Whether due to age, disease, or accident, it is sometimes necessary to make home
modifications to account for mobility issues. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the most
beneficial upgrades to make life easy when moving isn’t.

Kitchen
● Lower​ ​cabinets.​ Those confined to a wheelchair can still provide for their own dietary
needs by installing 28-inch counters. This is low enough to see food cooking on a stove
top and to reach the kitchen sink without standing.

● Front-controlled​ ​stoves.​ A front -controlled cooktop is a safer option for the
mobility-impaired. It eliminates the need to reach over a hot burner to adjust
temperature. Kitchen Aid offers an assortment of accessible ranges to fit most 30” – 36”
openings.

● Slip​ ​resistant​ ​flooring.​ To reduce the chance of slip and fall accidents in the kitchen,
one of the most dangerous rooms in the home, choose a slip resistant flooring. The
AARP suggests bamboo, wood, cork, and linoleum.

Bath
● Grab​ ​bars.​ United Spinal Association Editor Tom Scott notes that bathroom safety for
people with disabilities is of the utmost importance. He encourages adding grab bars
and safety transfer seats to offset balance concerns.

● Walk-in​ ​tubs/no​ ​profile​ ​showers.​ A walk-in bathtub or no profile shower eliminates the
need to step over an obstacle onto a potentially slippery surface. As an added benefit,
many walk-in bathtubs offer hydrotherapy for relaxing and stress-busting bathing
experience. No profile showers are more accessible for people in wheelchairs.
Bedroom

● Eliminate​ ​rugs.​ Area rugs pose a significant threat for people who have difficulty lifting
their feet more than a few inches off the floor. It’s best to remove these from the home
completely or secure them to the floor using a no-slip vinyl pad.

● Low-lying​ ​bed.​ Platform beds may be best for people who have difficulty reaching a
higher surface.

Living​ ​spaces
● Stair​ ​lift.​ It is possible for mobility-restricted individuals to remain in their multi-story
homes. A stair lift is an electrical device that eliminates the need for climbing. It is a chair
attached to a durable, secure riser system. Most models offer a lift capacity of 300 to 400
pounds to accommodate persons of all sizes.

● Door​ ​widening.​ Widening interior and exterior doors to accommodate wheelchairs is a
pretty simple project that can have a huge impact on a wheelchair-bound individual. The
carpentry work is pretty straightforward but, as HGTV suggests, wiring or hidden
plumbing should be moved by a professional.
Outdoors

● Wheelchair​ ​ramps.​ A Wheelchair ramp can increase a mobility-challenged person’s
ability to easily enter and exit their home. According to the Family Handyman, a
wheelchair ramp can be purchased in prefabricated sections for around $100 per linear
foot. Most experts recommend a slope of 1:12 to 1:20.

● Adaptive​ ​playground​ ​equipment.​ Children with disabilities have many of the same
needs as their same-age peers. Play included. Install a few pieces of adaptive
playground equipment for children who cannot run and jump. There are a number of
accessible swing sets suitable for both commercial and residential use. If these are not
in your budget, consider adding a sand and water table or tetherball pole.

No matter which projects you choose to tackle, leave the electrical and plumbing work to the
professionals. Depending on the number and type of additions, it may be necessary to have an
upgraded electrical panel or new wiring installed. In the Baltimore area, a licensed electrician
typically charges between $606 – $1,544 for the service, which can be completed in one or two days. New plumbing should likewise be handled by an experienced contractor to ensure its safety and longevity. Before hiring anyone to work in your home, check out business ratings and reviews on HomeAdvisor.

Thanks​ ​to​ ​Eugene​ ​Williams​ ​at​ ​DIYDad.info​ ​for​ ​this​ ​article!

It is not unusual for a Realtor to hear a seller say, I now I purchased the house for X but I’ve added a lot of improvements to it. I now have nearly $50,000 more in my house than I paid for it. So why isn’t your analysis of my home reflecting this additional expenditure?

Even if the changes are in good taste, just what the market is looking for, that doesn’t mean you will always get your investment back. So when you do the work, do It because you will enjoy it, not because you want the buyer to pay for it down the road. That might not happen. Here is an accounting of how much different investments in your home help its re-sale value.

5 Home Improvements that Pay Off—and 5 that Don’t
By Suzanne De Vita

RISMEDIA, Saturday, January 23, 2016— Favorable economic conditions have long triggered investment in home improvements—more money, more upgrades—and progress on the housing front is set to spur the next wave of homeowner spending on both necessary and discretionary projects.

How should homeowners invest their remodeling dollars this year?  By and large, homeowners can expect to reap the highest returns on projects that cost relatively less, according to REMODELING magazine’s 2016 Cost vs. Value Report.

On a national scale, the top five projects with the greatest return on investment (ROI) in the report’s “midrange” cost category are:

1. Attic Insulation (Fiberglass) (116.9% ROI)
Average Cost: $1,268
Average Resale Value: $1,482

2. Manufactured Stone Veneer (92.9% ROI)
Average Cost: $7,519
Average Resale Value: $6,988

3. Garage Door Replacement (91.5% ROI)
Average Cost: $1,652
Average Resale Value: $1,512

4. Entry Door Replacement (Steel) (91.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $1,335
Average Resale Value: $1,217

5. Minor Kitchen Remodel (83.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $20,122
Average Resale Value: $16,716

On a national scale, the top five projects with the greatest ROI in the report’s “upscale” cost category are:

1. Garage Door Replacement (90.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $3,140
Average Resale Value: $2,830

2. Siding Replacement (Fiber-Cement) (78.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $14,520
Average Resale Value: $11,342

3. Window Replacement (Vinyl) (73.3% ROI)
Average Cost: $14,725
Average Resale Value: $10,794

4. Window Replacement (Wood) (72.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $18,087
Average Resale Value: $13,050

5. Grand Entrance (Fiberglass) (69.6% ROI)
Average Cost: $7,971
Average Resale Value: $5,545

On the whole, regional data mirror these national findings, but variations exist in markets abuzz with real estate activity. Homeowners in the Pacific region (California, Hawaii, Oregon and Washington), for instance, can expect to see six of the 30 projects analyzed in the report recoup over 100 percent of their cost.

At the other end of the spectrum are projects with the lowest returns on investment—improvements generally not in demand by the market.

On a national scale, the five projects with the lowest ROI in the “midrange” cost category are:

1. Bathroom Addition (56.2% ROI)
Average Cost: $42,233
Average Resale Value: $23,727

2. Backup Power Generator (59.4% ROI)
Average Cost: $12,712
Average Resale Value: $7,556

3. Master Suite Addition (64.1% ROI)
Average Cost: $115,810
Average Resale Value: $74,224

4. Deck Addition (Composite) (64.4% ROI)
Average Cost: $16,798
Average Resale Value: $10,819

5. Major Kitchen Remodel (64.9% ROI)
Average Cost: $59,999
Average Resale Value: $38,938

On a national scale, the five projects with the lowest ROI in the “upscale” cost category are:

1. Bathroom Addition (56.7% ROI)
Average Cost: $79,380
Average Resale Value: $45,006

2. Master Suite Addition (57.2% ROI)
Average Cost: $245,474
Average Resale Value: $140,448

3. Bathroom Remodel (57.5% ROI)
Average Cost: $57,411
Average Resale Value: $32,998

4. Deck Addition (Composite) (57.7% ROI)
Average Cost: $37,943
Average Resale Value: $21,877

5. Major Kitchen Remodel (61.5% ROI)
Average Cost: $119,909
Average Resale Value: $73,707

The 2016 Cost vs. Value Report compares, across 100 markets, the average cost of 30 popular remodeling projects with their average value at resale one year later. Average resale value is calculated based on estimates provided by real estate professionals. View the full report, including project descriptions and city-level data, here.

This post was originally published on RISMedia’s blog, Housecall. Check the blog daily for winning real estate tips and trends.