Your Complete Guide to Home Hunting With a Disability

When you’re looking at real estate listings in your area, it can feel like you’ll never find a property that checks all of your boxes, and if you need an accessible home, the process can feel downright discouraging. With so few homes on the market designed for people with disabilities, it’s harder to find a place to settle down.

 

People seeking accessible homes may need to take some additional steps if they want to close on a property. Here’s how to find a home that you can modify with accessibility in mind.

 

Getting Started

 

No matter what your needs are, the first steps of the home-buying process generally look similar for everyone. You’ll need to figure out how much money you can put down and how much you can afford to spend on monthly payments, and you should get pre-approved for a mortgage. If you need down payment assistance, see if your local or state housing authority offers special loans, grants, and tax credits. You will also want to budget for your future remodeling projects, so spend some time researching contractors’ rates in your area.

 

Viewing Homes

 

You’ll need a real estate agent who has helped previous clients find accessible homes and apartments. An agent who understands your needs can help you find open houses that are worth your time to attend.

 

Trying to sort through local listings on your own can be exhausting, but your agent will assist you as you narrow down your search! You should prioritize attending open houses at homes and apartments with spacious interiors. This will give you plenty of space for the fixtures you need.

 

Install New Flooring

 

If you choose to purchase a home with carpet, you should have hardwood floors installed before any other renovations. People using mobility aids are generally more comfortable in homes with hardwood floors, and they require less cleaning and maintenance than carpets.

 

Furniture removal, subfloor repairs, and flooring disposal will add to the cost of installation. Wood type will impact costs as well, with luxury woods being considerably more expensive. However, spending more on this project could pay off in the long run, since homes with hardwood floors generally have higher property values.

 

Design Your Bedroom

 

Once you have hardwood floors installed, you’ll probably want to modify your bedroom so that it becomes a space where you can feel safe and fully relaxed. If you use a mobility aid, there is a good chance you will need to hire contractors to widen the doorways (usually costs $300 – $800) to your bedroom and add a walk-in closet so that you can easily enter and exit. Depending on your needs, you may need to purchase an adjustable bed with fixtures like bed rails or ceiling lifts.

 

Kitchen and Bathroom Modifications

 

In both your kitchen and bathroom, you’ll want to ensure that you have adequate lighting so that you can move around safely. These rooms can present fall risks for people with disabilities, but proper lighting can help mitigate those risks. You will likely want to lower certain fixtures and appliances as well. Finally, make sure that you can easily reach any storage spaces. You can construct these rooms so that you’re able to access everything you need!

 

Many people with disabilities assume that homeownership is out of reach. However, this is not the case, and you do not have to give up on this important goal. You may not find the perfect home on the market, but working with the right real estate agent will help you buy a home that you can remodel to accommodate your needs.

 

Photo Source: Unsplash

Written by: Patrick Young | Ableusa.info | patrickyoung@ableusa.info

For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs | info@metropolisapts.com

Downsizing During Retirement? Avoid These Stressful Mistakes

Think you’re ready to downsize your home? If you haven’t taken the time to plan properly, you could end up making quite a few mistakes. Downsizing can be a complicated and stressful process, and mishaps can make it worse for seniors. So before you start planning your downsizing move, make sure you can avoid these common missteps.

Not Weighing Pros and Cons of Downsizing

Before you start working on any other downsizing step, you need to decide whether downsizing is right for you. Ask yourself some serious questions to make an informed decision, and be sure to weigh any risks against possible benefits. For example, you could sell your home to buy a smaller one, but you may also need to adjust your profit expectations to account for selling expenses. Those expenses can include, but are not limited to, agent commissions, repair costs and staging fees (which average $2,300 to $3,200 nationally) to help your home sell. Of course, you can also save on utilities and rent or a mortgage with a smaller home or apartment, which may outweigh any potential profit losses from selling your old home.

Not Researching Assisted Living Options

Assisted living can be a scary prospect for many seniors, but it really shouldn’t be. This housing option provides seniors with the extra care they need without any major sacrifices in life quality or independence. So before you put a lot of time and effort into finding a smaller home, think about whether local assisted living may be a better fit for your golden years. With the expenses for assisted living centers in New York City ranging from $1,500 to $17,250 per month, you will want to tour facilities and look for a community that can provide your preferred level of care without any excess costs. While cost shouldn’t be your primary consideration, knowing this information can help you plan for expenses more efficiently.

Not Creating a Financial Plan for Retirement

Saving for retirement is a smart move for adults of all ages, but too many people fail to address two questions when creating their financial plan. In order to enjoy the years ahead and afford your downsizing move, you need to know what age you plan to retire (many people aim for 65, but this doesn’t always happen) and whether you will continue to work during retirement. Answering these two questions will allow seniors to plan out their expenses and adjust spending to cover potential downsizing costs, such as new furniture or storage fees.

Not Asking for Help From Experienced Pros

If you have decided to downsize your home, and know you can afford it, then you need to seek out the right professionals to guide you through the process. Before you make any major financial decisions around retirement, you may want the expert advice of a financial planner. In a single consultation, you should be able to figure out whether retiring and downsizing makes financial sense, and how to begin living off of your retirement savings without major sacrifices. Once you have your finances squared away, reach out to an experienced realtor, who can take the stress out of searching for a smaller home and also help you navigate the homebuying process.

Not Beginning Moving Tasks Early Enough

There’s a lot to think about when planning a move, which means the chances for missing important details is pretty high. To avoid this mistake, take care to create a moving checklist that includes minor tasks, like changing your address, as well as major undertakings, like decluttering your belongings. Decluttering can be especially challenging for older adults, so allow yourself enough time to process related changes and emotions. Look online for decluttering tips to make the work a little easier, and don’t be too shy to ask close friends, family members or neighbors to help you, if needed.

Managing a move can be stressful for anyone, including seniors looking to downsize. Make sure your plan will help you avoid common downsizing mistakes, like the ones mentioned above, so you can avoid additional stress and start enjoying your retirement sooner.

Photo Credit: Pixabay

Written by: Suzie Wilson ⎸info@happierhome.net ⎸Happier Home

For: Metropolis Apartments | Contact us for for all your real estate needs.