Easy Living: House Hunting Tips for Accessible Homes

Discover How To Navigate the Journey Toward Accessible Homes Involves Understanding Key Strategies That Ensure Smooth and Cost–Effective Modifications

Guest blog post by: Don Lewis

Accessible homes are designed to make life easier for people with special needs. But, with the wide range of modifications and adaptations available, it can be hard to know where to start and how to keep things affordable. Fortunately, there are a few key strategies that can help make the process smoother and less stressful.

KEY CHARACTERISTICS

The Right Layout

Your home’s layout plays an important role in your routine, so you’ll want to make sure that the doorways are wide enough to accommodate any assistive devices you use and that there are no stairs leading to the front door.

Modifications

You’ll need to be cognizant of the fact that your needs may change in the future, so it would be helpful to have a home that makes it easy to add in any necessary modifications. These could include ramps, widened doorways, or installing elevator access.

Location

As a differently abled person, you are probably aware of facilities, like banks, supermarkets, or shopping centers, that ease the unique challenges you face. When searching for a home, you’ll want to make certain that these amenities are close by.

Price

Affordability is a key consideration, as you’ll need to keep in mind that owning a home involves much more than the mortgage payment. Start by figuring out how much you can afford, and be sure to do some research about the homes in areas you are interested in so you can better gauge the pricing.

Buying Your Home

Mortgages: Spending some time researching mortgage options will help you solidify your budget and apply for pre-approval. When doing this, you should bear in mind that lenders will review your credit score, current income and employment, and how much you want to borrow.
Realtors: It’s possible to find a real estate agent who specializes in accessible homes. They can recommend properties in the area that suit your needs and put you in touch with reliable contractors that can assist with modifications.
Offer: Once you’ve settled on a home you’re interested in, you’ll be able to make an offer with the help of your realtor. And, if you’ve secured mortgage pre-approval, it’s far more likely that the current owners will be open to negotiation.

Modifying Your Home

The modifications made will differ from person to person according to their circumstances. However, the most important part of this process is finding a good contractor.

The right company will be able to assist you in securing the necessary permits, advise you on which modifications best meet your needs and affordability, and ensure that the work is done up to code.

Professionalism and excellent communication are essential factors to look out for when searching for a contractor, as settling for the cheapest option may cost you more in the long run.

Stress-free Moving

The first step in making a stress-free move is to hire a moving company. They will be able to help you pack up your belongings and safely transport them to your new home. It may also be helpful to make a checklist of everything that needs to be done during the move. This might include packing up your belongings, changing your address, and transferring your utilities. Finally, if your loved ones have offered to help you make this transition, you can start delegating tasks that may be challenging for you. This will ease the burden and make the process far less overwhelming.

With the right knowledge and a little bit of planning and mortgage research, finding an accessible home is an achievable feat. With technology at your fingertips, there are several resources that can minimize any difficulties you may face. Be sure not to rush the process, and don’t be afraid to seek help from professional realtors.

Paris Group Realty, LLC has served innumerable prospective home buyers and sellers in the Portland area. Our agents have a thorough knowledge of these processes and, as such, will go beyond the call of duty to relieve any associated stresses. Buy or sell your home at: www.parisgrouprealty.com

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