Buying A Handicap Accessible Home

Published by Eric Anderson on

Buying A Handicap Accessible Home
Before you start

I’d like to start by apologizing for the blog title. For the past 20 years, I’ve been committed to helping people with a physical disability either modify or acquire property for wheelchair accessibility. During this time, I’ve learned that politically incorrect terms are commonly used when looking for resources on the internet…hence, the reason for my blog title “Buying A Handicap Accessible Home.

Buying A Handicap Home

If you have a physical disability (my area of expertise) and are buying a wheelchair accessible home or even a home with some wheelchair accessibility features, you may have ended up at my blog through frustration. Generally speaking, this process can be very discouraging and requires plenty of patience. A typical home buyer has a long list of criteria; location, price, size, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, etc. These criteria alone can be challenging. When you apply the wheelchair accessibility requirements to that list, such as barrier-free entrance, accessible bathroom, main level bedroom and bathroom, etc., you’re left with little to no buying option but plenty of frustration.

There are websites that specialize in finding homes for sale with wheelchair accessibility such as Accessible Properties and Barrier Free Home, but chances are one of the buyer’s required criteria will eliminate any potential listing featured there. If you’re not tied to a geographical area and are flexible on the style of the house, then you may get lucky and find something. But what the websites really do well is illustrate the lack of accessible homes available for sale.

My approach to what people call Buying a Handicap Accessible Home, is identifying homes with wheelchair accessibility potential. Since it’s unlikely that a Buyer can find a house to meet all their needs, the next best thing is to identify a house that can meet all their needs with a reasonable amount of work and money. All Buyers have a budget. The process starts with a total budget for both acquisition and modification. For the average home buyer, the hardest part here would be figuring out what houses meet the criteria and budget. Walking through a house and visualizing the potential while accurately projecting remodeling costs takes a specific skill set. In real estate, since time is of the essence, this must be done quickly while protecting the buyer’s interests…this is where my expertise comes in.

Buying A Handicap Home 1

Buying A Handicap Home 2

There are several strategies you can take during the buying process to ensure a house will meet your needs, timing and budget. If you are working with an agent and are “stuck” with Buying a Handicap Accessible Home , I can possibly assist. For 20 years I’ve been helping people, nationwide, who have a physical disability to acquire and modify a handicap accessible home within their time frame and budget. I’m confident that I can help you too.


Eric Anderson

Eric is a residential accessibility consultant, engaged in functional and accessible home design for clients with physical disabilities. Championing this passion, Eric often trades his business attire for contractor's garb to work directly on accessible and universal design remodeling projects. This hands-on site production work allows him to ensure that his recommendations satisfy his clients' needs; other times he tests and perfects innovative modifications and solutions of his own properties. He developed expertise in residential accessibility through his business operations in home health services (Allied Rehab Services); durable medical equipment specializing in mobility, accessibility, assistive technology (USA Rehab); and, acquiring Maryland licenses in appraising, real estate, contracting, and home building.

15 Comments

Juliana · July 25, 2017 at 5:15 pm

Need helping buying a handicap home

    Lisa Botto · August 22, 2017 at 9:16 pm

    Please fill out the contact form and someone will contact you.

Brittney BryantName (required) · January 9, 2021 at 10:39 am

I need help finding an accessible home next March 2022.

Kay Spann Byrd · January 11, 2021 at 3:29 pm

I am a licensed SC Realtor and am looking for a handicap accessible home that is already built. Areas of preference is Blythewood, SC. Client would love to be able to go from inside to deck or patio without assistance. Please let me know if you have any homes for sale in or near that area. Thank you.

)Kristy Robbins · January 20, 2021 at 10:22 pm

Help🙁

Anna Satterley · October 23, 2021 at 12:25 am

I have a three year old that is quadriplegic cerebral palsy and in a wheelchair she also has other equipment she works with during each day need at least a three bedroom and two bath in the near future thank you

Nelesha L Wilson · December 3, 2021 at 10:37 am

I need to purchase a home asap

Sharon Hunter · June 29, 2022 at 10:15 am

need a listing of homes in the Chicago area that has wheelchair accessible. No stairs laundry on the 1st
level and walk in shower.

Disability Friendly Houses For Sale in Massapequa | What To Look For · November 27, 2020 at 11:23 am

[…] Buying a new home is an exciting adventure, but not without a touch of anxiety. You may question the safety and security you originally felt when you first toured the home. You may wonder if the price is too high or just right. These are a few concerns all house hunters feel, but they are a drop in a bucket for a person with a disability.  […]

Ease of Access: Make Way for Wheelchairs in Your New Home | SCI PEI · October 19, 2021 at 9:31 am

[…] easier to forego weeks and even months of frustrated searching and stress by looking at a house’s accessibility potential versus one that already has everything. In essence, you’re looking at […]

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