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Choose An Accessible Home With These Considerations

House hunting when accessibility is a key requirement presents unique challenges and necessitates careful consideration. This guide, courtesy of AccessAbility Solutions, is designed to help you identify essential features, anticipate future needs, and make informed decisions to find a home that enhances your daily living. With strategic planning and the right resources, finding the perfect accessible home becomes an achievable goal. Let’s take a look:

Understanding Non-Negotiable Accessibility Features

Identifying key accessibility features and building standards is crucial. Consider door widths, ramp access, and bathroom modifications. Look for lever handles instead of knobs, as they are easier to use. Check for lower countertops and light switches for wheelchair accessibility. Ensure the home has a step-free entrance and wide hallways, and evaluate the kitchen layout for mobility. These elements can make daily living more comfortable and safe.

Thinking Long-Term for Evolving Needs

Planning for the future is essential. Your needs might change over time, so consider homes that can adapt. Look for properties with open floor plans that allow for easy modifications. Multi-level homes might not be ideal if mobility decreases. Consider a single-story layout to avoid future renovations. Think about potential changes in health and mobility and choose a home that can evolve with you.

Budgeting for Your Accessible Home

Determine what you can afford before house hunting. This involves assessing your finances and understanding your budget constraints. Research the local housing market to get an idea of prices. Use online real estate platforms to compare prices and features of accessible homes. Knowing your budget helps narrow down your options and prevents financial strain.

Evaluating the Surrounding Neighborhood

The neighborhood is just as important as the house. Ensure the area is accessible and meets your needs. Look for neighborhoods with smooth sidewalks, curb cuts, and accessible public transportation. Check the availability of nearby healthcare facilities, grocery stores, and other essential services. Consider the community’s overall safety and accessibility of public spaces. Evaluate the proximity to family, friends, and support networks.

Planning and Completing Repairs

When it comes to maintaining your accessible home, ensuring that necessary repairs are completed in a timely and efficient manner is crucial. Whether it’s widening doorways, adjusting countertops, or upgrading bathroom fixtures, it’s important to address these updates with professionals who understand the specific needs of accessibility. By using an app designed to connect you with home repair services, contractors, and experts, you can easily schedule appointments or even video chat with specialists to discuss your needs.

Exploring Grants and Loans for Accessible Homes

Financial assistance can ease the burden of purchasing and modifying an accessible home. Research grants and loans available for accessibility modifications. Various government and non-profit programs offer financial aid; the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provides resources for home modifications. These funds can significantly reduce the cost of making necessary modifications. Understanding your options can help you find financial relief.

Conducting a Thorough Accessibility Inspection

When you find a potential home, conduct a thorough inspection with accessibility in mind. Hire a professional inspector familiar with accessibility standards and find out exactly what they’ll check for, which might include even flooring, adequate lighting, and accessible entryways. Ensure that all rooms are navigable and that essential features like bathrooms and kitchens are accessible. An in-depth inspection can reveal hidden issues that might not be immediately apparent.

Finding an accessible home requires careful planning and consideration. By understanding key accessibility features, planning for future needs, budgeting wisely, and evaluating neighborhoods, you can find a home that suits your requirements. Digitizing documents, assessing modification potential, exploring financial aid, and conducting thorough inspections are also crucial steps. With these strategies, you can navigate the house hunting process more effectively and find a home that enhances your quality of life.

Suzanne Tanner , ablesafety

Testimonies

“1’d like to give a shout out to Myles Pilling, BA,M.Ed. and encourage anyone who needs training and support around assistive tech to reach out to him directly. was lucky enough to have several hours of training with Myles thanks to my Access to Work grant. Myles’ training though? Well, it was closer to coaching than training. He didn’t assume. He asked me to show him what I did so he could offer refinements and tweaks.

But the most important thing Myles did was question why I was doing what I was doing; what was the benefit, why was it needed, and if it was what was the most effective way of doing it? No more ‘stick a tech plaster on a Luddite broken leg’ – instead Myles helped me work most effectively with my tech, by helping me figure out when and how I needed it. The absolute best bit? Thanks to working with Myles, I never ever need to do filing again.

Seriously. Never.

Myles helped me set up a system that I would likely never have discovered without him, that allows my work to be recorded and autosaved without a single follow up step.” Leah , Consultant , Search for Serenity

“Accessibility Smyles continues to serve up timely information about the latest and best technology for individuals with unique needs. Always pleased to receive these helpful resources with related links. I share them with parents, educators and others who serve the many with reading and learning challenges. (Thank you, Myles!)” – Jean

“I’ve known Myles for many years, he’s my go-to expert for all this Accessibility, so much so that he’s our resident expert at Anderton Tiger Radio. Whenever we feature this topic he’s always there with excellent advice and guidance, in fact you can listen to him again here from our January radio show https://www.buzzsprout.com/695014/2586430-myles-pilling-talks-about-technologies-for-send-that-have-caught-his-eye-at-bett-2020 Highly recommended, Myles is most definitely one of the top 5 experts in his field in the UK” – Russell Prue, Anderson Tiger

“After one of your recent training sessions, I visited your Techsavvy session and discovered the virtual tour guides. A a result my husband and I enjoyed a splendid trip to Edinburgh. A city I have avoided for a number of years due to its challenges for a wheelchair user due to its very steep streets and cobbles. I think the sessions you have posted are really good and I hoped you would be happy if I suggested these to clients, I am assisting in my volunteering journey. I am also liaising with a local charity who are trying to encourage their older members and I think they too could benefit from your regular hints and tips so would like to suggest they pass on the Techsavvy links. You really are an inspiration.” –

Heather Sneddon

South West Scotland Coordinator , AbilityNet