House Hunting with Different Abilities

​When you think of home, you imagine a place of comfort and
​security. But if you have different abilities, your home can also be a source of frustration and difficulty. People with different abilities must put extra effort into finding a home that allows for independent, accessible living.
 
Part of the difficulty in designing accessible homes is that “accessible” means something different depending on each individual's abilities. While a person who uses a wheelchair needs ramps and wide clearances, someone who is deaf or hard of hearing needs few physical adaptations, relying instead on technological solutions to improve home safety and usability. For that reason, this information should be taken as general guidance for purchasing or designing an accessible home, not a fixed set of rules.
 
Move-in-Ready Homes
The more extensive a person's different abilities are, the more challenges they'll encounter when searching for a home that's move in ready. A move-in-ready home is one that requires little to no modification before the homeowner can safely occupy the space. As you search online for accessible homes in your area, pay attention to what accessibility features each home offers and at what price point. Some accessibility renovations are much more affordable to add on than others. Minneapolis’s average listing price for a home is $260,000 and if your budget is lower than that, you may want to consider a condominium. Not only are condos typically more affordable than single-family homes, but as The Atlantic points out, they're also more likely to offer accessibility features.
 
Accessible Home Features
Use this list to inform your house hunting. Prioritize the features that would be most expensive to retrofit because it may not be possible to find a home that offers every accessibility feature you need.
Most Expensive
● Single-story floor plan or elevator
● Wide doorways and hallways
● Open floor plans
● Walk-in shower
● Height-adjustable counters
● Custom cabinets
● Accessible Kitchen and Laundry Appliances
● Nonslip, low-pile flooring
Least Expensive
● Entrance and threshold ramps
● Handrails
● Bathroom grab bars
● Raised toilets
● Motion-activated lighting
● Rocker-style light switches
● Raised power outlets and lowered light switches
● Lever-style door handles and faucets
Flashing smoke and carbon monoxide detectors
● Door lights
While this list includes some of the most common accessibility features, it's not exhaustive. Before you start searching for a new home, spend time analyzing your current home. As you move through daily life, write down which home features you find most troublesome and which features make your life easier.
Remodeling for Accessibility
Once you've created a list of accessibility features for your future home, research the cost to retrofit a home with each element. Use these numbers to inform your home-buying budget. The amount you spend on a home should be your home-buying budget minus the cost of necessary renovations.
For example, if your budget is $350,000 and you find a home for $315,000 that requires $25,000 in remodeling to be fully accessible, you'll be within budget. But if the same home requires $40,000 in renovations, it's no longer within your price range.
Think carefully before purchasing a home that requires extensive remodeling. While a $225,000 home that requires $100,000 in renovations would technically be within a $350,000 budget, the time and headache of a whole-home remodel may not be worth it. You'll also need to obtain separate financing for renovations. Expertise.com lists several financing options.
Purchasing a home to suit different abilities comes with many challenges. However, you shouldn't let that dissuade you from seeking an accessible home. Living in a home that's adapted to your abilities offers a level of freedom, comfort, and independence that's unmatched by inaccessible homes. For help navigating your accessible home search, seek the assistance of a real estate agent with experience serving home buyers with different abilities.
By Ed Carter
For more articles by Ed, check out https://ablefutures.org/
 
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