Tips for Buying an Accessible Home

There are some features you can see before you even enter the home. 

• Is the home exterior brick, vinyl or wood? Brick and vinyl exteriors typically require less upkeep.
• Are the driveway and garage large enough to allow extra space to get in and out of vehicles?
• Are the doors at or near ground level, with the thresholds no more than 1/2 inch high? If there are steps, make sure there are sturdy, reliable handrails. Loose or slick handrails can be dangerous in the event of a fall, and handrails that are too big or too small are difficult to hold securely.
• Is there room to install an entryway ramp if you need a wheelchair-accessible home? Take a look at Build a Wheelchair Ramp for information on sizing a ramp.
• How wide are the doorways? Doorways that offer at least 32 inches of clearance are easier to navigate, especially with a mobility device like a wheelchair or walker. Doors with offset hinges, which allow the door to swing fully out of the doorway, also make access easier. Consider if the doorways would need to be widened for easy use.
• Are exterior handlesets and locks easy to use? Look for lever-style door handles, electronic locks and locks you can control from a mobile device.
• Will the landscape be easy to manage? Automatic irrigation systems, raised garden beds and even lawn alternatives, such as mulched or hardscaped areas, will reduce the effort needed to keep the landscape well-maintained. You might also want to consider a home with a very small yard.
• If there's a deck or patio, is it on the same level as the home? Is it easy to access the yard? Pay attention to how hilly or level the yard is.
• Is there adequate exterior lighting, especially at the entrances? Good lighting improves both safety and security, and you can upgrade to motion-activated or dusk-to-dawn lighting to ensure the exterior is lit when you need it.

See Better Living Design in Entry and Access, and Better Living Design in the Landscape for more features you can look for when shopping for an accessible home and ways to upgrade a new home.

Once you get inside the house you can begin to assess how it will meet your accessibility needs. If it doesn’t meet them, determine if upgrades are viable options to make the home right for you and your family. You can make some upgrades simply and economically. Others will require more extensive work and renovation.

• Is there plenty of space inside entry doors? An open area 5 feet in diameter will allow space for a wheelchair to turn around.
• Will it be easy to get from room to room? As with the exterior, wide doorways and offset hinges will make life easier. Wide hallways are a good idea as well — ideally a minimum of 36 inches wide — to allow room for mobility devices.
• Will the floors allow you to move freely and safely or will you need to replace it? While low-pile carpet is a better option than thicker pile, flooring types like hardwood, laminate and many types of vinyl and tile make mobility devices easier to use.
• Are the rooms large enough for ample spacing — about 32 inches — around couches, chairs, beds and other furnishings? This spacing will allow you and your family room to get around them more easily.
• Where are the light switches? An accessible home will have easy-to-operate switches installed lower on the walls. Electrical outlets should be easy to reach as well.
• Does the home have smart home capability for heating, cooling and lighting as well as smart-home-compatible smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Having these functions accessible on a phone or a tablet will give you easier control over your home. Also determine if alarm and alert devices offer visual as well as auditory warnings.
• If the house is multilevel, is there a bedroom and full bathroom on the ground floor?
• Do the closets have adjustable wood or wire closet systems? Look for closet storage that allows you to change the height of hang rods and shelving as needed to make clothes easier to reach.
• Is the interior door hardware easy to use and are the thresholds 1/2 inch high or lower?

See Top Tips to Adapt Your Home as You Age to learn about upgrades that make a home more accessible and functional.

Since kitchens add the extra factors of cutting, cooking and washing, they require particular focus to make sure they’re functional and safe.

• Will the general layout allow you to access different areas — sink, countertop, cabinets — from one location or with minimal movement?
• As in other rooms, does the open space and flooring type allow you to easily and safely maneuver around the entire kitchen? Is the floor slip-resistant?
• Are cabinets low enough to reach? Can you add Lazy Susans and pull-out pantry and cabinet organizers to make it easier to reach items stored inside?
• Are countertops at a usable height? Counters that allow use from a seated position are especially helpful.
• Are cabinet and drawer hardware easy to use? D-shaped drawer and door pulls may be easier to use than knobs.
• As in living spaces, are light switches and electrical outlets at a comfortable height?
• Is there adequate lighting — including under cabinet lighting — that'll make food preparation easier and safe?
• Are the sink and faucet easy to use? A sink with space underneath to allow you to work from a seated position is ideal. Also think about how far you’ll need to reach. A shallower sink will be easier to access than a deep one, and you should be able to reach the faucet comfortably. Lever-handle faucets, or touch-operated and touchless faucets, will be easier to use.
• Can you comfortably operate the appliances? Do the doors open correctly to allow you access? Try out the controls and make sure they're easy to operate safely. For example, a range with controls on the front will be easier to reach and safer to use.

Read Better Living Design in the Kitchen for ways to adapt a kitchen for usability.

Like the kitchen, the bathroom has usability and safety concerns.

• Is the floor slip-resistant? Does the floor space allow easy access to sinks, tubs or showers and the toilet?
• Are countertops, cabinets and sinks easy to reach? Does the sink or vanity provide knee space for seated use? If not, you might be able replace it with a wall-mount sink or vanity that does.
• Are there grab bars in the tub, shower and toilet areas? Are they securely mounted and easy to grip firmly? You can add grab bars that mount to the wall or types that mount to smooth surfaces.
• Is the toilet chair height? You might be able to add a toilet seat riser to make the toilet easier to use. Is there enough space for someone with a walker, wheelchair or other mobility device to get to the toilet? Make sure there's room to add (and use) safety rails.
• Are the shower and tub easy to get in and out of and use? If not, consider a walk-in shower or tub. Walk-in bathtubs and low- threshold or barrier-free showers are ideal as are showers with a built-in seat. If there's no seat, check if there’s room to add a bath or shower seat.
• Will faucet handles be easy to use? Lever-style, touchless and touch-activated sink faucets are available for the bathroom as well as the kitchen. You can also find lever-style bath and shower faucets.
• Are light switches and outlets easy to reach and use?

See Better Living Design in the Bath for tips on creating a bathroom that’s easier for everyone to use.