A home is a major investment that requires careful thought. You should
particularly be careful when you choose a forever home where you plan to spend
the rest of your life. The following guidelines should help you land a suitable
forever home.
As you get old, physical frailties creep in and make it difficult to
navigate difficult terrains. Many diseases that strike in old age, such as
arthritis, also make mobility laborious. Therefore, ensure you will access your
home easily even when you are an octogenarian. For example, a forever home on a
hilltop that you must access via a steep ascent is not ideal.
You should not have to labor to navigate your forever home once you get old
and frail or struggle to get from one part of your compound to another. In addition,
avoid homes that will involve a struggle to enter and exit different rooms in
your house or perform normal household tasks. Here are some features of a
navigable forever home:
- The
doorways are wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs
- The
bedrooms are on the ground floor
- The stairs
are shallow
- The
stairwells are wide
- The floor
is at the same level
In short, a physically frail person or a person with a physical disability
should get to different parts of your house without any difficulties.
A good forever home is easy to maintain. You don't want to spend most of
your sunset years in the care of the home; you want to enjoy your home. Here
are some of the typical features of a low-maintenance home:
- The
compound is just the right size; it is neither too small for your comfort
nor too big to take care of (you don't want to shovel snow for hours every
day).
- The
building materials are durable and easy to care for; for example,
fiberglass or PVC (plastic) is easier to care for than wood.
- The
exterior materials are weatherproof and won't suffer much damage due to
weather elements.
- The
compound has hardscaping designs instead of landscaping designs in some
areas; human made features (such as pavements) are easier to care for than
landscaping features.
A home is high-maintenance if you require considerable physical energy and
time to maintain the home. Avoid such homes since they will weigh you down with
maintenance requirements once you are old.
Don't just dwell on your current needs when you want to purchase a forever
home; try to gauge what your future needs might be and consider them too. For
example, if you want to adopt some kids one day, buy a forever home that will
fit those kids too. If you plan to start a home business after your retirement,
factor in the space requirements for the business when you select a home.
You don't want to drive for miles and miles to shop for groceries or get
dental health services when you get old. And, waiting too long for emergency
services to reach your place can be life threatening. Therefore, choose a home
in a neighborhood where these essential services are readily available.
Lastly, don't just focus on the home when you want a suitable forever home;
consider the neighborhood and the community too. Don't forget that you will
most likely spend most of your time at home as you get old. You don't want
those years in a neighborhood where you don't fit well.
For example, if you can't stand noisy places, avoid college neighborhoods
filled with noisy students. If you love nature, buy a home in the suburbs or a
rural neighborhood where you will enjoy close contact with nature.
No detail is little when you are on the hunt for a forever home. Involve
Heritage Realty & Insurance from the beginning of the hunt, and you won't
take long to land a suitable forever home. Contact us today
so we can discuss your needs and commence the search.
