One of the most important factors of a family home is its ability to grow alongside you and your loved ones. It should be a space that supports your journey through life, as opposed to holding you back. If you are worried that your home doesn’t fall into this category, have no fear! There are plenty of opportunities for you to future-proof your property. Below are seven steps that will guide you through the process. As soon as you have worked your way through them, you should be left with a family home that has what it takes to weather the years ahead.
Embrace an eco-friendly approach to living
The first step is to embrace an eco-friendly approach to living. It is an excellent way for you to look after your family home, along with the world around you. As a parent, you need to be setting a good example for your children and teaching them the importance of looking after and caring for the environment. Furthermore, in this modern age, home buyers are on the lookout for properties that support green living. Therefore, introducing eco-friendly updates into your home could help you to increase its value. Why not start the ball rolling by getting in touch with California Solar Power? Once you have ticked this box, you could move onto improving your insulation, building a compost heap, and replacing your light bulbs with LED alternatives.
Create additional sleeping spaces
If you are determined to stay in your property for the foreseeable future, you will need to create as many additional sleeping spaces as possible. This is an important step to take if you are hoping to have more children. Additional sleeping spaces will also come in handy when your little ones reach an age where they are inviting their friends round for slumber parties. Instead of panicking about where you will put everyone, you should have a number of options to choose from. Perhaps you have a private study that could fit a sofa bed. Or, maybe you could keep the floors clear in your children’s bedrooms so that there is plenty of space for sleeping bags.
Consider a loft conversion
If you are truly struggling for sleeping spaces, you could always try a loft conversion. It is a fantastic opportunity for you to fulfil the full potential of your home. If your loft conversion goes to plan, you will be left with an increased amount of living space, a more valuable property, and the satisfaction of knowing you have optimised every square inch of your house. However, before you push forward with your loft conversion, you will need to weigh up the pros and cons. It might be that your loft conversion will have a hugely positive impact on your home. Or, if you live in a building with a severely angled roof, it might be that your loft conversion will be completely impractical to use. Why not find out if any of your neighbours have had the same work done to their homes? Maybe you could ask to look around their finished conversion. Alternatively, if you are still worried about going it alone, you could hire the services of an architect.
Think about building an extension
You should also hire an architect if you are thinking about building an extension. It is another brilliant way for you to future-proof your home, as you will be providing your loved ones with a new and improved living space. If you opt for a two-story extension, you will have the chance to create extra bedrooms for your family. However, a one-story extension will still pack quite the punch if you use it for a bright and spacious kitchen-diner. Rather than spending your time spread across the house, you will have the space you need to spend your time together. Not only this but if you ever decide to sell on your family home, you are sure to see an impressive return on your investment.
Make the most of your garden
The next step is to make the most of your garden. It is a fantastic way for you to encourage your loved ones to get out and about. You will also have the chance to open up your living space if you decide to fit bi-folding doors onto the back of your property. Just imagine how beautiful your home will look once you have removed the strict boundary between your interior and exterior spaces. Depending on the amount of land that you are working with, it might even be possible for you to turn your garden into a money-making scheme. You could dig a vegetable patch and grow your own produce, you could set up a chicken coop and sell fresh eggs, or you could start your own compost heap and bag up your finished mulch.
Invest in a high-quality design scheme
Another vital step is to invest in a high-quality design scheme. Although it might be tempting to follow the latest design trends for the sake of keeping up appearances, it is essential that you are thinking long-term. You need to find an aesthetic that is sure to stand the test of time. In order to achieve this, you should select neutral colours, prints, and fabrics, as they are less likely to appear dated. Then, you can add any personal touches with easily replaceable items such as throw pillows, artwork, and small ornaments. It is vital that you extend this approach to your children’s bedrooms. Again, you should opt for a neutral design scheme, with random pops of colour and fun. It will save you the cost of redecorating these spaces every few years.
Build up your savings account
The final step is to build up your savings account. While it might be possible for you to cut your costs in certain areas, there will still be plenty of expenses for you to cover. If you are determined to future proof your home, you will need to start saving right away. Ideally, you should be putting aside a lump sum of money at the end of every month. Try to keep this money in a separate savings account that is specifically for your home. This will make it easier for you to work out how much you have and how much you still need to save. It will also make it less painful for you to use this money, as you won’t feel as though you are taking it away from other aspects of your lifestyle.