Brady Bunch Families Face Utah Home Buying Crossroads

I don’t know what the true numbers are, but we all know how many of today’s families are the ‘blended’ (Brady Bunch) kind. But when it comes to home buying, working out the living arrangements isn’t going to be as simple as the tidy little squares the Brady Bunch seemed to live inside at the start of the show. You already expect that combining two families into one home will be a challenge on any number of fronts: how could it be anything else?

But like every Brady episode, there really can be a neat solution and a happy ending. IOW, it means that your next home buying in Utah isn’t doomed to create sheer rancor. Communication is the answer, along with thinking ahead about the potential rough spots. Just about every new clan needs to address these:

Turf Wars

Most kids want to have their own space. As a result, family members can break into arguments about space due to the "territorial issues for both children and adults” that psychologists talk about. To meet this situation, they advise discussion and compromise. That’s more than a cliché. You are family now -- not a bunch of separate groups. 

Each member needs to get used to the idea of working together to solve problems -- so it’s not just happy talk to make this an opportunity. After some guidelines are agreed upon, home buying will become more directed. For instance, new homes with larger family rooms that allow different simultaneous activities should help ward off potential turf wars. 

‘Stuff’ Issues

When two families combine, there is twice the amount of stuff!  Get rid of anything redundant, broken or too old to be useful.  If you do it soon (or at least know what you will be getting rid of) --  before looking into buying new construction or existing homes -- you will have a truer idea of your actual storage space requirements. That is, after the garage sale!

 

Age Gaps

Blended families can have kids at a variety of ages. Keeping that in mind is a good exercise for the ‘new’ parents. Younger children will likely need to feel safe in the house, which can point you towards cozier properties. Older kids may be starting to seek more independence. Look for a house that can offer refuge for both younger and older family members.

Home buying in every phase of life can be a challenge, but perhaps especially so for a brand new blended family.  

 

 If you find yourself running into dead-ends in your Utah home buying process, or just need help finding the right nest for your new family, contact me anytime to go over your wish list.  I have access to a wide variety of the inventory in Salt Lake, Utah, Toeele and Davis county areas and will be happy to offer all the assistance I can. 

Written By ShirLee McGarry, Realtor® and freelance Writer/Author at All American Realty in Sandy, Utah.
Homes4SaleUT@gmail.com,
Website: www.Homes4SaleUtahRealEstate.com