A young girl wandered into the kitchen while her parents walked through a home for sale. She helped herself to an apple from a fruit basket on the counter—not exactly ideal house-hunting etiquette, but it captures the reality of bringing kids along on home tours.
Ashley Willis, a real estate pro with CB&A, REALTORS®, in Beaumont, Texas, understands that reality well. While she hasn’t had to deal with broken items (yet) during showings—just a kid’s pantry-picking moment—she understands the stress families feel. Shopping for homes is already overwhelming. Parents are juggling deadlines, busy schedules and big decisions—plus trying to keep kids quiet, engaged and out of trouble.
Willis, who has 19 years of experience, has guided countless families through the process and has seen the influence children can have on the house hunt.
“Parents always have the final say,” she says. “But I do see kids influencing the parents a lot. Their well-being is a top priority. When children are included in the process, it makes them feel like they can talk about their feelings. This is a big transition in their life.”
Willis sees the benefits of involving children more, turning them into “little home buyers” themselves with a voice in the process. That philosophy inspired her children’s book, “The House Hunt,” along with a companion activity book. Both are designed to help children understand the real estate process and feel less anxious about an upcoming move.
The companion activity book engages kids with drawing exercises and question prompts, like imagining their new backyard or what they want in their new home. It even includes a kid-friendly “contract” to care for their new home. It introduces children to the professionals involved in a transaction, from the real estate agent and lender to the inspectors and title company.
How Kids Influence the House Hunt
More than half of 2,000 homeowners with children under 18 said their child’s opinion factored into their home-buying decisions, according to a Harris Poll conducted in 2018. The items that most landed on their kids’ home wish list: A bedroom of their own, a large backyard, proximity to parks or friends, good schools and a swimming pool.
Kids can be surprisingly discerning, Willis notes. “I think they’re actually more critical than adults,” she says. One page in her book shows a little girl upset because none of the rooms are pink—a situation inspired by a real-life home tour.
“We went to a house, it was all boy rooms and she’s like, ‘This isn’t going to work,’” Willis recalls. “Kids know what they like. They know when they’re going to feel comfortable. And parents want them to be happy.”
Creative Ways to Keep Kids Engaged
Willis often encourages her clients to bring children along to showings once the search has narrowed to a short list of homes under serious consideration. Giving kids a voice—at the right stage—helps them feel invested, without overwhelming them, she says.
She loves to engage children by asking simple, imaginative questions: Where’s the best hiding spot in this house? What room would you want to be yours? What color would you paint it?
“There’s so much that we can do as agents to engage them and make this process more fun for them,” Willis says.
Plus, she hopes early exposure to the real estate process can spark something lasting. “Hopefully it will help grow a love of homes, an appreciation of their new home and maybe even a future line of real estate agents,” she adds.
Mary Harmon Young, the broker-owner of Mary Harmon & Co. in Tuscaloosa, Ala., also sees the value in keeping children involved during the process. She’ll give kids age-appropriate tasks—like holding a lockbox, turning on lights, or checking off items on a home wish list or a home-themed scavenger hunt. It’s a way to make them feel responsible and involved while the parents focus on evaluating the home.
When selling a home, Young will use a “kid’s listing agreement,” asking children to initial next to simple tasks they can help complete to keep the home show-ready, like making their bed, putting away toys or closing the toilet lid. Small rewards, such as gift cards, help her reinforce participation.
“They feel part of the process, and it does help the parents with the rush of getting out of the home and ready for showings,” she says.
Turning a move into a shared family experience can reduce stress, Willis adds.
“When families can bond over the experience, it makes it so much easier and more enjoyable,” she says. “But this has to be initiated by the parents. That’s what our books help them to do.”
Willis also views the home search as a teachable moment—especially for older children. Conversations about budgeting, financing, decision-making and even architectural styles can help kids build real-world knowledge about homeownership. Parents can encourage them to ask questions about the homes they visit, from the layout and square footage to overall condition.
“When children are part of the decision-making process, they feel a sense of ownership and attachment to the new home,” Willis notes on her blog about what she hopes families gain from her book. “It’s not just Mom and Dad’s house. It’s their home, too. This emotional connection lays the foundation for a deeper bond with the space and fosters a sense of belonging from day one.”
