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We talk a lot about downsizing, upsizing, and “right-sizing.” But I think the more useful question is: How well will your home support you 10–15 years down the road—and what are you willing to pay for that flexibility?
I’m planning a retirement build and I’m intentionally designing for aging in place—wide doors and hallways, single-floor living, an easy/step-free entrance, and a walk-in shower with a minimal curb (plus the usual goal: fewer maintenance headaches). The catch is that many of these features add cost up front, even if they reduce risk, hassle, and remodeling later.
A few questions to spark discussion:
If you’ve already downsized, built, remodeled, or helped someone transition later in life—what would you do the same, and what would you do differently?
Single Story Home trumps everything else. Plan that first.
We lived in a three story home for nearly 45 years. It was built in 1929. The laundry room was in the basement. In 2018 we finally moved to a 2,000 sq ft condo in a 55+ community. We have two bedrooms and two full bathrooms, three walkin closets, a living room, dining room and large open kitchen and family room with fireplace where we spend most of our awake time.
It was a great move I wish we had done at 65 rather than 75. No stairs, indoor parking, large private storage areas for each unit and no maintenance, 8×20 foot covered balcony with storage closet and an array of amenities including a large pool and located only 7/10 of a mile from our old house. I can hike up to a nature reservation and when I get there look out a the NYC skyline from one end to the other.
The community is on sixteen acres, the site of an old county jail built to house criminals in the Civil War era.
I like no maintenance the best and needless to say it’s all built with seniors in mind. Our mailboxes are in a mailroom in each building. Only 12 condos in each building and only three stories high.
It even appears a good investment. We paid $580,000 in 2018. Today we get calls weekly from agents asking if we want to sell or if we know of anyone who does. In recent years when one is sold, it is in the $900,000 range and sells in a few days.
We moved 11 years ago to what we hope will be our last house. Smaller lot, primary bedroom on first floor with shower. Laundry room first floor. 2 car garage so we could put a ramp into the house if needed (we can tell a previous owner had done this). This house worked out very well when I was undergoing my cancer treatments shortly after we moved in. Chris
My husband and I have lived in the same house since 1977. We are both 83, so have some experience with aging in place. Here are my criteria:
Right now, I know at least six households successfully aging in place on my block. I don’t know if all or most if us will ultimately need institutional care. But, for the moment, we’re good — and our houses, which are all more than 100 years old— are working out well.
We downsized to a CanDoMinimum 😄
Now, at 71 and only in fair health, I have to wonder if we should have directly moved to a CCRC.
We got lucky in 2021. We found a spec house to our liking – 3 level townhouse. It came with a shaft, but no elevator. Found a local home elevator contractor who did the installation for $40K. We are set for the next 10 years or so.
That’s exactly what we have planned for when I can no longer make the stairs, hopefully not for another 15 years but you never know. We’ve had the contractor out already and we know where the elevator will go — into a corner of the dining room and up through the floor to the third bedroom. We figure $40K (we’ve been given that price too) is a wonderful alternative to moving out to someplace else. Other than a few bathroom handrails, the house is AIP-ready.
Jeff I was nearly done writing an article with roughly the same premise, but from the perspective of my wife and me looking ahead. I’ll save it for another day though. Now I have to go back to the drawing board 😂
I’m so sorry Mark…
Don’t be silly, no need to be sorry! I’ll put it in my article vault and dust it off another time lol