3 Things That Would Make The Perfect Home

Three years ago my partner and I were able to finally get our feet on the property ladder after a lot of hard work and saving up, we bought our first home. In the five years previous to this we'd rented numerous properties and when it came to rent day each month we begrudgingly paid and it felt like we were just throwing our money down the drain. We now pay our monthly mortgage without battling an eyelid because we know we are paying for our home, it's an investment for the kids and it's actually cheaper than what we paid in rent!

With the house being our first home and being first time buyers we only had so much money to work with and had to make sacrifices on what we originally had in mind. To be honest we were a little bit naive when it came to what things actually cost, I think that's a fault in most first time buyers. I had my hopes set on a detached or semi detached house with a front garden, big back garden and three bedrooms but in reality we ended up with a two bedroom large terrace, with a little front garden and a small back yard. We had to compromise on what we initially wanted but the property we bought was a bargain.

We've always had the plan to live here for so many years, sell for profit and buy something bigger. With that in mind here are three things that I'd like our next home to have.


1. More garden space.
Now don't get me wrong we do have a little front garden and that is better than nothing but I need our next house to have a large back garden. Noah is such an outdoorsy kid and I know that we'd spend so much time outside in a garden. We'd have a swing and slide set and perhaps even a little tree house (that isn't high - he's too clumsy for that!) he'd be in his element, he really would.

2. An attic conversion.
We are planning on converting the attic in the home we are in now and it is something we'll look for in our next property too. I think attic rooms make really cool bedrooms for children, they a great space for them to play and unwind and I always wanted one when I was a kid. We are currently looking at Solstro Roofwindows as that's one of the first thing we need to buy once we start the renovation in the next couple of months.

3. A dining kitchen.
We have a large dining room with a galley style kitchen extension and it's okay, it's practical but I find we rarely use the dining room. I'd much prefer a large dining kitchen as I could cook whilst the kids sit in the kitchen table waiting for me to serve it up, it would be perfect and great for socialising as a family after a long day at work and school.

What features do you think would make a perfect home?

20 comments:

  1. A storage room and a games room

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  2. Sounds perfect in an ideal world
    Would love more garden space

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  3. We are renting through a housing association and begrudge paying rent every month especially as we are in a two bedroom maisonette with five of us, we just want a bigger home, three bedrooms so we could have a bedroom instead of a blow up bed with the baby in her crib in the living room and a garden so our children can go outside to play, but we have been on the transfer list etc for over three years xxx

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  4. I think my ideal home would be accessible, as we have arthritis, etc. Though I /We would also want the property to be secure, and safe, etc. I'd like a utility room, as well as a garden ( with a reliable Gardner provided/available). As it would be nice to have laundry etc dealt with in a good sized utility room, rather than washing machine, etc in the kitchen. Space to leave ironing board up for use as and when required ( with housemaid available to deal with ironing, etc).

    A garden in which we could sit, relax, enjoy refreshments, enjoy a chat. Maybe a wooden gazebo, as shade can required at times. A well kept, pretty garden would be nice (all year round).

    Leisure and recreation would be nice. We would like to be able to go out to dine, go to the theatre, etc. Therefore location could be very important. As do not want too far to travel. We have worked for many years, and would love to have some relaxation, peace, leisure, etc.

    Can but dream!

    Rachel Craig

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  5. You mention you and your partner being first time buyers, and finally getting onto the property market 3 years ago. You also mention on hindsight you believe that you were both naive in regards to house / property buying. A home / shelter is a necessity (I'd advise reading / researching Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs), yet as adults you believe that you could have been better prepared when it came to buying your first property / house / home. Makes me wonder who should be Responsible for Adequately Preparing individuals / couples / partners / families, etc for such a Responsible and Life Changing Event. Government via Education from childhood onwards seems sensible to me. Also seems to be a Health Issue, etc.

    I hope that the future brings Better Education in regards to preparation for Adulthood, Self Reliance, Self Respect, Respect, Empathy, Compassion, etc, etc.

    Hope you have wonderful times in your family home.

    Rachel Craig

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  6. We just changed our kitchen to a kitchen dining living space and I find as a family we spend so much time in there 😀

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  7. We just changed our kitchen to a kitchen dining living space and I find as a family we spend so much time in there 😀

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  8. I'm struggling with my garden purely because there's a front and back garden. Both long and narrow AND on a hill so it's impossibly difficult to keep it up. I think a smaller garden would make me happy. My Mum just knocked down her living room wall and made a huge open plan living space. It's so gorgeous, her neighbours are all wanting it done now too! (Same house layout) - She's thinking of knocking the remaining wall down and having the kitchen including in this huge open plan living space. x

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  9. My perfect house would have en suite for master and spare room. Plus a tv room separate from living room.

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  10. An aspect or option which I like to have in a home / house / property is Gas and Electricity. As Gas for cooking can be more comfortable in practical terms, as any adjustments in temperature instantly adjustable ( instant reaction). Also same when it comes to Gas Fire. Electricity it was often said was a "dry heat" and more expensive for heating as well as less effective. I like to have both options as with time sometimes changes due to technology, and / or price tariffs, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  11. Its a daft thing but to make my house a home i have to have 2 bathrooms, main one upstairs and just a toilet & basin downstairs. Its for medical reasons, i have a lot of operations and am on crutches often so a toilet downstairs for me is a life saver!

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  12. For me the perfect home would have a bathroom for everyone, it's a nightmare getting everyone ready in the morning to leave at the same time!

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  13. You mention "finally" being able to make it onto the property ladder. Makes me wonder if there is a need for change in regards to culture of availability of Homes. As for many a house is a Home. Yet how many are available, accessible, affordable, accommodation, etc, etc. Whilst a person is living within a property, their quality of life is affected by the property, etc. Therefore it would seem that houses, etc should be planned and built, renovated, etc in order to meet the need s of individuals, partners, couples, group of individuals, family, etc, etc. As s good quality Home life can affect/ effect health and Wellbeing.

    There seems to be lots of information regarding renting privately. As media seem to be stating that some landlords are not being Responsible Landlords in regards to the condition of the property/ies which they rent out. Also seems some accommodation is overcrowded, etc. Maybe Government need to take action, possibly via local council, police, etc. As Health and Safety, as well as Health and Wellbeing are Important Issues.

    Rachel Craig

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  14. I'd like a window in bathroom / toilet. As being able to open a window a little :- allows steam / moisture out, thus no condensation in bathroom. Also allows not so nice smells to escape, whilst natural fresh air can get in and circulate around . A window with frosted glass, so that privacy is maintained, and with safety mechanism, as keen to prevent accidents (fall from open window, etc).

    Maybe a separate bathroom with toilet, and toilet with handbasin. As extra toilet of assistance for older people who need to access toilet easily and promptly. Whilst also of benefit for children, visitors, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  15. I'd like a conservatory or a garden room. We spend a lot of time with the sliding doors to our lounge open but it would be nice to be even more outdoors and open but without having to be totally outdoors as the weather so rarely allows it!

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  16. A nice big kitchen and a seperate utility room is very useful

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  17. Watched a tv programme last night I think it was called :- A Home For Free. Nice that someone could and did provide that opportunity for someone else. Someone who he had not known. Though he took the opportunity to get to know 3 of the applicants. He then helped / assisted all three applicants in a variety of ways. As he felt that they needed and deserved the opportunity of having a Home, and this step enabling them to enhance their life in a variety of ways.

    A Home can have a huge impact on an individual, couple, partnership, group of people, family. I think mostly we want our Home to be Comfortable. Location can be important, as we do not tend to live in isolation. Being able to visit and spend time with loved ones is important. Public Transport, car parking, school, library, health centre, hospital, work place :- All these and more can be important, depending on our circumstances and priorities. We may want to have a Home for life, one in which we feel comfortable, and want to remain within that known community. A house move can be a life changing and stressful event, therefore may be something that is inconvenient :- Especially at particular times in our life. Such as old age, ill-health, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  18. Every kid loves a big garden with a trampoline and swing set would be perfect. We're lucky to have a mini park just outside our back (tiny) garden, shared by all the houses in my area but also kept nice by all the parents

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  19. Just recently saw on the news a new project Nest Homes, Edinburgh in Scotland. To assist the Homeless, a new scheme, provides somewhere to live, contact with support with an aim to acquire Employment, etc. Seems a good initiative, as people do need a Home ( shelter, etc) and Employment may lead to an improvement in quality of life for individual, Community, etc.

    Rachel Craig

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  20. As I wanted to live closer to my family my dad bought my house and I pay him rent , I have a great dad

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