Home-Buying Process:
Factors to Consider in Housing Selection
Special Needs
As a potential homeowner, the house you purchase may be 1) a house you will live in for several years, and then sell, or 2) the house you desire to live in for many years, and possibly enjoy in retirement. If you are purchasing the property for retirement purposes, consider an accessible house that provides the privacy, safety and security you desire.
If someone in your household uses a wheelchair, has a sight or hearing impairment, or any other disability requiring special home features, you usually can find a builder to accommodate these needs. If you contact a builder when a house is in the preconstruction or early construction stage, the builder may be able to install items such as:
- Wheelchair ramps
- Custom handrails and bars
- Specially designed toilets and bathroom fixtures
- Special locks and viewing devices for exterior doors
- Special shelving and kitchen cabinetry
- Special wiring
- Wider doorways
- Right or left-handed access and use
Depending on the item and when you make the request, the builder may install these features as part of the construction package. Other customized items may be treated as change orders for which you will be charged the normal change-order fee.
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| Needs and Wants |
If you are considering an existing house, it may already meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). If not, consider the cost associated with installing these features. It might be affordable to make the appropriate upgrades in some houses, while in others it may be too costly.
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