Our population is aging and fast. According to AARP the 78 million baby boomers who are currently considered as ‘seniors’ is expected to increase by 50% between 2010 and 2020. It is no surprise to us that we are seeing an increasing number of our clients exclusively shopping for homes that offer options for them to continue living in that home for decades to come.
Importance
Most baby boomer clients have bought and sold in the past and frankly, they know how much work it is to move and they’d rather not do it again. We have been surprised by how many active and youthful clients are seeing homes thru the eyes of themselves 20 or 30 years in the future and screening appropriately.
Impact on Real Estate
Homes with main floor living from master bedroom to laundry room are increasingly appealing. Minimal stairs and ease of access into the home from the front and from garages are important. One new consideration is for the ability to retrofit a home for wheelchair access for pantries (wide doors and lower shelving), doorways and shower stalls.
Another major shift is in downsizing to a home with less square footage but high-end finishes and privacy. We have a significant shortage of homes in Fort Collins that fit that niche, so Sellers who do should be positioned and marketed aggressively to meet that need.
Trend In Action
So what can you do to make the most of the trend? You can’t usually move your master bedroom downstairs, but a good Realtor will help you to highlight those areas that would facilitate any mobility issues. Our team uses feature cards to show doorways that could easily be adjusted, construction plans to show the ability to make basic adjustments to floorplans and the ability to install ramps to code when needed. Its just one of the ways that we work to make each listing stand out.
How well would your home fare if wheelchair access became an issue?