how big is your house & how many live there?

blushingbride_3

hi everyone.

I'd like to move house & need to consider the future.

We'll be thinking about children in 2/3 years and i'm keen to know how people manage in their spaces.

The houses we've been looking at are 3 bed semis, and just at the top of our budget.

Can we cope with 4 children in a 3 bed house?
What things do we need to consider?

My parents have a outbuilding we could convert, however this is 120sqm and we could have 3 beds, ensuite, kitchen & lounge.

I'm worried we'd do the work & then outgrow the house? however there is lots of outside space & my parents house where the children could play.

:j

epsilondraconis

blushingbride wrote: »

Can we cope with 4 children in a 3 bed house?

Are you saying that you want four children?

esmerellda

A lot will depend on the age gap between the children, the sex of the children etc.

I have three, 2 girls, 1 boy in a 2 bed. I need a 3 bed, would prefer a 4 bed, or a 3 bed with a seperate reception room to convert to a bedroom. Really you want 1 bed per child if you are looking long long term, squishing is okay when the kids are little, but as they grow they want their own space, and so do you !

blushingbride_3

yes i'm planning for 4 children

They will have small age gaps, max 2 yrs between them so was thinking two in each room?

Once they are older, by 15 years etc we'd probably move or switch houses with my parents, i'm hoping we'd be able to buy them out so they are financially stable for old age

emsywoo123

blushingbride wrote: »

yes i'm planning for 4 children

They will have small age gaps, max 2 yrs between them so was thinking two in each room?

Once they are older, by 15 years etc we'd probably move or switch houses with my parents, i'm hoping we'd be able to buy them out so they are financially stable for old age

I had a plan once ............:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:it didn't work out, but something else did and we are ok.
Try not to worry too much about having space for 4 children right now........circumstances and people change, adn although sensible to be prepared, don't panic

Indout96

We have 3 bedrooms and for a couple of years we had me & wife, our daughter (who moved out then came back) and then our son came back home as well bringing his girlfriend and then having a baby so we had 6 but it was not easy at all. They have got another house now so its just 3 of us.

I would say it depends on how fast you intend to have your children, if they will all be close together then 2 could easily share a room until teenage years if not beyond. But if there was a big age gap it would be more problematic.

If a three bedroom is at the top of your budget all i can say is DONT buy a 4 bedroom starting off a family with money problems is not the best thing just incase you need more room later.

SingleSue

I have a 3 bedroom house, that is with one adult (used to be two) and 3 boys aged 16, 13 and nearly 12.

The 16 and 13 year old share and the youngest has a room of his own but this is changing very soon to the 16 year old having his own room and the 13 and nigh on 12 year old sharing.

It was recommended that we have a 4 bed due to the disabilities but we have managed pretty well with the 3 bed and I think the time has passed for having the bigger house, the equipment needed may be more but the danger has passed. The need for room will lessen soon too as the 16 year old will be off to university in 2 years time.

floss2

My parents brought up 4 children in a 4-bed house, 3 boys & 1 girl. I brought up 2 boys in a variety of homes, 2 & 3 bedroomed, but they quite liked to share a bedroom.

I guess it will depend on the boy/girl balance, 4 of one or 2 & 2 may be more difficult than 3 & 1, especially if you have a small box-room for the odd-one .

rachfriar78

At the minute we have a 3 bed house, 2 boys aged 10 and 8, thy have a room each but am expecting again s am looking to trying to find a 4 bed house so they can all have a room each as I hated having to share a room with my sister growing up. 3 girls in a 3 bed house. x

Glamazon

We always said we buy a 3 bed room house - which we did.
There is me, OH, LO (6m) and an unwanted lodger (BIL)

I anticipate this house would be big enough for 3 littlies - 2 older ones in the bigger room and youngest in small nursery. As I want 3-4 kids we will need to move to a 4 bedroom house but I don't think we would need to do this until the older ones need their own rooms or the 4th comes along

gingin_2

You are certainly forward planning!

If you are looking that far ahead, also make sure that you are happy with the schools in that area. It's always been our main reason for living/staying where we are. I'd happily live in a smaller house and/or pay more if it meant my children could go to a good school.

Would your parents get planning permission to create a second permanent dwelling on their land?

Finally, if you are looking to purchase at the top of your budget, would you be able to afford it once child one, then child two, then child three and finally child four came along?

I have 2 kids so the size of my house is irrelevant, I guess. But I do like having a spare room for "stuff". We don't have much of a garden, though and I would love one and would have loved one for my children when they were younger.