By Don Lewis, Ability Labs
If you have mobility issues, moving to an accessible home often helps you maintain your independence. Finding the perfect home can be challenging, and most people find the moving process to be one of the most stressful events in life. Use these five tips from The Sojourners Truth to simplify the process.
Do Some Research
Research the housing market to ensure you can afford to buy an accessible home. If the market favors sellers, you may end up paying more than the house is worth, so you could lose money on your investment in the future. You may find a great price for a new house if the market favors buyers, but your new home may need some work. Before you start looking for an accessible home, research houses for sale in your area so you have a good understanding of what you must pay for an accessible home.
Know What You Want
Viewing potential new homes can be exhausting, so you should narrow down your options by making a list of features you must have in a new house. For example, if you need a new home that is wheelchair accessible, you need a house with no stairs. You can eliminate all multistory houses from your search because they do not fit your needs. If you also need a big backyard for kids or a pet, only look at houses that are single-story and also have a fenced-in backyard. It’s often helpful to write down a list of features you must have and have a separate list of features that are desirable. You can then compare features from potential homes to the ones on these lists to determine which one is the best for you.
Research Mortgage Options
One study shows that only 23% of home buyers pay cash for new houses. Most people need access to financing to afford a new home, so you will likely need to approach a bank for a housing loan to purchase an accessible house. It’s a good idea to meet with a lender before you begin the process of searching for a new home so that you know how much money you qualify for. Lenders determine your eligibility based on your current income and employment, credit score, and the amount of money you want to borrow. Knowing how much financing you can receive helps you set a realistic budget for a new house.
Modify Your New Home to Meet Your Needs
If your new house needs some work to meet your needs, try to make modifications before you move. Install wheelchair ramps and wider doorways as necessary to make your home accessible if you need mobility aids to get around. You may also want to install bars in the showers and nonslip surfaces in your bathrooms to improve safety.
Start the Moving Process
Moving is one of the most stressful life events for many people. You can make the process easier by hiring a moving company to handle packing and transporting your belongings. Make sure you use a packing system so that all of your boxes arrive in the correct room at your new location. This speeds up the unpacking process and helps you settle into your new home quickly and easily.
Moving to an accessible home improves your quality of life when you have limited mobility. The process of finding and moving to the right house can be daunting, but you can use these tips to make it easier.