Aging homeowners say they want to remain in their homes as they get older, and they’re increasingly taking on remodeling projects to help them do that. The past five years have seen a spike in the number of remodelers who say they’ve done aging-in-place house modifications as awareness for this type of project grows among the public, according to a National Association of Home Builders’ Remodelers survey released this week.
“Low-cost, simple modifications to help people be safer and more comfortable in their homes, such as installing grab bars and higher toilets, continue to be the most popular aging-in-place remodeling projects,” says Dan Bawden, 2017 NAHB Remodeler chair. “A professional remodeler can make recommendations to homeowners that meet both their lifestyle and budget needs.”
Eighty percent of remodeling companies surveyed by NAHB says they are doing aging-in-place projects, up from 68 percent in 2013. The five aging-in-place remodeling projects seeing the largest growth since 2013 are:
- Added lighting/task lighting: +12% from 2013
- Curbless showers: +9%
- Grab bars: +7%
- Nonslip floors: +7%
- Widening doorways: +5%
Source: National Association of Home Builders
