Housing Considerations For Retirement Living
When the topic of Retirement Living comes up there are a number of special considerations that are usually included in the conversation. This article will discuss some of the absolutes in any search for property for a retired homeowner.
Low maintenance.
Usually one of the reasons for a move is to avoid some of the maintenance obligations that come with a larger traditional home. A good home for the retirement lifestyle will either be low maintenance or there will be a dedicated maintenance crew to take care of the maintenance. Often the best home with combine both. As an example a condominium normally will have a crew to take care of the exterior and sometimes this same arrangement would cover interior maintenance items like plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning. Ask your Exclusive Buyer Agent for their experience with maintenance management at the various communities you are considering.
Easy on the knees
Even if there are no mobility impairments now, a good home for retirement will take into account that there will likely be mobility impairments in the future. That is why the vast majority of retirement communities have all the primary living spaces on the main floor. If more space is needed for things like visitor rooms they often go on upper or lower floors. And don’t forget the entryway to the home. If is always best if there is space for a ramp from the garage or a convenient exterior door. Even if you don’t need it it is likely that some of your visitors may.
Convenient to activities
Another important aspect is convenience to various activities. Those activities are very different for different people but they often center around golf, fishing, church, or family. Sometimes the retirement community is built around these activities, sometime they are nearby. Consider how those retirement hours will be spent before your purchase.
Additionally if you want to increase your chances of having visitors consider moving to an area close to national attractions. This is one reason there are so many retirement communities near the Disney theme parks.
Easy to travel
One aspect that sometimes gets neglected when choosing a retirement community is access to easy travel. You don’t want to be isolated so consider how you will travel and how friends and family might travel to you.
Secure
One final aspect to consider is security. Ideally you want the ability to close your door and travel without worrying about having your home burglarized. Gated communities often help owners feel more secure. Having friends in the development who can check on your home is another option to consider.
via Buying a Retirement Home, Second Home.