Finding the perfect home is hard when you need specific features to accommodate a mobility issue. However, there are many homes that have a lot of potential if you know what to look for. Certain renovations can also make a decent home the perfect fit. Below, learn more about the steps you can take to find a home that suits all your needs.
Make a List of Must-Haves
The first step in any house search is to make a list of the features you can’t live without. Perhaps you are looking for an open-concept or single-story home, which will make it easier to get around. Or, maybe you need a home without carpeting or stairs to worry about. When jotting down your list, make sure you are mindful of what counts as a need versus a want. Many prospective homebuyers skip over great homes because they filter out results that don’t fit their wants. In reality, wants are just optional features that make a home nice but aren’t necessarily deal-breakers.
Look for Homes with Potential
If you’re having trouble finding homes, consider broadening your search to include a wider variety. When you need to accommodate a mobility issue, a two-story house might still be a dealbreaker. However, a small issue like wall-to-wall carpeting can be remedied. Homes with narrow doorways, small bathrooms, or cramped bedrooms might present a challenge as well. However, keep in mind that doorways can be
widened with some minor construction work. Rooms can also be converted to serve a different purpose. A bathroom remodel is one of the more common projects you might have to undertake. Putting in accessible bathroom features like grab bars or a new sink with better clearance might be all you need if the room is large enough. If a home has a small bathroom, it can also be expanded by borrowing space from an adjacent room or hallway. This is a more in-depth project, but keep in mind that having a larger bathroom can often increase the resale value of your home. If you don’t have the space or budget to expand or convert an existing room, you’re not out of luck. As Accessible Construction points out, even tiny bathrooms can have potential.
Budget for Renovations
Whether you need to accommodate a mobility issue or not, it’s pretty common to plan renovations when moving to a new home. Having a good home
renovation budget is crucial when shopping for a home. Researching what typical remodel projects cost will help you get a realistic idea of your expenses. If you plan on putting in hardwood floors, for example, you’ll typically pay between $6 and $22 per square foot, according to HomeAdvisor. However, the type of material you choose plays a big role. Materials such as
pine and bamboo are much cheaper, while exotic hardwoods and engineered wood are more expensive. What’s more, you’ll also have to factor in the expense of removing and disposing of old flooring materials.
Putting in hard floors is a great way to make a home more accessible, but as an added benefit, it may also increase the value of the home. Not only that, but hard flooring is also easier to clean and maintain than carpeting.
Make a Renovation Timeline
Depending on the scope of your planned renovations, it might take a while to get your home in perfect condition. Some renovations are fast, such as cosmetic repairs. Putting in new hardwood flooring is also a relatively quick project, taking about 10 days from start to finish in most cases. However, any time you plan on redoing a whole room or making structural changes, it’ll take a lot
longer and you’ll need to plan accordingly.
House hunting can be stressful when you have a long list of must-have features. However, by looking for homes with a lot of potential, it’s easy to transform just about any house into one that accommodates all your needs.
Guest written by: Patrick Young
