Keep it in the family

To understand what a developer might have to offer
a family, you first have to understand what a family
might actually need.

One of the very few benefits of a slump in the housing market is that the pressure is off humble hacks like myself to point out the financial benefits of that compact and bijoux student-let-to-be facing the grottier side of the canal as an investment and instead focus on what we're really interested in, which is, what would the homes actually be like to live in?

To understand what a developer might have to offer a family, you first have to understand what a family might actually need. Let's assume our family is comprised of two Parents, and two children - one of each flavour. We'll call the kids Bellicose and Clandestine, firstly because it will annoy the sub-editor, and secondly because other people do give their kids weird names these days don't they?

Now the Parent who spends most time at home will have an understandably long list of requirements. Somewhere to park the second car (or taxi as it shall become known), a bathroom of such sleek surfaces and good looks that it practically cleans itself, and then another one or two bathrooms - just to be on the safe side. This Parent will require a top-notch state-of-the-wotsit kitchen in which to endlessly reheat leftovers and generally impair the flavour of canned goods, as well as to chew the fat with similarly homebound chums in the locale.

The home Parent will need a house that feels positively roomy when everyone is out, and still comfortable when the inevitable diary catastrophe means that both Bellicose and Clandestine have friends round to play. As well as a room each, the home Parent will probably wish for an additional upstairs space, which depending on the current requirement might serve as gym, home-office, guest room, playroom, or the room best prepared to deal with that unexpected contraception disaster.

Continued...

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