One of the reasons we buy a house is because we have or are planning to have children. We focus a lot on the house and property itself, but if you think back to your own childhood, it was very much about the friends you made. It was also about the freedom to play on the street, have fun and be safe. Many of us have life long friends because we grew up together, played together and perhaps went to school together.
How do you find places like that? One place I’d look would be a cul-de-sac. A dead-end street. Somewhere that doesn’t have a lot of traffic. The last thing you want is a busy street where you are afraid to let your kids go past the gate unsupervised.
Going for a walk in the street where the house you are interested in is a good idea.
If there are kids, you might see a group playing and get an idea of their age group. You’ll see swings, trampolines and maybe bikes parked up by the footpath.
That will tell you that not only are there kids around, but their parents feel safe having them play on or near the road. In my area I often see parents working in the garage, or looking out from the kitchen. That means they are not only looking out for their kids, but will be aware if there is anything to be concerned about for other kids.
If you see a group of kids playing on the street, you’ll be able to gauge the age group as well as see how they play and interact together.
With all that activity you should also have the confidence that most people driving on the street will be aware that there may be kids around, so will drive with more caution.
If it’s a long way away, you might find that a virtual along the street with Google Street View will give you an idea of whether it is a child friendly area.
You can look pretty much at any street in the world from the comfort of your home, like this one in Antioch, California. Looks like a great sport for a family to me….
SoLoMo Consulting 