How To Choose A Wheelchair Accessible House Plan
Nowadays it is very easy to get handicapped accessible house plans online from different architects and home designer websites. However, with so many options available, it is important to know how to choose the ideal house plan to meet all your needs, both physically and financially.
Firstly, the wheelchair accessible home plans should be designed by professional and experienced architects preferably ones trained in universal home design. Get professionally designed home plans for the sake of safety and value for money.
Secondly, get all the little details about the house plan’s accessible design. Look at how the home is designed from the front porch space to the master bedroom features. If possible, view the house design in 3 dimension, either as a physical model or CAD software. A 3D view will enable you to have a better sense of how the home will look like when complete, along with how the design is adapted to the handicapped or elderly individual.
Thirdly, do find out from the designer whether it is possible to customize the default handicapped accessible house plans. Remember that the home is designed with a general idea of a handicapped individual’s needs, but only the person in need of the accessible design knows exactly what they require. Maybe the ramps are curved and you prefer them straight, or the placement of the laundry area needs to be changed. Suit the home design for the highest efficiency and convenience to the residents, not simply stick with the given house plan as it is.
Fourthly, get as many copies of the home plans as possible. The standard practice is to get about five to eight sets of the desired home plan: A copy for the home owner, the contractor, the mortgage lender, the local building department, and the sub-contractors. Get these important documents in different formats, including PDF files for soft copies. You should also get a list of the building materials required for the plan from the architect since it will give you a good idea of the cost of building the home.
Keep in mind that once you purchase a home plan, along with its blueprints, you will not be able to return it. Copies of blueprints can be made quite easily, so to avoid losses, designers and architects do not allow returns for any dissatisfied customers. This means that you have to be absolutely sure about your choice of wheelchair accessible home plans before purchasing.
Do your research and learn all you can about universal home design for handicapped or elderly individuals. Use these tips to choose the best wheelchair accessible plan with the best features and best value for your investment.
