How Accessibility Features Can Serve Homeowners of All Ages and Abilities

We all need a helping hand from time to time, but prefer to remain as independent as possible. Accessible features in a home are a way of lending ourselves a hand, and making in our house continually comfortable.

“More members of the baby boom generation, show a preference for aging in place, in their own homes rather than moving to traditional assisted living communities. This trend has created interest in the designing and retrofitting of homes for maximum ease of use. Heightened awareness of the needs of disabled people of all ages, and increased legislative attention to their rights, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), have also helped drive a trend which can benefit all homebuyers,” stated ERA Justin Realtor professional Grace Tirrito.

What has come to be called 'Universal Design' is a set of standards for making every house a welcoming home for inhabitants of all ability levels. These include placing light switches and thermostats low enough, and electrical outlets high enough, for anyone to reach; outfitting hallways with railings and showers with grab-bars and stools; replacing doorknobs with levers; offering ramps as well as stairs, and doorways that can accommodate wheelchairs; and minimizing falling risks through secure, low-pile carpeting. Attitudes and demographics have changed, and Universal Design is now considered a resale advantage. This potential extra salability can be achieved through minimal effort and expense. For instance, in many cases a room can be made wheelchair-accessible simply by changing the direction of a swinging door.

Grace continued, “The ease of doing this makes it equally desirable to build a new home with these considerations, or to retrofit an existing home with them, using simple methods that enhance convenience and are common sense for all homeowners. Talk to one of our Realtor agents about accessible-home options in any area where you may be interested in buying.  He or she can also assist about financing opportunities and other ways to keep your path to secure homeownership a clear one.”

ERA Justin Realty, a leading area Realtor brokerage serving Bergen, Passaic, Hudson and Essex Counties is a Top-100 ERA office of the global ERA real estate network and had been named the recipient of the J.D. Power and Associates Award for 'Highest Overall Satisfaction For First Time Home Sellers Among National Full Service Real Estate Firms.'  The awards were from a study based on responses from 4,834 home buyers and sellers surveyed by J.D. Power and Associates.