As you get older, parts of your home that were once fun or stylish (like high cupboards or steep stairs) can make daily life a struggle. And then, when it’s time to renovate and make your home more accessible, the costs can quickly soar into the six-figure range.
The issue here is that many of us design our homes around our needs today, with little thought for what we might need in the future. This can become an ever bigger problem if you’re planning to build that “forever home” and age in place.
Take What Happened to Rob and Liz, for Example
After saving for decades, this middle-aged couple finally built their dream home in Eaglemont. A spiral staircase, floor-to-ceiling windows, high kitchen cabinets, a powder room off to the side of an open-plan living space — the house was a thing of beauty; perfect for entertaining guests as Rob and Liz relaxed into retirement.
But years later, after Liz’s hip replacement, many of their favourite features became obstacles instead.
It hurt to use the staircase. The kitchen cabinets were impossible to reach without help. Those beautiful floor-to-ceiling windows that once flooded the house with natural light now left Liz feeling exposed, with no easy way to adjust the blinds. Even the open-plan living area, once perfect for entertaining guests, now just felt like a burden — hard to keep warm and exhausting to clean.
When they looked at renovating — installing a lift, putting in handrails and grab bars, lowering the cabinets — the costs were overwhelming, running into the hundreds of thousands. Not to mention the months upon months of drills and dust, or having to move into a temporary rental.
In the end, the only option that made any financial sense was to sell their forever home and move to a different part of town.
So how can you avoid this happening to you?
Start With a Home That Can Easily Adapt To Your Lifestyle
If you’re planning to age in place, it’s important to work with a builder who specialises in retirement-ready homes. That way, your home can adapt more readily to your lifestyle as it changes, and you can continue to live comfortably while maintaining your independence.
Let’s break down the benefits:
Benefit #1: Massive savings. Planning for accessibility from the start is much cheaper than making big changes later. Features like wider doorways or walls that can support a lift are far less expensive to include during construction than to retrofit. Similarly, installing supports behind your bathroom tiles means you can add grab bars and handrails in the future without tearing up walls.
Benefit #2: Streamlined renovations. Designing your home with future accessibility in mind makes any necessary renovations far more straightforward and less disruptive. By setting up essential rooms like your bedroom, bathroom, and laundry on the ground floor, you won’t need to relocate them if stairs become a challenge. A step-free entryway also skips the hassle of adding a ramp later on, and a zero-clearance shower eliminates the need for a full bathroom remodel if your mobility changes.
Benefit #3: Comfort from day one. Accessibility features make your home more comfortable and convenient right from the start, even if you don’t need them yet. Lever-style door handles, for instance, are easier to open than traditional knobs. Similarly, kitchen cabinets set at a slightly lower height make it easy to reach pots and pans without straining.
Benefit #4: Tech-readiness. Future-proofing isn’t just about accessibility; it’s also about preparing for new technology you may want later on. For example, pre-wiring for smart systems like automated lighting or security and features like solar batteries or EV chargers can save you from tearing down walls in the future.
The Bottom Line? A Little Foresight Makes Aging in Place a Lot Easier
By working with a builder who specialises in retirement-ready homes, you can avoid costly, disruptive renovations, make daily life safer and easier, and set yourself up to remain independent for longer.
But there’s more to building a custom home than making sure it can adapt to your needs as they change.
That’s why we’ve put together this free guide for you to download:
7 Things You Must Know Before Designing a New Home
It’s packed with insights to help you bring your dream home to life while avoiding the pitfalls that catch many Melbourne homeowners off guard.
