Let’s not kid ourselves. The house, recently built years ago for the young family, is not designed for the needs of the elderly. In many cases it all starts with location. For children it is better to build a house with a large garden and in the countryside, no matter how far away the supermarket or the doctor is. As you get older, it doesn’t matter anymore. It’s nice if you can go to the supermarket or to the doctor without a car.
Several floors and many rooms create space and retreat for all family members in the house. But when the children are away from home, the rooms are empty. However, they still need to be heated, ventilated and cleaned. And even the large garden needs to be looked after and kept in good condition. All of this costs money and creates unnecessary work.
And depending on where the children and grandchildren live, the journey is long and personal contact is rare. It may therefore be worth dismantling tents put up years ago and starting again somewhere else with different conditions.
NO STRESS, EVEN WITH FINANCING
The oldest builder of to date was an 80-year-old widower who after the death of his wife sold his house in the Taunus and rebuilt it into his home in the Black Forest. Thanks to the 360-degree support of his regional construction partner , he did not have to worry about anything during the construction period and spent many years happily in this house. So rely on the right partner and don’t let anyone convince you that you are too old to build.
The great advantage of the builder mentioned above was that he was able to pay for the new construction of his house in the Black Forest entirely with the proceeds from the sale of his previous house, thus without needing external financing. This is the case of many people who, as they get older, face the topic of construction. The property you use yourself has been completely paid off and the possible proceeds from the sale are available as equity capital for the planned new construction.
And also if you need financing. Banks and savings banks grant their construction loans without age limits. What matters is your creditworthiness, i.e. your ability to safely service the loan, including repayment, along with the amount of equity contributed to the construction project. This percentage is higher after age 50, when you have already saved a lot or have your assets paid off, compared to age 30.
DESIGN WITHOUT CHILDREN’S ROOM
Even if the children are still at home. Anyone over 50 who wants to build a new home plans only for themselves and their partner. That’s one or two bedrooms and maybe one less bathroom. In this way, a living area of 100 square meters or less is usually sufficient.
Smaller living space doesn’t just mean lower construction and maintenance costs. Every less square meter of living space also shortens distances and reduces the amount of cleaning and maintenance needed. Ultimately, however, it depends on individual wishes and ideas whether a guest room with bathroom or a separate apartment should be designed as an option for the subsequent accommodation of the nursing staff.
The classic when building at an advanced age is obviously the bungalow on the ground floor and without barriers. If, for any reason, this was not possible, it is necessary to ensure that the staircase in a multi-storey house is straight, that is, it does not make a half turn or even a full turn. And if for architectural reasons it is not possible to avoid a turn, the staircase should at least be made with an intermediate landing so that it can be climbed safely even at an advanced age. Furthermore, even in a multi-storey house, all relevant rooms (kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom) should be located on the ground floor or, if necessary, the possibly initially missing bedroom can be arranged on the ground floor.
The floor plan of your new home should be open. The fewer walls there are, the more spacious the living space appears, especially in a smaller home. So it’s best to combine the living, eating and kitchen into one large room in the center of the house. This also has the advantage in case of reduced mobility in old age: where there are no doors, it is not necessary to widen them for accessibility.
The garden should be small enough that you can maintain it well even as you get older. As well as making even small gardens attractive, this way you can afford a higher real estate price, which brings us to the next aspect of building as you age.
BUILD IN THE MIDDLE
As mentioned above, most builders with children when choosing the location of their home are guided by the desire for children to grow up in the countryside and in a rural idyll. And as long as schools, work and shopping opportunities are reasonably accessible by car, this isn’t a problem.
However, when it comes to living into old age, you have to expect that sooner or later you won’t be so mobile anymore. Then it is ideal if shops for daily needs, doctors’ offices and cultural offers are within walking distance. However, since such properties are generally more expensive than those in rural areas, in this context it makes sense to opt for a small, easily maintained property close to the city and with good transport links. Here you will find further tips for building on a small plot of land.
If you are not regionally bound, you should also take advantage of the opportunity to live as close as possible to your grandchildren when you build. There is nothing better for grandparents than having their grandchildren close by. And if the children themselves live in the countryside, then nearby there may be a larger city suitable for building a new house.
COMFORTABLE STRUCTURE
If you build (again) as you get older, you should think about things that will make everyday life easier now and later when furnishing your home. The shower should be as spacious as possible and absolutely at floor level without a threshold. And if there is little space in the bathroom: it is better to give up the bathtub in favor of a spacious shower cabin, perhaps also equipped with a seat.
As for flooring, it is advisable to use non-slip tiles in bathrooms. Laminate, vinyl or parquet are ideal for the remaining rooms. These floor coverings are non-slip and easy to maintain. Furthermore, unlike carpets, they do not represent an obstacle for wheelchairs or walkers.
Treat yourself to electric roller shutter drives and generous lighting. In practically all people over the age of 50, vision begins to worsen when the room is no longer very bright. And if in the end there is still some money left over from the sale of the family home due to the smaller property and compact house, use the money to have fun furnishing the house, for example with a high box spring bed or a new TV chair with relaxation function. You deserve it.
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