Moving this year - What are some "must haves" for teens in new house?

[Anonymous]

I don't think you have to have a pool, but an outdoor space is great. My daughter has spent hours on the front porch with friends (we'll see if this changes post-COVID, but I don't think it will). She also just wants to be walkable to things so she can spend time out of the house with friends. Finally, an indoor hang out space is a plus: basement, family room in the back of the house, etc.

Finally, and I know i'm lucky to say this, having teens on a separate floor (like a third floor) is amazing for everyone's mental health.

[Anonymous]

We’re moving with 2 teens and a tween. They have a separate kids hang out area with a door so we don’t have to hear them. Basements are not common where we’re going. Their own bathrooms are key too. We’re also putting in a pool and trampoline but we’re moving to an area where pools are very common (so common there’s a 6 month backlog to build one). We’re also putting in an outdoor hangout space and possibly a basketball hoop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We’re moving with 2 teens and a tween. They have a separate kids hang out area with a door so we don’t have to hear them. Basements are not common where we’re going. Their own bathrooms are key too. We’re also putting in a pool and trampoline but we’re moving to an area where pools are very common (so common there’s a 6 month backlog to build one). We’re also putting in an outdoor hangout space and possibly a basketball hoop.

The kids bedrooms and hangout area are on one side of the house and the master and guest are on the other. We compromised a bit on location because the separate kid hangout area was an absolute must have.

[Anonymous]

Teens are not home a lot and are gone in a blink. The teen years go so fast. I would buy the house you want with and without them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:THEIR OWN BATHROOM.

Trust me on this.

My son couldn't care less about this. We share a bathroom and he has never said anything about it. Boys want lots and lots of food and fast internet for gaming. We are upgrading ours next week.

Everyone had their own bathroom attached to their bedroom. They hate sharing when we travel I guess its just what you are uses to. Your kid doesn't know any better.

OP to answer your question, big basement and if you can swing it a pool. Luckily my boys aren't game obsessed and are really into sports and hanging with friends so.wrve made the house a fun place to be.

He does know better. He has his own bathroom at his dad's house. It isn't important to him. Maybe girls care more about it but he doesn't.

My daughter would like not to share with my son. My son would not care (aside from no longer hearing DD complain about his bathroom habits)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Teens are not home a lot and are gone in a blink. The teen years go so fast. I would buy the house you want with and without them.

Agree.
Mine bike around the neighborhood with friends. One has a job, both are in sports....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some features in a house that are "must-haves" or that just make things easier when you have teens? When we moved into our current house 10+ years ago, our kids were toddlers, and we looked for things like a space for a playroom, backyard space for a play set, kids' bedrooms close to ours, etc. Now, it looks like we're going to need to move again, and have the chance to start from a clean slate when looking for our new house, except now our kids are (or will soon be) teens. We have two boys and a girl.

“Same” things, but upgraded. Slackline, great pool toys, zipline, basketball hoop, ping pong table, professional art supplies, etc.

Except the game room, all of this is for elementary going into middle school... not middle going into high school

[Anonymous]

Finished basement and their own bathroom. We moved into a new place on Feb 1 and that is what dd wanted.
And unlike the poor dds of that immigrant parent raising her dds not to except a house or anything nice like being a princess!!!! my princess got what she wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What are some features in a house that are "must-haves" or that just make things easier when you have teens? When we moved into our current house 10+ years ago, our kids were toddlers, and we looked for things like a space for a playroom, backyard space for a play set, kids' bedrooms close to ours, etc. Now, it looks like we're going to need to move again, and have the chance to start from a clean slate when looking for our new house, except now our kids are (or will soon be) teens. We have two boys and a girl.

“Same” things, but upgraded. Slackline, great pool toys, zipline, basketball hoop, ping pong table, professional art supplies, etc.

Except the game room, all of this is for elementary going into middle school... not middle going into high school

I feel sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teens are not home a lot and are gone in a blink. The teen years go so fast. I would buy the house you want with and without them.

Agree.
Mine bike around the neighborhood with friends. One has a job, both are in sports....

+3. They'll all be out of the house in what, 5-6 years, max? You don't want to be stuck with a house that's catered to a 15 year old boy.

[Anonymous]

We have a game room that works for adults and kids. Pool table, air hockey, foosball and things like that.
Just need locks on the bar/alcohol as they get older. Which is a pain but reality. We also have a theatre room that they spend a lot of time in (pre-covid).

[Anonymous]

We live in the same house we bought before our college age daughter was born. We upgraded our pool membership from a neighborhood pool to a country club. She and her friends can go to the pool, eat lunch, etc. She can bring a friend for tennis or a work out. They meet for lunch at the restaurant. It’s been great. At the house, we make sure to have plenty of food and soft drinks. We have a fire pit and comfortable chairs that they seem to like. We also have good Internet and smart TVs so they can watch anything they want. We are also nice to her friends and welcome them. I am hoping to buy a beach house at some point and hope it is filled with my daughter and her friends.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We live in the same house we bought before our college age daughter was born. We upgraded our pool membership from a neighborhood pool to a country club. She and her friends can go to the pool, eat lunch, etc. She can bring a friend for tennis or a work out. They meet for lunch at the restaurant. It’s been great. At the house, we make sure to have plenty of food and soft drinks. We have a fire pit and comfortable chairs that they seem to like. We also have good Internet and smart TVs so they can watch anything they want. We are also nice to her friends and welcome them. I am hoping to buy a beach house at some point and hope it is filled with my daughter and her friends.

+1. We're in CT but the best thing we did was move near a country club. The kids can walk or bike there and are there all the time - at the beach, swimming, playing tennis, having lunch, ours has a bowling alley too. It is great! No need to cater your house towards teens.

[Anonymous]

Glad i saw your thread. I just posted something similar over in real estate and the few people who responded just wanted to tell me how much it sucks to make a teen move and that I should just make our current situation work.

[Anonymous]

Girls: own bathroom, extra hot water heater, huge closet

Boys: Extra fridge and pantry space, high speed data plan

Both: Room for a desk in their room and lots of room for books, stuffed animals, legos, etc, firepit or other nice outdoor gathering space