As a mother to two young children, I understand the impact that children play in making that all-important decision in choosing a home. Some things for parents to think about or wish for in a new home:

OPEN CONCEPT KITCHEN: An open concept kitchen-play area is key parental peace of mind as it will enable you to  watch your children as they are happily occupied while you prepare the meals. Try keeping a drawer of plastic containers and spatulas close at hand so your children may be able to play 'kitchen' with them. Recently we purchased a small tea set from IKEA, with which our kids love to play and set the table.

KITCHEN VIEW OF PLAYING AREA: A view of the backyard is a great asset if your children are playing in the yard and don't yet want to come in. If you have a view of their playing area then you don't have to bring them in, you can watch them directly from the kitchen playing safely in the sandbox. Within the home, having a kitchen/living room area that is open concept, with an island to work on, facing the kids in the living room, is very helpful. Trust me, I know from experience, that you don't want your kids in another room if they are under the age of 6. Before we moved to our present location, I used to feed our kids veggies and dip in the highchairs I dragged down the hallway to outside the kitchen, while I prepped dinner. Being able to allow the kids to play while you cook makes everyone happy.

ONE-LEVEL FOR BEDROOMS: Some of the newer designs of homes have the master bedroom on one level and the other bedrooms on other levels. These are great for older couples who are not very mobile. For younger families, it's much easier to have all bedrooms on one level. This will enable you to hear your children well and have less travel time in the wee hours of the morning for those emergencies when they have to go to the bathroom or are feeling ill. It also means that they can come to you more easily if they are not feeling well.

NANNY-SUITE: A self-contained suite for relatives is an excellent way to allow relatives who are living or visiting with you to have their space and privacy, if things get hectic. These have become legal now in Victoria and View Royal. Make sure that all work on suites are permitted as they will have to be declared as a latent defect when you go to sell.

STROLLER PARKING: Probably the last thing you think of but the first thing you need when you have a child is an easy place to store the stroller when you are bringing kids in from a walk. Having a little alcove or at an area in the garage where you can park the stroller and move babe to the inside without getting wet, is very handy.

GARAGE ATTACHED TO HOUSE: For those times when your child falls asleep in the car and you want to move them without exposing them to the elements simply stop and park the car inside the garage.

I understand parents and their needs: I have a baby car-seat, suitable for infants as well as a booster seat so I can readily transport your children while we look for your perfect house together. I would love to help you... so, please do give me call at 250-744-0775.

Jane is Our Family Realtor.

www. OurRealEstateProfessional.com