How To Make Your Home In An "Older" Neighborhood More Appealing To Buyers
If you live in a neighborhood where most of the residents are older, retirement-age adults (55 communities), you need to take this demographic into account when you list your home for sale. Chances are, the potential buyers you'll be marketing the home to will also be retirement age. In order to sell your home faster, you may want to make a few changes to ensure it is appealing to this crowd. Here's a look.
Update Your Railings
If there are not already railings on each of the sets or stairs leading into the home and also along the interior stairs, then add some. Usually, pre-made railings are easy to mount. You just have to screw them into the wall at the top and the bottom. The railings will make the home safer for older adults, who may need to hang onto the railing as they navigate the stairs.
Get Rid of Raised Transition Strips
Transition strips are those long, raised pieces that are sometimes placed over the border between rooms where carpet and flat flooding come together. If the ones in your home are raised and bumpy, replace them with smoother, flatter ones. These will be easier for older adults to navigate over if they happen to be using a walker or cane. People are also less likely to trip over flatter transition strips.
Replace Hard-to-Open Door Knobs
If there are any door knobs in your home that are hard to turn, take a minute to replace them with new ones. This will be really appreciated by older adults who have arthritis or other mobility issues with their hands. Sometimes, door levers are easier to open and close than door knobs. If you can find some levers you like, feel free to use them for even more appeal.
Install Glowing Light Switches
Consider replacing light switches in the bathroom and hallway with ones that glow in the dark. This makes it easier to find the light switch in the dark, which is handy for older adults who are more likely to be injured if they trip and fall while searching for a light switch.
Install a Scald-Resistant Shower Head
Older adults may have sensitive skin that is more prone to scalding if exposed to hot water. To prevent scalding, replace your current shower head with one that resists scalding. These shower heads adjust the flow of hot water automatically when the flow of cold water reduces, so the shower does not surge hot when the toilet is flushed.
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