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Are you a 55+ builder? If you don’t build in 55+ communities, your knee-jerk reaction might be “Nope, not interested.” But how many of your buyers are over 55? Put another way: If you’re building for one of the largest, best-capitalized buyers in the country, you could benefit from a strategy to not only capture this buyer but also to enhance their lives. I hope I have your attention.

You don’t have to build or sell your homes in an age-targeted or age-restricted community to learn about the unique challenges and opportunities this buyer presents. Indeed, many 55+ buyers want to remain in their local community. Some even bristle at the idea of an age-restricted community.

Custom and production builders can both offer features and options tailored to the specific needs of this buyer – regardless of where they build them. Let’s talk about the ways your homes can respond to the unique changes that happen to all of us as we age.

Easy and Effortless Living

We often talk about reducing or removing barriers in 55+ designs. Some of you immediately envision wheelchair ramps – but gently sloping ramps are easier to traverse in general. Who wouldn’t want to roll their suitcases into the home, rather than the bump, bump, bump up the stairs? Larger doors are great for wheelchair accessibility, but also for large furniture pieces. I recommend a minimum of 2’-8” wide door.

In the bathroom, who doesn’t want a zero-entry shower? Done correctly, it feels luxurious – not geriatric. Blocking for future grab bars is easy. Why not include the grab bars that match the rest of the bathroom hardware for installation at a later date when and if needed?

And since no one looks good sitting on a toilet, I like to include a right sized toilet room.

That means it needs to be large enough for a 2’-8” door and future grab bars. Grab bars on both side of the room require an addition 4” to 6” of width to the room

In the kitchen, buyers of all ages would appreciate a convenient location for the microwave. Whether it is a senior citizen or a young child, reaching above the range to access the microwave is awkward and potentially dangerous. You can still capitalize upon the cost savings of a range with a hood. Other locations for the microwave include on a shelf, mounted to the underside of a cabinet or drawer microwave.

Light Up Their Lives

The lighting needs for an aging buyer are often overlooked by young designers and builders. As we age, the lens of the eye thickens, allowing less light to pass through. The result is a 60-year-old needs six times as much light as a 20-year-old. Fortunately, adding light can be an option to any plan. I recommend both layered and way-finding lights. Lights under the upper cabinets in the kitchen are a great way to add an additional layer of light. It also lights up the workspace and eliminates shadows from an overhead light.

Way-finding light can be as simple as adding a night light feature to existing switches and outlets. I recommend this feature in hallways, stairs, and the path to the bathroom.

In the bathroom, take cues from luxury hotels and offer a lighted mirror. Not only does it offer great light, but it delivers it in the most flattering form. That is, it doesn’t exaggerate shadows to wrinkles.

Add LED strip lighting above each row of hanging in the closet to help your buyers distinguish black from navy blue.

Low-Maintenance Finishes

When was the last time someone said they wanted a high maintenance house? Fortunately, with the improvement of luxury plank vinyl, a low maintenance floor can be affordable and attractive. Other low-maintenance finishes to consider are quartz countertops instead of granite and large format tile in the bathroom to minimize grout.

Storage and More Storage

While all buyers want ample and convenient storage, 55+ buyers need that and then some. One way to offer additional storage as an option is to have a garage that is 42” deeper than needed to park a car. This allows for decent garage storage. It also allows for a stair to be added as an option at the end of the garage to reach the attic storage. This is a far more convenient way to access attic storage – not to mention safer.

Putting it all Together

Now, in order to sell all of the above, consider bundling them up into an upgraded package with a clever name. Perhaps it is called the Easy Living Package. Better yet, attend my upcoming educational session and IBS 2025 and learn to sell upgraded 55+ features from industry expert Deborah Blake of the Epsom Group.