Raising a family is no easy task. You need to plan everything around it, including where you would live.
The good news is that apartment-hunting for your growing family can be a straightforward process. You just need to have a systematic approach and know what you’re looking for to yield desirable results.
To help you out, below are the top five things you should consider when looking at apartments for sale or rent in Dubai:
Neighbourhood
You need to answer several questions about the neighbourhood before you can consider it fit to be your new home. Walk around the community to get a sense of what it’s like to live there.
Assess the general demographics of the neighbourhood. What is the age range of the people who live there? What are their typical professions?
Then, figure out whether the space is family-friendly. Look for signs of the presence of children, like toys on balconies or bicycles in the park. Also, ask around about the noise situation, especially if you have a baby or plan to have one soon.
Make sure you check the overall safety and security of the area, though you should know that Dubai has one of the lowest crime rates in the world.
It also pays to have a complete set of amenities nearby, including grocery stores and restaurants. Malls also have almost everything you could ever need, so it’s good to have one within walking distance from your new home.
You should also determine the apartment’s proximity to a reputable hospital or family clinic in Dubai, especially if there are little ones in your brood. Parks and playgrounds are also a plus for families with children.
Roads and Parking
Besides demographics, safety, and amenities, make sure you look at the road and traffic conditions in the area when looking for an apartment. Don’t close the deal without checking where you can park your car (if you have one) and know any pertinent rules related to it.
In addition, look for a place with a reliable public transportation network nearby. This way, you can have an alternative way of getting around, regardless if you have a private vehicle to drive.
Using public transport can help you save time, effort, and stress. It can also reduce your gasoline consumption and car maintenance expenses.
Schools
Living in an apartment near the best schools in the city is also a smart choice for growing families. The last thing you want is for your children to spend a long time on the road when they should be maximising their spare time developing into the best versions of themselves.
Fortunately, there are residential areas with public and private schools built within the community.
For example, the internationally recognised schools in Dubai Festival City that follow British and American curriculum can be appealing, especially with prime apartments for sale around the neighbourhood.
If you consider school a top priority, you can also use one as the axis of your search, working your way around the establishment for potential apartments within a two-kilometre radius.
Besides your children’s education, living near schools also offers the following extra perks:
- Higher apartment appreciation rates
- Transportation cost savings
- Peace of mind for your children’s safety
- Your Budget
Price is probably the most vital factor in choosing a new apartment to buy or rent. In fact, you can narrow down your options faster if you set a budget for your new home before you hit the real estate market.
Besides, having a budget also lets you picture the type of home you should be looking for, allowing you to save time by dropping all the options outside what you consider to be the agreeable price range. It can also dictate which neighbourhoods qualify for your apartment search.
Of course, you always have the option to increase your budget if you’re after a specific location. In this case, you just need to cut back on other expenses.
Besides the cost of the property itself, you also need to factor in your daily budget to cover the utility charges, bills, and your daily expenses after you move.
Research the average rent or mortgage for a property in your chosen neighbourhood. Add that to your living expenses based on the general cost of living in the area, plus the other potential expenses you may incur, such as:
- Taxes
- Apartment upkeep (e.g., updates before you move and future maintenance)
- Transportation (e.g., fare, petrol, vehicle maintenance)
- Leisure expenses (e.g., vacations, shopping, etc.)
Take all that and calculate a monthly budget based on how much you earn to determine the apartment’s affordability (your earnings versus total expenditures). This will help you make a fully informed decision about the apartment you choose.
- The Apartment Itself
Finally, you need to consider the apartment itself and how it fits into your family’s lifestyle and unique circumstances.
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Factor in the members of your family.
Will you have more children in the near future? If so, you may need to invest in a larger place to prepare for new additions to your brood. This also determines how many bedrooms and bathrooms an apartment should have.
However, if you think you’ll be an empty nester soon, you may want to cut back on the space instead. The key is to balance all the factors and think about what your life would be like in a few years.
Also, take a good look at the place and decide whether it’s a good fit in terms of design and functionality.
For example, the kitchen layout should cater to your family’s ideal way of cooking. Some families leave the task to one person while others take it as an opportunity to bond and require a larger, more open space.
Does your family have an active lifestyle? Look for an apartment with extra space for working out or playing sports, be it indoors or outdoors.
And don’t forget to consider the level of maintenance the structure needs.
Find Your Perfect Home
Every individual has their own preferences, situations, and requirements in an apartment. This means you’ll look for one based on the unique circumstances in your life.
Use this article as a guide when selecting an apartment for a growing family to make sure you find the perfect home just for you.