Tips to Make Your Home Handicap-Accessible That Won't Cost You a Fortune

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A Family Gathering Place

A couple of years ago, I discovered I would inherit a building located on my late grandfather’s property. This small structure contained a kitchen, a dining room, a bathroom, and a bedroom. The building, situated near two ponds, was constructed to be used as a family gathering place. Numerous birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays were celebrated in this cozy waterfront building. Do you long to have a separate place to entertain family and friends in? Consider hiring a general contractor to construct an additional structure on your property. You might want your general contractor to install an industrial sized kitchen and a huge great room in this space. Instead of always hosting parties in your home, you can entertain in this building. On this blog, I hope you will discover how a general contractor can help make your entertaining dreams come true.

Tips to Make Your Home Handicap-Accessible That Won't Cost You a Fortune

21 November 2016
 Categories: , Blog


If you want to prepare your home for the future, consider making it more widely accessible now. Some simple steps and a few modifications will make your property easy to traverse and handicap accessible, and that may also improve the overall value of your home.

Some ways to increase access around the home without spending a fortune include the following.

Add some rails. A contractor should be able to add supportive rails to your porch, your patio, or the hallways of the home. Make sure that any steps or stairs offer users a rail to aid them, regardless of how steep the risers may be. These should be professionally grounded to ensure they hold up and that they are resilient to frequent use.

Widen the shower. It won't hurt to check out the handicap-accessible shower stalls offered at local home-improvement venues. These are often easy to install, utilizing existing plumbing and simply offering a larger space for individuals to use during bathing. These also feature no-slip surfaces which are integral for anyone using your bathroom.

Get some grips. Install hand-grips on your shower, on your tub, and near any spot where you may need a little support during your activities of daily living. These can be purchased at hardware or home-improvement stores but should be expertly installed to provide the most safety and security for those using them.

Build ample ramps. Talk to a contractor about building ramps near all entrances to your home that involve an incline or steps. Don't forget about patios, terraces, or outdoor spaces that may be lower than the ground level of your property.

Create first-level facilities. If you want to improve access in the home and enhance the value of your property, create first-level bathroom facilities. This will involve hiring a contractor and potentially a plumber, unless your builder uses the plumbing from your kitchen or other facilities to build your new bathroom.

Improve lighting. Poor lighting makes it far too easy to fall in the home—particularly if you have limited mobility. Have your contractor improve ambient lighting in your house and add plenty of task lamps and features for the things that you do every day. These are especially important in the kitchen, near the bed, and in places where you like to read or work.

Talk with your contractor about ways to improve access and make daily living easier in your home. Obtain estimates and consider the layout of your home to reconfigure and determine the best approach to take for optimal access and convenience. Whether you currently are handicapped or face mobility limitations, use these tips to make your home more accessible for all who visit. 

Talk to a professional such as Noreast Property Management Corporation for more ideas.