[ramnds]

We are about to start our homestudy, after a very long process of locating a place that will do it! Anyway, my questions are--
#1 should we have the nursery set up? We have everything, but it is all in storage.
#2 should we start "applying" at agencies before our homestudy is approved? Other than having absolutely horrible credit (we do have the money for the adoption-already there and waiting) there is nothing in our past that would prevent us from being approved.
#3 what pictures as far as our home goes should be included in our "profile"?

We are seeking to adopt an infant domestically.
Any suggestions from those who have gone through this would be wonderful!!
Thanks

[Fran27]

Hello!

1) no, you don't need to have everything set up. You just need to show that you have a place in mind to be the child's room.

2) Well I would personally look for agencies before starting the homestudy. Lots of agencies won't accept a homestudy made by another place, and you might have to pay more for an update. Just a warning!

3) we only put a picture of the front of our house in our profile. But again, it's only 2 pages and our house isn't so great, so we don't have much to show, lol. I guess the front is nice, and the backyard if you have a nice one.

[babydubs5]

Originally Posted by ramnds

We are about to start our homestudy, after a very long process of locating a place that will do it! Anyway, my questions are--
#1 should we have the nursery set up? We have everything, but it is all in storage.
#2 should we start "applying" at agencies before our homestudy is approved? Other than having absolutely horrible credit (we do have the money for the adoption-already there and waiting) there is nothing in our past that would prevent us from being approved.
#3 what pictures as far as our home goes should be included in our "profile"?

We are seeking to adopt an infant domestically.
Any suggestions from those who have gone through this would be wonderful!!
Thanks

1. no, you don't have to have it set up, just be able to show that you do have room for the baby, and you intend of turning a room into a nursery for him or her eventually.
we had ours set up for ours, but mainly because I wanted my DH's help in doing it... he's gone here and there due to his training schedule, and I learned last year I don't want to be stuck painting and setting up furniture by myself any more. so we did it together while he was home.

2. I'd look for one now... like PP said, some agencies will not accept a homestudy that was not done by them..... so I would hate for you to waste your money and time.

3. as far as pictures of your house, i'd say do whatever you feel comfortable with. We live in a townhouse, so a picture of the outside of our house isn't really going to show much. We included pictures of the nursery, the backyard, behind our backyard because there's a huge field and pond right beyond our gate where we take our dogs a lot.

good luck!!!

[2manyks]

we didnt set up the nursery. we still haven't. i did put pictures of my front door. it is very inviting with the hanging baskets of flowers and pretty bench. our house is big and beautiful and i didnt want to look like i was flaunting money! i also put a picture of our play area in the backyard. we started our homestudy before contacting an agency. the woman who did our homestudy also works for an agency and she told the agency about us and a few days later they called us w/ an adoption situation, before our homestudy was done. we are matched and waiting for the birth.