Want to sell your house in a buyers market? Rejuvenate it! Tune into HGTV any time of day or night and youll see shows about how to prepare your home for sale. Look at your house through the eyes of a buyer if you want to sell today.
Want an even better idea? Remodel your house for independent living, not just curb appeal. That will open up a whole new market of opportunity.
Universal Design
Pretend that you are handicapped or a retiree buying your last home and you are looking for a home that is accessible. You would prefer to buy one that you dont have to immediately modify. Whether due to age, illness, or an accident, a family member, a spouse, or a close friend has limited mobility or may already be in a wheelchair. You need to buy a house that will be comfortable, accessible and visitable and you cannot find one.
A major problem at the moment is the widespread and false - perception that making a house handicapped-accessible will diminish its value, especially in upscale homes. That makes the assumption that wealthy people never have accidents or get older. That also assumes that to make a house accessible will make it look like a hospital.
There are so many design options available that improve accessibility without sacrificing aesthetics. Several companies now offer bathtub and shower stall conversion products at an affordable price. But in a luxury home, an elegant ceramic tile, custom-built accessible shower could be the focal point of the Owners Suite.
One client of mine remarked I don't recall having seen any house in which 36" bathroom doors would cause a noticeable decrease in usable space, yet houses continue to be built with 30 - 32" bathroom doors, presumably because smaller doors are cheaper. Simply widening at least one bathroom doorway will not diminish your homes value; it may actually increase it. One option to create a wider doorway is to replace a standard door with a pocket door.
Continuing improvements in products for handicapped people will make more houses accessible. Eventually, even multi-story homes will be accessible with the installation of stair climbing robots, for instance.
While we wait for technology to improve the accessibility of our existing inventory of homes for sale, making your home accessible for disabled or older buyers and making sure your Realtor lets the whole world know - will give you a leg up on the competition and expand your potential pool of buyers.