There are always lots of questions to think about when you’re making the choice about your next home, with location, layout, design features and much more to factor in. With everyone’s choice unique to their own lifestyle, we’ve simplified the question process and compiled the main points your checklist might need to include to find your new home.
Does it fit my lifestyle?
There are lots of checkboxes for this one, including is the house near friends, family or regular activities you participate in?
If you want to live near friends and family, look at homes that enable you to make a quick trip in your car, or properties with public transport links if you use buses and trains to get around. If you spend a lot of time with family and friends each week, you may want to find a place that is in walking distance to turn your visits into quick trips, as often as you like!
Do you work, like outdoor activities, or enjoy going to your local community centre? Or do you spend your spare time at local cafes and restaurants? Thinking about where your work and favourite activities are and how you will access these, is also important when you’re making the decision on your new home.
Does it suit my style?
Finding a home with the right accessible features for you to live as independently as you can is important, if you find a great place without the features you may be able to have them installed as part of your move in process, chat to the provider to see how they can help cater for your needs.
Accessible features can include:
- Accessible parking
- Ramps and pathways without stairs
- Wide, step-free doorways
- Adjustable showerheads, sinks with knee clearance underneath
- Benchtops accessible from a seated position, cabinets and storage with pull-out shelves
- Light switches, power outlets and window furnishing controls reachable from a seated position
- Non-slip flooring throughout the home, or in wet areas
- Appropriate lighting throughout the home and in outdoor areas
- Spacious bedrooms with space to get around the bed and furniture
- Assistive technology: voice-activated lights and other controls; motion sensor lights and video doorbells
Everyone’s style of living is unique, and finding a house that suits your style is a very personal choice. If you like lazing your Sundays away in an outdoor retreat then an inviting courtyard or alfresco area is definitely needed. Or, do you spend a lot of time watching your favourite movies or gaming? If this is the case, finding a house with space for your TV or gaming set up is key – and of course, good WiFi! If you like spending lots of time entertaining family and friends then spacious living areas are important to consider, as well as a well-equipped kitchen to cook up your favourite meals to share.
Room mates are another part of your decision process. If you are looking to move into a shared house, who would you prefer to live with? From basic questions of gender and age range to more involved ones about likes/dislikes, hobbies and interests are important to consider before you sign on to a new home with housemates to ensure everyone is happy living together. Disability housing providers can help you with this process, matching you with housemates that share similar personalities and interests to you. This process will give you a chance to meet all of the housemates before you decide on whether a house is a good fit for you.
There are a lot of questions attached to any big decision like choosing your next home. Chat to family, friends and your support network to help you with the process, and when you make a decision on your new home, celebrate your exciting new move with them!