Finding the right apartment, condo, or house to rent can be a difficult task on its own, but throw kids into the mix and it\u2019s a whole new ballgame. Why? Well, one, there\u2019s a lot of extra points and safety hazards\u00a0to\u00a0consider when you have children; Are there stairs? Do you need extra bedrooms and bathrooms? Is there a fenced-in yard? And two, believe it or not, some\u00a0landlords fear renting to families with young children for potential damages and noise. Crazy (and kinda rude), right?\u00a0So, when you\u2019re on the hunt for the perfect new pad for you and your kiddos, you\u2019ll want to first take some notes. Write out a list of necessities before starting your search, so you know exactly what you\u2019re looking for and\u00a0don\u2019t get sidetracked settling on a new home\u00a0that isn\u2019t ideal. Below are a few helpful\u00a0tips to help you through the process.<\/p>\n
Location, Location, Location.<\/strong>\u00a0Yes, living near a park\u00a0or in walking-distance of a great grocery store is\u00a0nice, but there are more things to consider about your possible new \u2018hood. First and foremost, you want to make sure there are no red-flags in terms of safety and security for your kids. Child-friendly areas usually have yellow street signs and speed bumps warning cars to drive slow and be wary. You\u2019ll also want to look into the surrounding school-zones and consider proximity,\u00a0your children\u2019s ages, and education preferences\u00a0when house-hunting. Nearby playgrounds and libraries are always a bonus, but make sure\u00a0to research and visit each one to make sure\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0both a\u00a0secure and family-friendly environment.\u00a0If you truly want to get a good idea of what it\u2019s like to live in a\u00a0specific area, apartment building, or neighborhood, strike up a conversation with\u00a0people who live there and ask questions.<\/p>\n Potential Safety Hazards.<\/strong>\u00a0Let\u2019s face it\u2014not all rentals are equipped for kids. Check for any steep or slick staircases, loose or wide railings, low windows or broken locks, and low visibility of doors, sidewalks, and\u00a0streets. Have the space checked\u00a0for mold or other contaminants before renting\u00a0and always make sure the rental comes with working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.\u00a0Watch out for homes that have surrounding\u00a0busy streets or highways\u00a0and if the neighborhood or complex has a pool, hot tub, or other body of water, make sure they are fenced in and not\u00a0easily accessible to children.<\/p>\n Amenities Checklist.<\/strong>\u00a0This is where you need to decide what is a \u201cmust\u201d and what is a \u201cplus\u201d. Kids require a lot of space to play both inside and outdoors, so keep that in mind when comparing new homes. Ideally, you\u2019ll want a place with a decent amount of storage space for toys, clothes, and necessities,too. Remember,\u00a0kids are messy, so skip the carpet, if possible, as this will save you from\u00a0carpet stains and potential cleaning fees. With apartments and\u00a0condos, note the number of stairs leading up to it, as a lot of renters tend to overlook this in the beginning and end up regretting it with kids, strollers, and pets. And try to find\u00a0a place with an on-site washer and dryer. Hitting up the laundromat\u00a0each week with the kiddies in-tow can be exhausting.<\/p>\n Know The Risks.<\/strong>\u00a0You may already be dreaming of how you\u2019re going to decorate your new place, but know that your search for the perfect home may be a little more extensive you think. Many property owners fear kids coloring on walls, scuffing up floors and countertops, causing permanent stains, and so on. It\u2019s best to go with a complex or landlord that\u2019s completely open to renting to a family, so there is no tension or problems down the road. And be a good tenant. Make sure to take care of your new home and notify the landlord as soon as something needs fixing. This will ensure that you get your deposit back once it\u2019s time to move on.<\/p>\n Decision-Making.<\/b>\u00a0After you\u2019ve found and reviewed a few places that you like, you\u2019ll want to sit down and make a pro and con list for each one, listing out what you loved and what you didn\u2019t love. This greatly helps the decision process, so you can be in your new place in next-to-no time.<\/p>\n Written by<\/em>\u00a0James Kicinski-McCoy<\/p>\n Photography by<\/em>\u00a0Photo and artwork by James Casebere<\/p>\n