Steps to Make Your Rental Unit More Accessible
Posted on: 4 January 2017
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When you buy real estate and are fixing the property up in the hopes of attracting a tenant, it's important to remember that you never know what physical limitations your eventual tenant may be experiencing. To this end, it's useful to make the rental unit more accessible before you begin looking for a tenant. There are a number of different projects that you can complete to ensure that your rental unit is as accessible as possible for a tenant who uses a wheelchair or walker or has other challenges in getting around. Here are some ideas.
Ramp to the Front Entrance
If you'll be renting a house or a townhome, having a ramp built up to the front entrance is one of the most important projects you can complete to make the home accessible. You don't need to get rid of the front steps; instead, consider having a ramp in addition to the front steps. You may need to make some changes to the front of your home, such as removing a front garden, in order to build the ramp. The ramp can't take the same trajectory as the steps, as this would be too steep for someone in a wheelchair. Instead, the ramp should have a gentle slope, which means that it needs to be fairly long.
Additional Interior Open Space
It's ideal if you can do some work inside the home to increase the available space. This doesn't mean that you need to put in an addition but rather that you should simply look at various ways to make the interior of the home feel more open. For example, in the case of a cupboard door in a hallway, you may wish to replace a standard swinging door with a sliding door; someone in a wheelchair will have an easier time accessing the cupboard without the door getting in the way.
A Helping Hand in the Bathroom
Investing in some grab bars and handles around the tub and toilet can be another ideal project to make your rental unit more accessible. These accessibility accessories won't just be handy for tenants who use a wheelchair or walker; if you rent to senior citizens or people, senior citizens or otherwise, with mobility or balance issues, devices such as grab bars will prove to be hugely helpful when someone is getting in and out of the bathtub or on and off the toilet.