When building a home, we tend to think not just about our current needs but also what future homeowners might desire down the road. Homeowners are increasingly starting to consider what they may need in the house as they get older, should they remain in their new build through the rest of their life.

Joe Garcia, owner of G&G Custom Homes, says he often speaks to clients who are in great health at the moment, but they want to plan for possible contingencies later on. For example, mobility issues could make traversing stairs difficult, or impossible if the homeowner becomes wheelchair bound. Both of these scenarios would require changes in a home’s design, that is, unless it’s considered from the outset.

“The homeowners may be fine now, but they think in a ‘just in case’ mentality, asking, ‘What are some things we can do to prepare?’” says Garcia.

“The homeowners may be fine now, but they think in a ‘just in case’ mentality, asking, ‘What are some things we can do to prepare?’” says Garcia. For these projects, Garcia makes sure that all the bedrooms (not just the master) have doorways that are wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair. He also designs hallways that are wider than the standard. He builds the bathrooms so that they are handicapped accessible. Installing features like a high-rise toilet or a grab bar help with aging in place, and making the floor flush with the shower entry avoids a potential trip hazard on the lip of a shower as you enter or exit. In the showers, he installs benches and grab bars, as well.

Garcia is currently building a home where the homeowners requested to lower the kitchen countertop so that a wheelchair could roll up and fit perfectly at that height.

In recent years, Garcia is getting more requests for in-home elevators.

“This is my 23rd year building homes, and people only started asking for elevators about three years ago,” says Garcia.

The reason for this request is simple. Not everyone wants to build a ranch, but they want to be sure they can get to the second floor or basement should they have trouble navigating stairs at some point in the future. And if you’re going to have a spot for an elevator, it’s a lot easier to design it at the beginning than to add one to an existing home. But that doesn’t mean you have to actually install it right away if it’s not needed.

“I had one home where we put in the elevator shaft and wired it for power, but instead of putting in the elevator, we installed closets,” says Garcia. “If, at some point, the homeowners need an elevator, they can just take out the closet material, put the elevator in, and they’re good to go.”

Garcia has placed a lot of these elevators so they have garage access as well. For example, he’s building a home that includes an in-law suite above the garage with a bedroom, living room, kitchen, and bathroom. When the mother-in-law pulls into the garage, she can access the elevator from the garage and go straight up to her suite.

A multi-story home with an elevator is sometimes less expensive than building a giant ranch floorplan. Garcia notes that the more you put on the main floor, square-footage-wise, the higher the price tag. In other words, going out costs more than going up.

“Due to more foundation and roofing costs, it’s cheaper to put in an elevator than to try to throw everything on your main floor,” says Garcia.

Looking to the future is a smart move.

“Preparation is great,” says Garcia. “That way, if something does happen, you won’t have to move because the home isn’t set up to meet your needs.”

To learn more about building a home that allows you to age in place, contact Joe Garcia today.