Custom Home Building Tips For Those Approaching Retirement Age
The great thing about having a custom home built is the fact that you can have it built to perfectly suit your own tastes. But designing a custom home is not just about looks. It's also about designing it to fit your needs and lifestyle. Those needs are going to vary depending on the stage of life you're in. So, if you're retirement age or approaching retirement age, you need to design your custom home with that in mind. Here are some tips that might come in handy as you do so.
Design a one-story home.
The idea of having a tough time going upstairs may sound preposterous to you now. But in 10 or 20 years, climbing stairs may, indeed, be more challenging for you. It would be a shame to have to move out of the home you love because you can't access half the rooms. So, when designing a home and you're near retirement age, it's often wise to stick with one floor. There are plenty of one-floor ranch floor plans that put the bedrooms off in their own private area, which gives you that same feeling of separation you get in a two-story house.
Opt for low-maintenance materials.
As you grow older and become less agile, you're not going to want to do things like bend down to re-caulk the bathtub, or kneel to reseal your hardwood floor. So, as you design your home, make sure you're choosing materials that are long-lasting and lower-maintenance. You'll pay more for these materials up-front, but in the long term, they will save you a lot of time and effort.
Leave lots of clearance room in hallways and pass-through areas.
Don't be afraid to widen the halls a little. In the kitchen, leave more space between the island and the main counters. Make sure your bathrooms are large and spacious. All of these space-permitting design tips will come in handy if you ever need to be in a wheelchair or walk with a walker for a time. In fact, having a home designed with more space may allow you to return straight home after a surgery or injury rather than having to spend time in a rehab unit.
Talk to your home designer and builder about designing for older ages. They can tell you what has worked well for their other customers who are approaching retirement. This is a great time to design your own house so you can ensure it offers all you need.
For more information, contact a local residential construction service.
