. Notices were put up regarding when children should be allowed to play. Rajan says, “4 pm to 5.30 pm was the only time allowed for kids because before and post this timing seniors and other residents were either strolling in the parks or resting. It can be very problematic for couples with young kids because children need to play and cannot be restricted all the time.” Rajan and family have shifted to another society currently where the demography consists of settlers with almost the same profile, interests and age as Rajan.

Source Sneha Sharon Mammen, Times Property, Magicbricks Bureau/ Chennai