Realtors, Home Builders, and Sellers: How Do You Spell “Sold”? – LISTENS!
Demographics Matter! Statistics have shown us that in North America alone there are approximately 85 million, (yes, MILLION) Baby Boomers! Just because of their numbers, they have become a force to be reckoned with. They are telling you what they are looking for in a home, but are you listening?
As a licensed interior designer in Orlando, Florida, I often work with clients who want to build a new home, remodel the home they currently live in, or search for an existing home to purchase. One of the very first What we do is sit down together to determine your design goals and identify any special needs they may have that should be addressed in the initial planning stages of the project. Your job is to communicate your needs. . . my job is to listen. And what I hear from my fellow Baby Boomer clientele (those born between 1946 and 1966) is consistent. Simply put, they don’t want to be put in a situation where they are forced move out of your home because you are not a age-free environment.
Home functionality and flexibility it is one of the main concerns of this generation. Boomers think ahead when it comes to making design decisions based not just on what righ now needs are, but by determining what their future needs could be too. These are some of the things to look for in a home. . .
- Wider hallways and doors that could be wheelchair accessible if needed
- open living space and furniture arrangement that would allow them to move more freely
- easy “accessibility”, especially in entrances and bathrooms
- Barrier-free bathrooms and kitchens equipped with comfort height accessories
- excellent lighting throughout
- easily ramping steps if needed
- lever handles instead of doorknobs to suit all users
- shelving for all base cabinets in both kitchens and bathrooms
- floor plans or home elevators that are fast becoming “must-haves” for ease and accessibility in multi-level homes, a quality-of-life-enhancing feature in some age
- Flexible areas such as home offices, media centers and training areas, designed to support the varied demands and daily activities of this generation. . . they are “non-retired” tech minded, health conscious, retired, semi retired!
The definition of “HOME” For many of us it is no longer simply the place where we keep our belongings. Has become the headquarters of our lives! It is a refuge where we want to bring touches from the outside to the inside and vice versa. Many of us want to combine technology, the Internet, and wireless communications with the comfort and peace of mind of a simpler, slower, and more elegant moment in time. . . and call this HOME. It’s about having options. With a collective voice, the Baby Boomer generation is finding new ways to design spaces that adapt not only to their lifestyle, but also to the challenges of the changing stages of their life. We need to listen!