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So all the places we are looking to move, the minimum is a single story house with a finished basement. And more they are 2 stories plus basement and finished attic (4 stories). Otherwise its a mobile home. Not for us.
So can we ask our agent to only show us homes where an elevator can be added? Plus a walk out basement (you cant put an elevator into a non-walk out) and a first floor master.
This would require more work on the agents behalf. Every home he would have to check with a specialist.
So is that a better way then trying to forge through ourself?
Would it be better for a disabled client to vet homes themselves, with more showings. Or you do it for them and only take them to places you know will work for them?
I dont think it's reasonable to expect your Realtor to determine if a home can be adapted to an added elevator. That's just not something they would be qualified to know in advance with any certainty. Asking to only view homes with first floor masters and/or walk out basements IS reasonable - but may limit your choices dramatically depending on the area,
You are aware that recent changes to codes have expanded the types of lifting mechanics that are approved? The day of traction only or traction or hydraulics is over. You now have scissor, pneumatics (vacuum), screw, and gear systems that can be installed. Some of them are self-supporting which means there is no shaft that has to be built to a specific engineering standard to support the elevator.
I would recommend researching the local codes on elevators (specifically as to what types of mechanics are approved). Based on that, you will have a better understanding as to how many alternations have to be made or if a simple 30" standard framed through the floor hole is all you need.
First I would speak with a contractor that installs elevators to see what the necessary steps and costs associated with retrofitting a home with an elevator. Then your realtor and the contractor can get on the same page to see if it's viable.
Do you have to have an elevator? Are there no single story homes in the area you are looking? I don't know much about elevators, but during an emergency like a fire, you may not be able to use the elevator. What is it breaks down? Are you able to get your family member up/down the stairs because those stair lifts don't move quickly? I tend to be more cautious and conservation (especially with clients) Due to safety, I would highly recommend a single story.
My parents are adding a pneumatic elevator to their older home, and all that is needed is space for the tube. There is no space above or below, as the house sits on a slab and doesn't have a tall attic.
The biggest sticking point is finding a place where two, or in the case of my home three floors have room for the tube in the same place. For that you'd either need to tour the homes, or have good floor plans.
I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask your realtor to search for homes with main floor master suites and walk out basements. There are committed realtors out there that will tour homes before they bring you out to ensure the floor plan allows for an elevator, though I'm not sure they would be willing to pay for an expert to come out before you've seen the home.
I understand about the multi story home. I came from an area with ranch homes, moved out to Charlotte, looking for homes with a view and the master on the main floor and couldn't find one single story home in my price range. I did end up with a view and a master on the main floor, with a walkout basement and a second floor of bedrooms.
I did see a few homes with elevators, and since I have run into quite a few in my neighborhood. With the baby boomers coming of age, it's not excessively rare in million dollar neighborhoods.
Extra hint, these lovely grand homes tend to have lovely grand curving stair cases. Surprisingly, these stair cases are a pain to carry anything up and down. Make sure you have a second back stairway for carrying stuff up to the second floor. That is my real backup, if I can't figure out a space for the elevator before we need it, I'm going with stair lifts.
I dont think it's reasonable to expect your Realtor to determine if a home can be adapted to an added elevator. That's just not something they would be qualified to know in advance with any certainty. Asking to only view homes with first floor masters and/or walk out basements IS reasonable - but may limit your choices dramatically depending on the area,
Where are you moving?
We would have to have them work with a person who did elevator instillation, and of course we would pay for their time to vet the houses and work with the realtor.
We are still in job hunting mode. We don't foresee trouble with my husband being hired, but he has a very specific speciality so finding the right job offer with the right living conditions will determine our location. Right now we are looking at rochester mn, Chicago, Charlottesville va, nova.
You are aware that recent changes to codes have expanded the types of lifting mechanics that are approved? The day of traction only or traction or hydraulics is over. You now have scissor, pneumatics (vacuum), screw, and gear systems that can be installed. Some of them are self-supporting which means there is no shaft that has to be built to a specific engineering standard to support the elevator.
I would recommend researching the local codes on elevators (specifically as to what types of mechanics are approved). Based on that, you will have a better understanding as to how many alternations have to be made or if a simple 30" standard framed through the floor hole is all you need.
Yes, I have been reading up on elevators and as soon as we have a location picked, I will contact a local elevator company to get the ball rolling. I'm sure they know about the codes in their own city better then I could figure out by reading them.
First I would speak with a contractor that installs elevators to see what the necessary steps and costs associated with retrofitting a home with an elevator. Then your realtor and the contractor can get on the same page to see if it's viable.
Do you have to have an elevator? Are there no single story homes in the area you are looking? I don't know much about elevators, but during an emergency like a fire, you may not be able to use the elevator. What is it breaks down? Are you able to get your family member up/down the stairs because those stair lifts don't move quickly? I tend to be more cautious and conservation (especially with clients) Due to safety, I would highly recommend a single story.
Yes, planning on working with an elevator company from the beginning of the process.
The areas we are looking at have almost no single story homes, and if they do they are mobile, too small or very old. What they call single story is a single story with a finished basement.
Also, we want a multi story home. It would simply work better for our family.
We are bright people, we can figure out the safety aspect. We would have a good fire warning system, a battery back up for the elevator, main floor master (he would only be upstairs occasionally), a walk out basement, a phone in the elevator and likely also an alarm. We would have it inspected regularly and installed by reputable company. And if all else fails, he can descend the stairs rapidly. I can also carry him if I really had to.
My parents are adding a pneumatic elevator to their older home, and all that is needed is space for the tube. There is no space above or below, as the house sits on a slab and doesn't have a tall attic.
The biggest sticking point is finding a place where two, or in the case of my home three floors have room for the tube in the same place. For that you'd either need to tour the homes, or have good floor plans.
I don't think it would be unreasonable to ask your realtor to search for homes with main floor master suites and walk out basements. There are committed realtors out there that will tour homes before they bring you out to ensure the floor plan allows for an elevator, though I'm not sure they would be willing to pay for an expert to come out before you've seen the home.
I understand about the multi story home. I came from an area with ranch homes, moved out to Charlotte, looking for homes with a view and the master on the main floor and couldn't find one single story home in my price range. I did end up with a view and a master on the main floor, with a walkout basement and a second floor of bedrooms.
I did see a few homes with elevators, and since I have run into quite a few in my neighborhood. With the baby boomers coming of age, it's not excessively rare in million dollar neighborhoods.
Extra hint, these lovely grand homes tend to have lovely grand curving stair cases. Surprisingly, these stair cases are a pain to carry anything up and down. Make sure you have a second back stairway for carrying stuff up to the second floor. That is my real backup, if I can't figure out a space for the elevator before we need it, I'm going with stair lifts.
Thanks for all the info. They are come out with a pneumatic thats big enough for a wheelchair, and I think it might be the way to go. I don't like the look for them, they look very modern and that's not my style. But they seem very safe and you don't have to build a shaft, which is nice. Or have a pit.
I wouldn't have a realtor pay for the expert, I would pay.
Thats a great tip about the stairs. Curvy staircases do look beautiful
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