Building a retirement home? (family, attractive, cost, city)
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Up to this point I have built every house I ever lived in since the age of twenty one. Building can take longer than you expect and cost more than you expect with a ton of decisions to make and still may not be what you need after awhile.
This is the first one I ever bought used. It took me a year to find. It's in a community with a manned guard gate for security, on a 1/4 acre lot just enough room for gardening and fruit trees surrounded by other seniors so as a person alone I can fall out of any door on any side and someone will find me relatively soon. There is also a switch for a flashing exterior light to alert roving patrols if you need help. It's within golf cart distance to a myriad of stores, restaurants, doctors, hospital, and free entertainment. The community center has a pool which I use daily, a wonderful workout room, a library, auditorium, and activity rooms with classes. Traffic is low so walking and bike riding are popular. Yes, there is a monthly amenity charge about what it would cost to have someone maintain a pool which is my desired exercise.
Hardwood floors make cleaning a breeze, and I've found that the cathedral ceiling makes this model look twice as big as the same one without it. It's a couple of years old so still in good shape and I don't mind the slightly dated kitchen as it fits in with my antiques. It has several solar tubes for natural light and an 80 gallon solar hot water tank to cut down on energy use. There is a passive sunroom and separate kitchen with pantry. I got the split bedroom plan for both a room mate and for a caretaker later on if needed. It would have cost me twice as much to build. Also has an attached oversized two car garage for storage.
... Hardwood floors make cleaning a breeze, and I've found that the cathedral ceiling makes this model look twice as big as the same one without it ...
I never thought about it before I moved in, but the cathedral ceiling in my home has proved to be one its most problematic features. I've painted every inch of this house myself, but I have to pay someone to do the cathedral ceiling. I can't change the lightbulbs even standing on a ladder and I live in terror that the smoke detector (which is wired together with all the others in the house) would go off because of a kitchen mishap. I have to get someone in here with an extension ladder on a regular basis to put in a new battery probably three times more often than necessary because heaven forbid it would decide the battery lacked juice in the middle of the night! I also have to have a special extension duster to clean cobwebs out of the corners and I can't clean the stuff on the plant ledge unless the guy I get to change the batteries takes it down for me and returns it after I wash it. They money and effort involved personally doesn't pay off for me, even though I agree it is an attractive feature of the house.
I never thought about it before I moved in, but the cathedral ceiling in my home has proved to be one its most problematic features. I've painted every inch of this house myself, but I have to pay someone to do the cathedral ceiling. I can't change the lightbulbs even standing on a ladder and I live in terror that the smoke detector (which is wired together with all the others in the house) would go off because of a kitchen mishap. I have to get someone in here with an extension ladder on a regular basis to put in a new battery probably three times more often than necessary because heaven forbid it would decide the battery lacked juice in the middle of the night! I also have to have a special extension duster to clean cobwebs out of the corners and I can't clean the stuff on the plant ledge unless the guy I get to change the batteries takes it down for me and returns it after I wash it. They money and effort involved personally doesn't pay off for me, even though I agree it is an attractive feature of the house.
I have had the same experience in the house that I just sold. I had to hire one of my neighbors to replace lights that were placed over the steps or were more than ten feet off the ceiling.
I had to pay people to clean the walls that were over 15 feet off of the floor.
One of my requirements for the new house were no ceilings over 8-9 feet high.
I just took three of my five ladders to the Habitat for Humanity in Tucson this afternoon.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by newenglandgirl
I just got the estimates for a modular home, a modest 1000 SF. That is without the cost for any labor, a foundation, water/sewer hookup or well/septic, or indoor plumbing or electricity. I was taken aback, to say the least.
I recently found a ADA modular that was brand new (Grandma died before she got moved in). It sold for $26,500 but probably cost 2x that. It had a lot of nice features... roll-in bath, huge doors and bath and closets.
A senior MH park in the area is built on terraces, so each home is 100% 'ground level' accessible from under the carport (typically through sliding doors). Very nice when coming home for 'rehab'.
Safe in winter or slippery rain.
I don't have light bulbs or plant shelves that are high up anywhere in the house so the only consideration of having a cathedral ceiling would come at painting time. My three step ladder is sufficient for whatever I may need on a normal basis around the house.
Is a single family home all that folks are considering these days?.
Well this thread is about building a retirement home.
One could buy land and build a town home if they so desire.
But I see lots not wanting more than a single story.
Well this thread is about building a retirement home.
One could buy land and build a town home if they so desire.
But I see lots not wanting more than a single story.
Yes, you are right. I deleted the post to which you are referring. :-)
Last edited by brokensky; 07-22-2014 at 09:19 AM..
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