Life should be easier after you retire, not harder. No matter how well your New Jersey home served you in years past, it may not be such a good fit for you if you’re concerned about mobility issues, or you’ve decided that it’s time to downsize. New homes in New Jersey offer a variety of thoughtful features that will make your retirement stress-free, including:
One-Floor Living
Managing multiple sets of stairs every day can be challenging as you grow older. Even if you have no trouble navigating the stairs now, mobility issues can occur without warning. Although you could install a ramp to your home and make other modifications, renovations can be lengthy and expensive. All of the work is already done for you when you make sure to buy a home with first floor living built-in.
Homes designed for retirement living feature extra-wide doors and hallways. Should you ever need a wheelchair, you’ll be able to travel throughout your home with ease. Larger spaces are achieved by opening up the floor plan and eliminating walls between the kitchen, dining room and family room. Open floor plans are particularly popular with today’s buyers and increase the value of your home.
One-level living also make doing laundry a more pleasant experience. You’ll no longer need to lug heavy laundry baskets up one or two flights of stairs. In fact, your laundry room will be located just down the hall from your bedroom. Adding raised washers and dryers to the rooms eliminates the need for bending, which can be a concern if you have arthritis or another condition that affects your joints.
Even when you want a home that has multiple stories, it's nice to at least have the option for first-floor living. At Country Classics, we have floor plans that keep this in mind. Many of our most popular floor plans feature first-floor bedrooms and bathrooms in addition to first-floor laundry and open concept living!
First-Floor Primary Bedroom Suite
A primary bedroom suite on the same level as the public rooms of your home offers the ultimate in convenience. Suites include a spacious bedroom with attached bathroom, plus a walk-in closet large enough to hold your entire wardrobe.
Bathroom and Kitchen Features
Bathrooms and kitchens can be difficult to navigate if you have mobility issues or are confined to a wheelchair. For example, if you have hip or knee issues, it may be hard to lift your legs high enough to enter a bathtub/shower combination, while operating appliances may be difficult from a wheelchair.
Fortunately, it’s easy to make your new home accessible by adding:
- Curbless walk-in showers
- Benches and seats in showers
- Shower controls placed at lower levels
- Non-slip flooring
- Sinks and counters placed at lower heights (A mixture of standard and reduced height counters can be a good compromise if you currently have no mobility issues.)
- Appliances that are easier to operate if you ever are confined to a wheelchair or experience reduce flexibility in your hands and fingers
- Light switches and door handles that don’t require fine motor control to operate
Although kitchens and baths in new homes contain many features that make your life easier, they’re anything but institutional. Stylish design choices, including stainless steel appliances, hardwood floors and granite countertops, make these rooms just as appealing as the rest of the house.
Low Maintenance
The last thing you want to do is spend your free time fixing things around the house when you retire. Luckily, new homes don’t require much maintenance. If something does go wrong during the first year, chances are it will be covered the warranty offered by your home builder.
Upgraded Lighting
Motion-activated lighting both inside and outside your home can help you avoid falls. The moment you step out of bed and begin making your way toward the bathroom, lights will automatically turn on, lighting your way. You can also opt for LED lights. Because the lights are low glare, they make it easier for your eyes to adjust when you’re entering a lighted room from a dark area of the house.
There’s no need to move far from home if you're ready to build a home with aging-in-place features in mind. Country Classics can help! From first-floor bedrooms to wide halls and entries to easily accessible garages and more, we're happy to discuss options with you for creating your perfect home in New Jersey!
Sources:
On the Move: What Baby Boomers Want in New Homes
https://www.newhomesource.com/guide/articles/what-baby-boomers-want-in-new-homes
U.S. News & World Report: How to Choose the Perfect Retirement Home for You
Leave a Comment