Accessible New Home
Getting the keys to a new home can be exciting, but there’s a lot of steps to take care of before you reach this happy moment. If you are living with a disability, you need to find a new property that fits your accessibility needs, but you also need tips like the ones below to reduce the stress of this big transition.
Find Resources That Make Your House Hunting Easier
Finding a home that fits your needs can be a bit more complicated when you are living with a disability. That’s why you need a few special tips to make your home search go smoothly. First and foremost you should think about what you really need to live comfortably, but you should also take some time to learn your rights when it comes to locating appropriate housing. It’s also a good idea to begin your home search online. Sites like RedFin are beginning to offer filters that make searching for accessible homes much simpler for people living with a disability. Using these search filters will save you some time by narrowing down the list of potential properties, but you will also want to connect with a real estate agent as well.
Home buyers can benefit greatly from the services of the right real estate agent, so make sure you take your time to locate an agent who will work for you, and your needs. Ask plenty of questions to ascertain prospective realtor’s knowledge of the local area, as well as their experience locating accessible homes. A qualified REALTOR® will be able to locate appropriate listings for you, saving you a lot of time and headache.
Get Help to Get Moved into Your Home Faster
From start to finish, moving into a new home can be an emotional journey. Moving alone can be stressful, so it is important to start planning ahead to streamline this step. As soon as you have your move-in date, look for professional packing help to assist you with your relocation. Hiring trained pros to pack and move your boxes and belongings can be a real timesaver, and can make moving less risky for you. Injuries from moving can be more common than you think so either pay someone to pack and move for you, or make sure you are using correct form when shifting your own furniture and boxes around.
Before you start moving into your new place, you may also want to take care of some cleaning. It’s always a good idea to give your new home a scrub before you start settling, so that you can be sure it is free of toxins, dust and allergens. If you need help getting everything clean, hire professional house cleaners to take care of this chore for you.
Make Sure Your New Home is Safe, Secure and Stress-Free
Security and safety should always be your top concerns when moving to a new home, so make sure changing your locks is the very first thing you do once you get the keys to your house. The former owners likely still have copies of those house keys and you never know who else has one of those copies. It might feel like one more thing to deal with (“Now I have to find a locksmith near me, what else?!) but safety is important when you live with a disability.
Living with a disability often means making upgrades for accessibility in your home as well. So if your new home needs some tweaking, like wider doorways or lower counter-tops, consider having contractors make those renovations well ahead of your move-in date. That way you will feel safer and more comfortable as you begin to settle into your new space. Gathering essentials to keep your new home organized and cozy can help diffuse any additional stress as well. This will give you an opportunity to pick up any non-slip mats and smoke detector batteries to help protect your family as you adjust to your new home.
Finding the perfect accessible home and moving in can be effortless, if you plan ahead. Look for professionals who can help and guide you and find the tools to make your transition easy, so you can settle in faster.
Photo Credit: Unsplash
http://homeownerbliss.info/blog/
