6 Tips On Finding a Good Family Home in Kent

In 2023, more and more families are choosing to move away from the eye watering property prices in London. Those looking to get out the city are seeking the help of solicitors in Maidstone and surrounding areas whilst they look further afield for the perfect family home. In this post I'll be explaining why Kent could be just the place for you and your family, as well as providing six tips for finding the perfect family home in this beautiful and versatile part of the country.

Affordable Housing

Figures show that house prices in Kent are around 33% lower than in London, meaning that families can get more bang for their buck - something which is on many people’s minds these days as we continue to battle the current cost of living crisis.

Excellent Transport Links

Kent is served by some great transport links including airports, ports, roads and train lines. This is great news for those whose work is based in London as the HS1 train line can speed you into the capital in just 20 minutes - giving you the best of both worlds.

Varied Choice of Living

Despite spanning just 1368 miles, Kent has something for everyone. From the coastal towns and villages of Herne Bay and Dymchurch to cosmopolitan cities such as Maidstone and Canterbury, you’re literally spoilt for choice.

Family Friendly

As if all of the above isn’t enough, Kent has some fantastic schools, colleges and universities with plenty of great restaurants, bars and culture. It’s also surrounded by some pretty stunning scenery, making it the ideal place to raise a family.

6 Tips on Finding a Good Family Home in Kent

Finding the right home in Kent for your family is the key to your success when it comes to your new life and, in this section, I'll share eight tips on finding your dream home in Kent.

1. Consider the size of home you’re looking for -
When looking for a family home in Kent, you will want to be realistic about the size of your family - this means figuring out if your family is now complete or if you may hear the further pitter patter of tiny feet again sometime. This can help determine the size of the house you’re looking for helping to narrow your search.

2. Consider your families hobbies -
Kent has an awful lot to offer and some great versatility. Because of this, you and your family will need to decide on what’s important to you in a location. In Kent, this means choosing between picturesque villages, coastal towns and cool cities.

3. Create a family friendly checklist -
Once you’ve decided what type of location you prefer, it's time to zero in on particular towns or cities. When choosing your town, city or village, there are a few things to put on your checklist, including: 

· Transport
· Schools
· Restaurants, bars and shops
· Crime rates 

4. House hunting -
Once you’ve decided where in Kent you would like to live, it's time to find a good estate agent to help you to find your dream home. Make sure that you take your time when shopping around for an estate agent as you’ll want to find somebody who has grown up in the area or has lived there for a long time to ensure that they know the location inside and out.

Thankfully, you’ll usually be able to find estate agent reviews online and you should make sure that you check these out as they can be a really good indication of how effective an agent is. Before making any decisions, make sure that you spend some time in the area - both during the day and at night - to get a proper feel for the place before committing to a move. 

5. Create a realistic budget
These days, desirable properties tend to be snapped up pretty quickly so you’ll need to make sure that you’re ready to go should you find your dream property. Be realistic with your budget and make sure that you have any necessary financial products such as a mortgage in place.

6. Check out property auctions for a bargain
If your house buying budget is pretty tight, you may want to consider going down the property auction route in Kent. This can be a great way of nabbing yourself a fantastic property at an extremely reasonable price.

Making the move to a new town or city can be daunting, but Kent most definitely offers more pros than cons. Make sure you do your research thoroughly as well as spending some time in your chosen area to make sure that it's right for you and your family. If you’re planning to commute, you’ll also want to give transport links a test run to make sure that it's a viable option for you. Around 1,707 people move to Kent every year and most of them never look back - so you’ll be in good company.

This is a collaborative post.