Aging boomers and particularly retirees are two buyer segments whose members are seeking more stability in their lifestyles than younger, apartment-dwelling, transient generations. Older buyers typically are thinking long-term with their home search. While the thought that the next house may be the last house may be a tad morbid, let's face it -- moving is a hassle. Aging boomers and retirees have made it. They've worked hard, and now they want to enjoy the spoils and settle down in a home for as long as they're financially and physically possible. So a house filled with amenities that will anticipate and accommodate their needs well into their twilight years is a good idea. Any home that does not meet the needs of the disabled or aged is going to be a home on the market before long.

How do you narrow down the choices when you're looking for homes for these clients? And for what types of features should you be looking? Realtors say that a few inexpensive, easy-to-install features -- added either upon the home's construction or before the resale -- not only provide ease of accessibility, but also boost resale value. And perhaps most important, the aesthetics of the home don't have to be disrupted.

Picture: Planning for Accessibility Simply put, designing for accessibility is just basic preparation for your needs in the future. Here are ten simple, cost effective and attractive tips to remember when designing your home with handicap accessibility issues in mind.

United Design Associates names the top 10 most helpful home features that enable both disabled and aged residents to move throughout the house as easily as before. As an agent, keeping these 10 amenities in mind while narrowing your choices for your older clients may help speed the home-search process along. Obviously, chances are slim to none that you'll locate a home with all of these features, unless the sellers required such amenities and took the initiative of making such changes, or designed the home themselves with these issues in mind. Because most of these changes may be made at minimal cost, however, you may point out the possiblities of such minor renovations while showing homes to your clients, should these issues be of particular importance to them. Although sensitivity is key here -- you don't want to place your clients in walkers 30 years before their time -- simply finding out what kind of features are most important to them before the search even begins will help you navigate your way through this somewhat awkward territory.

1. Blocking in the walls of the home, allowing for the future addition of handrails. (It's a simple and relatively inexpensive technique that obviates the need for extensive remodeling if rails become necessary later.)

2. In two-story homes, the "master suite" should be located on the first floor. If residents ever find it difficult to take the stairs, a ground-floor bedroom suite avoids costly remodeling -- or moving.

3. If the approach to the house requires residents to climb steps, space should be available for future ramps. As a Realtor, if you know your clients well enough, you may choose to point out potential locations for future ramps. If possible, look for homes that keep stairs to a minimum. The more height that must be traversed to enter at floor level, the more ramp is required. Current American Disabilities Act guidelines state that for every foot you have to rise, you will need 12 feet of ramp. Obviously, this can very quickly consume a great deal of space.

4. Hallways and openings throughout the home should contain a minimum width of 42 inches. Most accessibility issues your clients may encounter in the future can be addressed successfully using this dimension.

5. Doors to all rooms and closets should provide a minimum of 32 inches clear opening. Typically, this will require a 2'-10" door, but a 3'-0" door is preferred. These dimensions will allow passage of both wheelchairs and walkers.

6. Check approaches to doors for accessibility. Often you make a room accessible by simply changing the direction in which a door swings.

7. Look for accessible door hardware. Using lever-action door hardware instead of knobs can greatly increase the ease by which a person with difficulty grasping can operate a door. Levers are also an attractive and unique addition to homes.

8. Bathrooms should be able to accommodate various handicaps. Toilets should meet ADA requirements. Allow plenty of space for easy maneuvering in the bathroom itself, should occupants need to bring items such as walkers inside the bathroom.

9. Blocking in shower stalls allows for seats and handrails. As with blocking in the walls, this feature greatly reduces the cost of installing handrails in the future.

10. Lavatories and sinks should be easily accessible. Cabinets under sinks should allow for the area directly beneath the sink, including the toe kick, to open outwards. This will allow a wheelchair-bound person to pull up directly to the sink

Source: UDA Idea Workshop Journal

Keeping an eye out for maximum home accessibility on behalf of your older buyers is an insurance policy for the both you. You're anticipating their future needs and ensuring them a long stay in their new homes, and you're also gaining satisfied clients who will most likely refer you to their fellow home-seeking friends and acquaintances.

Published: February 19, 1998

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.