Building a retirement home provides a unique opportunity to create an ideal, personalized environment.
The needs of a retired person are quite different from those of a person starting a family. Five main considerations are important when planning to build a retirement home:
1. Plan ahead to ease traffic:
A custom fit is one of the advantages of building your own home. A kitchen that adapts to your needs and your way of operating makes life easier and cooking more enjoyable. Plan ahead for wider hallways and doorways for easier navigation, and a master bath with easy-to-operate grab bars and fixtures is also a good idea. And of course, without steps.
2. Can your house provide income?
It is possible to build a duplex with very suitable living areas in the size range of 2,000 to 2,500 total square feet. The rental unit will provide an income stream that will continue to adjust with inflation. If your zoning designation does not allow for a duplex, an in-law suite may be feasible. Additionally, maid’s or caretaker’s quarters are an important feature to consider when designing a retirement home.
Additional savings can be achieved through careful choice of building materials and proper insulation, along with the type of space and water heating systems.
3. Work at home:
According to recent government studies, more and more people are choosing to continue working after retirement, with an increasing number of people working at home. A good home office is much more than a guest bedroom. A well-designed home office can have its own entrance from the outside and certainly requires special planning for electrical layout, storage requirements, and phone lines.
4.Security:
Gated communities or a development with private security service may be among the best places to build a Retirement home. If this is not possible, having a rental suite in your home can provide a measure of security.
5. Healthy Design:
“Green architecture,” which means design and construction that uses non-toxic and non-allergenic materials, surfaces that are easily kept clean and free of dust, and adequate air circulation, among other things, is rapidly gaining greater acceptance. “Green architecture” is much more affordable with a smaller house. A retirement home built with as many “green” features as possible means a healthier personal environment.
Even those who travel a lot look forward to coming home. Careful design and planning can make your retirement home an enjoyable haven that works well for you.
