We’ve purchased property twice now, and so from experience, I feel like we’ve learnt a lot since then. For a bit of background, we first bought a two-bed apartment in London as part of the Help-to-Buy (HTB) scheme. Without this scheme in place, we really wouldn’t have been able to afford to buy property in London, but thankfully we did.
Fast forward to 2025 and we made our second purchase, which has now become our home in Stoke-on-Trent. The property we purchased up in my hometown is a lot different to what we were after when we bought our apartment in London. It’s important to realise that your needs and wants change as you grow, and that’s essential when deciding to buy a property. There are some considerations I’d make before choosing a family home again, which will inevitably happen perhaps once more.
The location of the property and surrounding area
When we decide to move next time, I think we’ll be even more mindful of the location of the property and the surrounding area. We’re on a main road currently, so we didn’t think about how busy the road would be when trying to keep control of a toddler who doesn’t understand road safety yet.
The surrounding area is what drew us to the property because it has beautiful countryside walks, a Morrisons just a short walk away, and a nearby park for kids. I think we’d likely be looking for something similar depending on where we want to move to next. The neighbourhood is essential to figure out before committing to a move.
The design of a surrounding area, from access to parks and services to traffic exposure, all determine how neighbourhoods affect everyday life. When we move, we’re likely moving with older children or teenagers, so the neighbourhood is more influential than you might first assume.
Size of property and room for family growth
We went. from living in a two-bedroom apartment to a semi-detached, four-bed house with an office and big garden to boot. That change was and is still quite a hard adjustment. It’s not just the extra floor space but everything that comes with it. We only had one bed and a sofa when we bought our first property. For our current home, we had to finance two sofas and two armchairs, a new bed and washing machine.
That isn’t the only furniture we needed to buy, and the list is still ongoing. When buying your next property, it’s useful to ask yourself, does this home have enough room for future family/household growth? Could the property be too big or too small perhaps? Answering these questions helps when it comes to being proactive with your property search.
Future decor and renovation requirements
There are many questions to consider before buying a home, and future decor/renovation requirements are a big one. We bought an apartment that was brand new and hadn’t been lived in before. Our second house, the one we’re currently in, has been lived in many times prior, and despite its first appearances, needs work.
Whilst we’re happy to put our stamp on the home, we’ve already had to think about the landscaping of the outdoor space, which will likely end up costing us thousands, and we’re also likely to need a new kitchen. Despite the investment, it’s an investment that we feel will benefit the property’s value and hopefully
Revisiting the property more than once
Oddly enough, we only visited our second property once but the first property we bought, I think we saw multiple times. Next time we make a purchase, I’d probably like to revisit the property to make sure it’s the right match. It feels as though this time round, we didn’t do our due dilligence as well as last time. Not that we don’t love the property we’re in but we may have thought twice if we got a closer look at certain aspects of the home.
Buying a property is a real asset in terms of investment but equally, you want to be mindful of what you’re investing your money into. Invest it in the wrong property and you end up losing out financially. Ultimately though, the property you pick needs to be the right match for you and your household as it stands. If it’s able to be future-proof, then that’s a bonus.
What advice do you have when it comes to buying a family home? Let me know in the comments below.
