SavannahNOW Home Finder.com - Savannah's Ultimate Home Buying Guide

Retirement may be a few years down the road, but it's not too early to start planning for your future home. While you've probably assessed your finances, you may not have given any thought to whether the new home you are planning to buy is the right home for you and your family for years to come. Many people pay little attention to a home's design or functionality, however, it's important to have a home that can accommodate anybody, regardless of age or ability. The solution is universal design.

To most visitors, a home built with universal design might look like any other house, yet homes with these features enable residents to live comfortably and stay in their homes as they age. That's good news for your parents, grandparents and older friends and family members. Even if your eyesight is fine and you're fit and healthy, incorporating universal design into your home now could pay off in the long run.

Here are a few general universal design features to look for in your new home:

• Sloped sidewalks and stepless entries that create easier access to the home

• Lever door handles to make it easier to open doors even when carrying groceries, a small child or other parcels

• Wider doorways and hallways

• Non-slip flooring with level thresholds

• Front-loading washers and dryers

• Garage door openers

• Lighting and interior finishes that reinforce wayfinding

• Electrical outlets that are a minimum of 18 inches above the floor

• Light switches that are 42 inches above the floor

Universal design features also are a perfect fit for the kitchen, bath and practically every room in the house. Some of the features are:

• Single-lever faucets

• Pulls, instead of knobs, on cabinets and drawers

• Countertops at a variety of common heights (usually 30, 36 and 42 inches)

• Raised dishwashers

• Roll-out shelves or drawers in lower cabinets

• Glass doors or open shelves in upper cabinets

• Side-by-side refrigerators and freezers

• Raised toilet heights as an option

• Shower seats

Whether you are able-bodied or not, universal design has many ergonomic benefits and can make a home "transgenerational," allowing the entire family to get together to celebrate holidays and other special events. Universal design also makes it possible for people to recuperate from illness or injury, not to mention "age in place" as they get older.

Contrary to popular belief, universal design won't add much to the cost of your new home, and the base price will increase only slightly. It is far more expensive to modify an existing home. Universal design not only can make your life better today, but can save you money down the road.

So, when you planning your next home new purchase, look for universal design features. They are as important as your retirement fund. For more information on universal design, visit www.nahb.org.