Remove These Fixtures Before You Sell Your Elderly Parent's Home
Posted on: 14 December 2016
When you have an elderly parent whose health has been declining to the point that he or she needs to move into a nursing home, you'll often play a role in the move and the subsequent selling of the home. In the latter job, it can be a good idea to take a look through the home and identify the elements that may have been needed to help your parent, but that aren't likely required by the prospective buyer. You can then hire a contractor to remove these elements to make the house more universally appealing when it goes on the market. Here are some fixtures to remove.
Stair Lift
For an elderly person with limited mobility, a stair lift is an ideal tool for helping to live independently. However, for the average family who might be considering buying the home, a stair lift won't be needed. Don't leave this device in place — its presence can suggest that whoever buys the home will need to spend time and money having the lift removed, which may make some prospective buyers uninterested in submitting an offer. Or, you might receive a lower-than-expected offer because of the hassle for the next owner. You can avoid these complications by getting the stair lift removed first.
Walk-In Tub
In the same vein as a stair lift, a walk-in tub is a valuable fixture for someone with limited mobility who wishes to continue to live independently for as long as possible. However, it's not going to be appealing to most buyers, who know that they'll need to pay a remodeling contractor to remove the walk-in tub and replace it with a conventional bathtub or a stand-up shower. Before the house goes on the market, make sure you hire a contractor to do this work.
Exterior Ramp
An exterior ramp is useful for an elderly resident who uses a wheelchair or walker and for whom navigating a set of stairs from the front door down to the driveway can be difficult. It's probable that the next owner of the home won't have these mobility challenges, however, which means that the exterior ramp will be unneeded. Additionally, some people will view this structure as an eyesore and may disregard the home you're selling because of this fixture. A general contractor can not only remove the exterior ramp, but also ensure that the front steps are picturesque to provide a high degree of curb appeal for when the home goes on the market.
Talk to an agent, like Donna Lasater Real Estate & Property Management, for more help.
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